Flames engulfed a dozen vehicles and three buildings in Batam, Indonesia. Local workers started the fire during a clash with laborers from Bangladesh and India.
One person was taken to the hospital following the incident and the yard was temporarily closed.
The police chief says the violence started when an Indian manager allegedly yelled rude words to an Indonesian worker.
Word of the insult quickly spread and in the end about 5,000 angry workers gathered and then violence broke out.
Foreigners employed by the company PT Drydocks World Graha, had to be evacuated to avoid further violence.
The situation is now under control and police are deployed around the shipyard to prevent further violence.
Drydocks World, the shipyard business of conglomerate Dubai World, has one yard in Singapore and three on Batam.
