The Number Of KPLP Personnel Is 9,000 Members, Director General Of Hubla Kemenhub: Already Trained For The Investigation Function

Patrol of the Marine and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP). (Between-Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

JAKARTA - Director General of Sea Transportation (Dirjen Hubla) of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) Arif Toha hopes that the Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP) will continue to be a part of the realization of Indonesia as the world's maritime axis.

He expressed this hope to coincide with the age of the KPLP which is even 50 years old on January 30, 2023. KPLP is one of the directorates under the Directorate General of Sea Transportation which was confirmed on January 30, 1973.

"By ensuring the safety and security of shipping and protecting the Indonesian sea from all forms of disturbances and threats and preventing and handling damage to the maritime environment," Arif said in a written statement, Monday, January 30, as reported by Antara.

The existence of KPLP in Indonesia is in accordance with the legal basis, namely the Shipping Regulation (Scheepvaart Reglement) LN 1882 Number 115 junto LN 1911 No. 399 (police at sea), the Shipping Law (Scheepvaart Ordonantie) 1936 (Stb. 1936 No 700), the 1936 Shipping Regulation Article 4, and the Territorial Marine Organization and the Maritime Environment 1939 Article 13.

Furthermore, Arif said that the KPLP's long history has recorded many achievements, both nationally and internationally.

"The Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation is a maritime administration that is Indonesia's representative in the World Maritime Organization/IMO so that KPLP officers when carrying out patrol actions at sea always adhere to applicable laws and regulations as well as international regulations," he said.

Meanwhile, KPLP Director Mugen S. Sartoto revealed that at the age of half a century, KPLP is committed to always instilling responsive values, namely responsibility, "ownership", integrity, and factual.

"As the frontline in protecting Indonesian waters, this principle must always be adhered to, especially when providing services to the community and of course as an effort to enforce the law in the shipping sector," he said.

He said, in addition to carrying out state duties as security guards and shipping safety, KPLP is also law enforcement for the benefit of shipping safety.

The existence of the KPLP has made Indonesia more respected and has made a big contribution in maintaining the fulfillment of convention rules in several aspects, including marine affairs, safety, security, order, and maritime protection.

"KPLP personnel throughout Indonesia have been specially trained and have the function of investigation and law enforcement based on national and international provisions," said Mugen.

The KPLP currently has a number of around 9,000 personnel with 369 patrol boat assets consisting of seven class I (60 meters) ship units, 15 class II (42 meters) units, 51 class III (28 meters) units, 53 class IV (17 meters) units and 243 class V (12 meters) units.

This includes 35 ships located in five Marine and Coast Guard Bases (PLP) spread throughout the country, namely Class I Tanjung Priok PLP, Class II Tanjung Uban PLP, Class II Surabaya PLP, Bitung Class II PLP, and Class II Tual PLP.