KKP Stops Unlicensed Sand Dredging Activities In Jakarta Waters

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has stopped a unit of marine sand suction vessels suspected of carrying out sea sand dredging activities without being equipped with an Approval for the Compliance of Marine Spatial Utilization Activities (PKKPRL).

The sea sand suction ship named MV. VOX MAXIMA with a cargo of 29,920 gross tons (GT) was successfully stopped during the operation of the Air and Fisheries Supervisory Vessel HIU 06, Friday, October 27.

It is known that the ship was employed by PT HLS in dredging sea sand for the purposes of a reclamation project in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta.

"On Friday, October 27, the Maritime and Fisheries Supervisory Vessel HIU 06 succeeded in stopping a unit of Dutch-flagged marine sand suction ship suspected of having taken sea sand in the waters of Tunda Island," said the Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) KKP Adin Nurawaluddin quoted from the KKP official website, Monday, October 30.

At the time of the termination and inspection by KP HIU 06, the suction ship with the charge of one road, namely, 26,000 cubic meters, was manned by 40 people, including the captain who is a foreign citizen (WNA).

"At the time of the termination and inspection, evidence of sea sand was found with a volume of approximately 24,000 cubic meters of sea sand. So, it can be concluded that this ship has only operated once," said Adin.

With this action, Adin said, currently his party has summoned PT HLS, which is a service user company from the MV VOX MAXIMA ship.

"We have summoned the party who employed the ship, namely PT HLS. From the results of the inspection, MV VOX MAXIMA is suspected of dredging sea sand in the waters of Tunda Island for a reclamation project in Tanjung Priok," he said.

He explained that at least three alleged violations were committed by PT HLS, namely the company allegedly used a suction ship to exploit sedimentation results in the sea in the form of sea sand without permission, the absence of PKKPRL documents, and the absence of a sea sand utilization permit for reclamation.

"The initial investigation stage by the Special Police for the Management of Coastal and Small Islands (PWP3K Police), is indeed true that PT HLS does not have PKKPRL. Furthermore, an in-depth investigation will be carried out regarding the dredging location in the Waters of Tunda Island in accordance with Government Regulation (PP) Number 26 of 2023 concerning the Results of sedimentation in the Sea," he concluded.