Batam, – Many ships in Batam waters, Riau Islands are suspected of turning off AIS while operating or carrying out maneuvers, making monitoring even minimal.
It is alleged that the ship that deliberately turned off AIS wanted to carry out illegal activities, such as dumping black oil or B3 waste in the middle of the sea, as has been repeated.
Unfortunately, the Batam Special Class I Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) Office was unable to directly monitor this fraudulent act.
But waiting for a report from the Batam VTS Center Class 1 Tanjung Pinang Navigation District, Directorate of Navigation, Directorate General of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia, because they are the ones who have identified access to the Vessel Traffic System (VTS).
In fact, Batam waters, which are part of the Malacca Strait, are one of the busiest sea lanes in the world with high intensity, so every Indonesian-flagged or foreign-flagged ship sailing in Indonesian waters is required to install and activate an Automatic Identification System (AIS).
This obligation is even regulated in Minister of Transportation Regulation Number PM 7 of 2019 concerning Installation and Activation of an Automatic Identification System for Ships Sailing in Indonesian Waters. But how can monitoring or enforcement be efficient, if minimal coordination is implemented.
Head of Batam Special Class I KSOP, M Takwin, said that during his tenure there had been around 3 ships that had been subject to administrative sanctions and fines, because they turned off AIS while operating or carrying out maneuvers in Batam waters, Riau Islands. In fact, there is already one ship that has entered the trial stage, although he is reluctant to provide details.
“Technically, the Batam VTS Center in Tanjung Pinang carries out radar monitoring, if there is an indication that a ship has turned off the AIS system it is recorded on the screen and they report it to KSOP Batam to take action. It all comes from the detection of a VTS signal if a ship turns off AIS while in Riau Islands waters ,” he said, Thursday (21/9/23) in Batam.
Takwin explained that the Director General of Transportation is divided into two, namely Navigation and there is the Harbor Master, who monitors navigation in Tanjungpinang, KSOP Batam only accepts reports of violations. Vessel Traffic System (VTS) is a shipping traffic monitoring system implemented by ports, or shipping fleet management.
“The Ministry of Transportation has issued new regulations regarding the activation of AIS through PM 18 of 2022 concerning Automatic Identification Systems for Ships Carrying Out Activities in Indonesian Waters. In this new regulation, it is stated that ships that violate can be subject to a delay in sailing up to a fine of IDR 75 million,” he stressed.(*/edtl)
