Bakamla Expels Greek Ships Passing By In Maluku Waters, Orders To Change Direction To Australia

Patrol boat Bakamla RI KN Sea Lion 402 warns tankers from Greece, because it is passing through Maluku waters (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) ship, KN Sea Lion 402, warned a Greek tanker because it was passing through Maluku waters.

Head of Public Relations and Protocol of Bakamla RI Colonel Bakamla Wisnu Pramandita in a written statement released from Antara, Sunday, stated that the Bakamla Ship received information from the Indonesian Bakamla Puskodal that there were foreign ships with Greek flags entering the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI) on Thursday, 15 April.

The ship with the hull name MT MGD entered the Indonesian Archipelago Sea Channel III, precisely in Maluku waters, with a changing direction.

"Based on this information, KN Sea Lion 402 which was patrolling Maluku waters immediately moved to the coordinate point to carry out an inspection of the MT MGD target ship," said a press statement.

On Friday, April 16, at around 8.00 WIT, the Bakalma ship detected the ship's presence with a northern bow with a speed of 4.7 knots. Commander of KN Sea Lion 402 Lieutenant Colonel Bakamla Hermawan ordered an approach of up to 200 yards to carry out further checks by radio communications.

It is known, MT MGD carried out a sea crossing from the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Australia.

However, the MT MGD ship's course did not match its destination and was pacing at ALKI III, on the grounds of adjusting the time of arrival in Australia.

This activity aroused the suspicion of officers on the Bakamla patrol boat, because the ship's behavior had the potential to disrupt shipping traffic at ALKI.

Responding to this, KN Sea Lion 402 firmly ordered to change course to the south and sail directly to the Australian destination without stopping or circling ALKI III.

MT MGD immediately changed course as ordered and left Maluku waters for Australian waters.

Puskodal Bakamla RI carries out continuous monitoring of the movement of the ship until it leaves ALKI III and enters Australian waters.