ISA Encourages Completion Of Container Detention For Smooth Logistics Of Coal

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Shipowners Association (DPP ISA) Central Management Board encourages a quick completion of the detention of coal-laden containers so that the distribution of logistics between islands remains smooth, efficient, and does not interfere with national economic stability.

"If the detention of these containers occurs for a long time, of course, it will have an impact on the delivery of logistics goods, considering that this container belongs to shipping for inter-island logistics distribution activities in Indonesia," said ISA General Chair Carmelita Hartoto in a statement in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 15.

It is known that ship entrepreneurs complained about the detention of containers carrying coal at a number of ports in Indonesia.

According to Carmelita, if this detention continues, the logistics sector by sea will be threatened with paralysis and become a new burden for the economy of the people in various regions.

"The impact of the conditions we heard was the loss of being held by containers belonging to shipping companies, and there was a moratorium on coal shipments in inter-island containers," said Carmelita.

It is said that the detention of hundreds of containers loaded with coal in a number of Indonesian ports has raised serious concerns in the shipping sector. The detention was carried out due to allegations of discrepancies between the contents of the cargo and the manifest documents and the Mining Business License (IUP).

Carmelita explained that the ship's container holding was a matter of documenting the delivery of coal in containers.

Furthermore, it is said about the validity of the documentation of goods and from the location of the mine area where it is certainly not the capacity of the transport parties in this matter and should have been from the loading port.

"If it is suspected that there is a problem, the relevant agencies can signal that not being transported will be better," he explained.

On the other hand, Chairman of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Adik Dwi Putranto hopes that the government will provide a wise solution to the detention of hundreds of containers loaded with coal at a number of ports in Indonesia.

Adik said that currently there are hundreds of containers that have been examined and detained by the authorities and most of them are from Kalimantan. The detention was carried out because of the alleged discrepancy between the contents of the cargo and the manifest documents and the Mining Business Permit (IUP) which did not comply with the provisions.

On the other hand, since the issue of fake mining permits and illegal mining activities spread, law enforcement officials have expanded their investigations to the transport parties or ship owners. Even though transportation or shipping companies basically do not have direct access to find out the contents of containers because filling is carried out by commodity owners in each region.

It was explained that the minerba cargo owner made a booking, took the container, and filled it independently and then closed the container with a seal and was just taken to the port for transportation and reported to the harbor.

Adik said that now every ship carrying coal is also closely inspected and if a discrepancy is found between the contents and manifests, all transportation or shipping companies will also face punishment.

Even if proven to have violated, transportation or shipping companies can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 10 billion in accordance with Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining.

According to him, the policy raises concerns for transportation or shipping companies until they choose to temporarily stop transporting coal because they are waiting for legal clarity and regulations because they do not want to take risks.

Adik assessed that the inspection should have been carried out from the start, namely before the goods were transported at the loading port, not when the goods had arrived at the unloading port, they were only questioned. That way, there will be no domino effect that will harm business actors, both the owner of goods and the transport party.

He also hopes that the government can bridge this situation by clarifying the standards and mechanisms for examining mining goods.