Bakamla Expels Vietnamese Fishing Boats From Natuna Waters

(dok dok)

JAKARTA - The Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) succeeded in expelling a Vietnamese-flagged fisheries supervisory vessel, Kiem Ngu 215, in Natuna waters, Riau Islands (Kepri). It is known that the ship has been in Indonesian waters since a few days ago.

Head of Public Relations and Protocol of Bakamla Colonel Wisnu Pramandita, said that the ship was successfully handled when Bakamla was carrying out Domestic Marine Security and Safety Operations 'Trisula-I / 21'

"The incident took place when KN Tanjung Datu-301, commanded by Colonel Bakamla Arif Rahman, was carrying out Marine Security and Safety Operations," said Wisnu in a written statement on Sunday, January 17.

Wisnu explained that the presence of the Vietnamese ship in the Natuna Sea was only detected on Friday afternoon. According to him, the Vietnamese surveillance ship was already in the vicinity of the Indonesian continental shelf.

The Bakamla team then moved using KN Tanjung Datu-301 from Laut Island to the location of the foreign ships in Natuna waters. The inspection was carried out regarding the information on the whereabouts of the foreign vessel.

"At 14.30 WIB KN Tanjung Datu-301 through AIS equipment managed to detect the presence of a Vietnamese fisheries supervisory vessel named the hull of the Kiem Ngu 215 ship, which is approximately 2.5 nm south of the continental shelf boundary," he explained.

After successfully detecting foreign ships, Bakamla personnel who were on the KN Tanjung Datu-301 ship finally communicated with the foreign crew through radio contact. It is known that this foreign ship stopped in the Natuna Sea due to engine failure.

"Then, on the grounds that the machine was damaged, Kiem Ngu 215 asked for 30 minutes to speed up the repair of the engine, then it would move north out of Indonesian waters," he said.

In addition, said Wisnu, the team in the field also prevented disputes and maintained the tension of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Vietnam. He said, the Commander of the Indonesian Bakamla ship continued to coordinate through radio contact until the Vietnamese ship was successfully repaired.

"At 15.30 WIB, the 215 Kiem Ngu ship started the engine and began moving northward, shadowed by KN Tanjung Datu-301 up to 3 Nm north of the continental shelf boundary line," he concluded.

In making efforts to protect Indonesian waters, the Bakamla ship was assisted by KRI Usman Harun who also monitored movements around the location.