KLHK Calculates Environmental Losses Due To MT Aashi Ship Asphalt Spill In North Nias Waters

The tanker MT A contains 1,900 tons of concrete asphalt in the waters of Humene Siheneasi Village, Tugala Oyo District, North Nias Regency, North Sumatra Province. (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of LHK)

NIAS - Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is calculating environmental losses due to an asphalt spill from MT Aashi's ship in North Nias Waters, North Sumatra. Head of Sub-Directorate for Settlement of Environmental Disputes of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Eko Novi Setiawan, said that his party had carried out field verification from March 25 to April 1, 2023. "Based on laboratory results, it is proven that there has been pollution by the MT Aashi Ship. Today's stage is the calculation of environmental losses," he said during a discussion on the threat of maritime security in Indonesian waters and jurisdictions monitored in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, April 17. Based on the analysis of coastal and marine economic valuations, the data collection survey was conducted with representatives of fishermen and coastal communities with a purpositive random sampling approach and a selection of respondents using the snowball sampling method. The survey was conducted on Afulu Village and Faikhunaa Village which were geographically adjacent and carried out fishing activities in the waters affected by the pollution caused by the asphalt spill from the tanker. Calculation of claims of environmental losses based on Regulation of the Minister of Environment Number 7 of 2014 concerning environmental losses due to pollution and environmental damage related to the component of asphalt spill management which is calculated at cost, loss of ecosystem services, onset of environmental dispute resolution costs, ecosystem recovery costs, and direct community losses. "We have received complaints from the people of North Nias Regency that five groups have complained to us, so this is our basis in addition to fighting for the rights of the government, as well as fighting for the rights of the community," explained Eko. On February 11, 2023, the MT Aashi ship sank due to the hull which was hit by the waves. The tanker contained asphalt with a volume of 3,595 metric tons or approximately 3 million liters. The MT Aashi ship is a Gabon-flagged ship measuring 3,711 gross tonnage. Based on International Maritime Organization (IMO) data, the ship is owned by Asai Shipping Inc, which is located in Liberia.

Referring to its trajectory, the ship departed from the Port of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates to Padang in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The incidence of asphalt spills has spread more and more to 70 kilometers to the north of Nias Island from the location of the incident.