KKP Wants to Repair 4,582 Ships, 58,000 Ship Crews to be Absorbed

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) will modernize 4,582 fishing vessels.

This program is targeted to be able to absorb up to 58,000 crew members.

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said that the modernization of ships aims to improve and increase the competitiveness of the fishing sector. Ship modernization is included in the national priority program in 2025 to 2029.

"The government is implementing a modernization program for 4,582 fishing vessels," Trenggono said in his remarks at the National Coordination Meeting for the National Priority Work Program (PKPN) for the Marine and Fisheries Sector 2026 at the KKP office, Jakarta, Thursday, July 2.

In his presentation, the 4,582 units of ships that will be modernized consist of 4,515 fishing vessels ranging in size from 10 GT to 1,500 GT and 67 transport vessels ranging in size from 200 GT to 2,500 GT.

KKP projects that the program will have a significant multiplier effect on the marine sector. In terms of production, modernization is targeted to be able to achieve a fishing catch volume of 2.3 million tons per year.

In addition, the program also has an impact on job creation.

Through the operation of thousands of modern ships, the government estimates that employment will be created for around 58,000 crew members.

Not only that, the increase in operational efficiency of the ship is expected to be able to boost profitability which leads to an increase in state cash receipts.

"It will contribute to increasing state revenues through foreign exchange, taxes and PNBP," he said.

In addition to the modernization of fishing vessels, the KKP also carries out the red and white fishing village (KNMP) program, salt self-sufficiency, revitalization of cultivation ponds on the North Coast of Java, the construction of an integrated shrimp pond area in Waingapu, East Sumba, and the development of thematic fish cultivation.

According to Trenggono, all of these programs are designed to strengthen the role of the marine and fisheries sector as a pillar of food security while encouraging economic growth through the implementation of blue economic policies.

"KKP plays a very strategic role in supporting national food security and independence. Therefore, all priority programs that we carry out are directed at strengthening economic growth, creating jobs and improving people's welfare," he said.