Resilience at Sea: The Journey of Km.prince-Soya After a Devastating Fire

On July 13, 2026, Km.prince-Soya faced a dramatic incident while docked at Nusantara Port in Parepare City, South Sulawesi. The fire erupted around 09:20 a.m. WITA, originating from the cook's quarters before rapidly spreading to the galley. Panic ensued among the 1,251 passengers as they attempted to evacuate the vessel. Fortunately, emergency services responded promptly, and firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within approximately 30 minutes. Although extensive damage was reported, thankfully, there were no injuries among those on board.

Immediately following the fire, an investigation was launched to determine the exact cause of the blaze, which remains undetermined as of now. The Parepare Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) took swift action, conducting a thorough seaworthiness inspection of the ferry. On July 14, just a day after the incident, the authority authorized the Km.prince-Soya to resume operations, assessing that the vessel was safe to sail.

This incident is reminiscent of similar events in the vessel's recent history; a prior fire also occurred on June 13, 2022, while the ferry was docked at the Port of Pare Pare. That incident, attributed to a short circuit in one of the crew's cabins, also resulted in an evacuation, but fortunately, no injuries were recorded in either event.

After confirming its seaworthiness, the Km.prince-Soya set off for Samarinda, East Kalimantan, at approximately 3:00 p.m., demonstrating the vessel's resilient spirit and commitment to serving its passengers despite facing challenges. This resilience highlights the importance of maritime safety and the readiness of crews and authorities to respond to emergencies at sea.