Fire Erupts at DG Yard of Jakarta Port

On the afternoon of September 21, a fire involving dangerous goods containers erupted at NPCT1 Terminal of Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, Indonesia. The fire occurred in the dedicated Dangerous Goods Block (DG Block), Kade 820 of the terminal.

Photo: Tanjung Priok NPCT1 Terminal fire incident, Source: ANTARA News

According to local police reports, 51 ISO tank containers and one dangerous goods container were damaged in the blaze. Preliminary investigation indicated the fire likely originated from a container loaded with crude oil, and flames quickly spread to adjacent tank containers. After the incident, Jakarta fire department deployed 14 fire engines and more than 70 firefighters for emergency response. The fire was brought under control at 16:35 on the same day, followed by continuous cooling operations. On-site response work was completed at 18:56.

Terminal authorities confirmed no personnel injuries in this fire. Due to safety inspections and ongoing cooling work within the affected zone, terminal operations will resume gradually in phases. Short-term disruptions are expected for container pick-up, return and cargo transfer services at Jakarta Port.

This dangerous goods fire incident reinforces the critical importance of accurate DG declaration and yard safety management within global maritime supply chains. ISO tanks are commonly used for high-risk cargo including crude oil and chemical products. Their stowage, handling and emergency response must fully comply with International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Misdeclaration, concealed or omitted cargo information will greatly raise risks of fire, leakage and explosion, threatening terminal staff, vessels and port environment.

The accident delivers vital lessons for dangerous goods handling at ports worldwide. Port operators, carriers, freight forwarders and cargo owners shall strengthen risk prevention in multiple aspects. First, rigorously verify dangerous goods declaration documents, especially for ISO tanks, energy and chemical cargo, to prevent false or concealed declarations. Second, standardize segregated stowage in DG yards in line with hazard classes, maintain fire-fighting equipment and emergency access in serviceable condition and carry out regular safety inspections. Third, improve cross-department emergency coordination, formulate dedicated response plans for DG fire and leakage together with fire and environmental authorities, and organize regular drills to enhance rapid response capacity. Fourth, adopt digital tracking technology to monitor dangerous goods containers throughout the whole logistics chain and provide early warning for abnormal temperature and pressure readings. Fifth, raise compliance awareness across the whole supply chain. Freight forwarders, customs brokers and transport operators must truthfully declare cargo properties and avoid non-compliant operations for cost or time-saving purposes. Joint efforts from all stakeholders are required to safeguard port safety and stable cross-border supply chains.

For enterprises shipping dangerous goods to Indonesia, it is recommended to confirm yard operational status with carriers and destination agents in advance, double-check MSDS and DG documentation, closely monitor vessel schedules and container release updates at Jakarta Port, and mitigate secondary risks such as customs hold and detention.

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