JAKARTA – Indonesian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA) asked the government to form sea and coast guard agency before making Indonesia as a global maritime axis and creating sea highway.
Bani M. Mulia, INSA Treasurer, said the creation of Indonesia Sea and Coast Guard (ISCG) is appropriate with Law No. 17/2008 about voyage.
In the regulation, the creation of the agency is no later than three years after the regulation is made into law. So far, law overlapping at sea enables certain officers to stop vessels during its voyage, to ask for its fuel and voyage money. ”They are illicit officers and it means there is high cost,” he said on Tuesday (1/6).
He stated the existence of Maritime Coordinating Ministry gives new hope since maritime industry can have greater attention from the government. One of the issues requiring attention is the creation of ISCG.
He added his office does not question whether the institution is located under president or ministry.
He said the singular agency must be created since sea and coast guard becomes one of the deciding factors for sea highway implementation and Indonesia’s dream realization as a global maritime axis. “How can we obtain the world’s trust if we have no ISCG?” he explained.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister, Ignasius Jonan, said Sea and Coast Guard Unit (KPLP) has many tasks. In the next five years, Transportation Ministry will add 100 class I vessels for KPLP’s vessels with 1,000 personnel. “KPLP should be improved. It has countless tasks. There will be 100 additional class I vessel within five years,” he said when inaugurating echelon I executives in Transportation Ministry. (Bisnis Indonesia)
