KKP: Illegal Marine Sand Dredge In Riau Islands Loss Of IDR 223 Billion

PSDKP KKP officers anchored near a foreign ship caught dredging sea sand in Batam waters, Riau Islands, Thursday (10/10/2024). (ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty)

BATAM - Director General of Marine and Marine Spatial Management (PKRL) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Victor Gustaaf Manoppo said the dredging and dredging activities (dumpling) of sea sand carried out by two foreign-flagged vessels in the waters of the Riau Islands without any documents, had cost the state more than Rp223 billion.

"So the total loss our country experienced this year was IDR 223 billion, if there are 10 ships it can be multiplied again," said Victor in Batam, Riau Islands, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, October 10.

The KKP through the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) stopped and inspected two Malaysian-flagged vessels caught carrying out dredging activities and the results of marine sand dredged in the Riau Islands waters on October 9, when they passed the ship Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono about a working visit to Nipa Island.

On the orders of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, PSDKP investigators immediately stopped and inspected two ships headed by two Indonesian citizens (WNI), with 13 crew members (ABK) from China and 1 Malaysian.

The MV YC 6 ships measuring 8,012 gross tonnage (GT) and MV ZS 9 measuring 8,559 GT are dredgers that function to retrieve sand in the sea, or called TSHD-type dredgers.

The two ships were discovered to have dredging in Indonesian waters but were not equipped with official documents. There are only personal documents for the ship's captain.

According to Victor, the ship is indicated to have entered Indonesian territory several times, but how many times the dredging of sea sand is still being explored, including the large amount of sand that has been cleaned up to Singapore.

In one of the ships inspected, it contains 10 thousand cubic meters of dredged sea sand.

From the initial examination, according to the captain's statement, they took 10 thousand tons of sand in just 9 hours.

According to their confessions 10 times a month, we can calculate that per month there are 100 thousand tons that they take out. 1 year means 1.2 million tons," he said.

He said that in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 number 12 of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation, it was law to state that everyone who uses space from coastal waters must have a KKPRL from the central government.

"This is just a loss of marine resources that material has been taken. If we combine it, if we follow PP No. 26, this ship must pay KKPRL, must pay out duties, have to pay export approval, have to pay sales IUP, have to pay Amdal, meaning the potential for state revenues that have been lost more than Rp. 223 billion," said Victor.

Currently, the two foreign-flagged ships are still under investigation. The KKP formed a team of investigators who will investigate how long the ship had been carrying out the dredging activity.

PSDKP Director General Pung Nugroho Saksono said strict sanctions were needed so that there would be a deterrent effect so that similar incidents would not be repeated.

In addition, patrols in border areas by KKP and other relevant stakeholders are also maximized to be able to monitor water areas from theft.

"Patrol must be tightened, we don't stand alone, there are navys, customs, Polri, all work hand in hand, fishermen should not be silent, they video and send us, the name is Pokwasmas," said Ipung.