Maintain Whitelist Status, Maritime Safety And Security In Indonesia Improves

Vessel Engine Feasibility Inspection (Photo: Kemenhub)

JAKARTA - Indonesia has entered the White List of the shipping sector for the second time in a row in 2020 and 2021, based on the 2021 Tokyo MoU Annual Report which shows Indonesia's Port State Control (PSC).

In addition, it also increases world confidence in aspects of shipping safety and security in Indonesia and makes ports in Indonesia able to compete with ports of other countries in the world.

"This achievement is the result of hard work built through synergy between the Directorate General of Sea Transportation and all relevant agencies," said Acting Director General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) Capt Mugen S Sartoto in a statement in Jakarta, Saturday.

Since Indonesia became a member of the Tokyo MoU from 1993 to 2019, he said, Indonesia was in the position of the Gray List.

In maintaining the status of the White List, the Directorate General of Sea Transportation has issued Circular Letter Number UM.003/11/DJPL-18 concerning Enhanced Supervision of Indonesian-Flag Ships that will Sail Abroad.

This Circular instructs that Indonesian-flagged ships that will sail abroad are inspected by the Ship Safety Inspection Officer together with the Maritimeworthiness and Security Inspector of Foreign Ships, better known as PSCO (Port State Control Officer) before the issuance of the Sailing Approval Letter (SPB).

Mugen further explained that the Directorate General of Sea Transportation has an obligation to ensure that Indonesian-flagged ships comply with international standards. This is one of the important things in reducing the detention of Indonesian-flagged vessels abroad.

“This White List status certainly has a positive effect on our logistics costs. Export-import activities using Indonesian-flagged vessels will be able to compete with foreign vessels, so it is hoped that Indonesian ships will be increasingly trusted by cargo owners to carry their cargo to foreign countries," he said.

In the Tokyo MoU report, it is known that during the last three years out of 583 inspections of Indonesian-flagged vessels, only 22 vessels resulted in detention and the number gradually decreased, namely 11 vessels in 2019, 6 vessels in 2020, and only 5 vessels in 2021.

In addition to Indonesia's position on the list of White List countries, it also shows an increase in the level of the Indonesian Classification Agency (BKI) as a Recognized Organization (RO) from medium to high achievement level.

Tokyo MoU is a PSC organization consisting of member countries in Asia Pacific with the aim of reducing ship operations below international standards. Every ship must apply the standard rules of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), including those related to safety at sea, protection of the maritime environment, working conditions, and the lives of crew members.