ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency/Indonesian Coast Guard through elements of the State Ship (KN) Tanjung Datu-301 expelled five Chinese-flagged fishing vessels from the Batam Sea, Riau Islands.
The five Chinese ships are anchored in the waters north of Tanjung Berakit, Batam.
The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency’s Young Expert Public Relations Officer, Captain Yuhanes Antara, said that Indonesian authorities had contacted the five Chinese-flagged fishing vessels. Officers acted because the five ships did not respond.
“Even though they were contacted via radio channel 16, the five ships did not respond,” said Captain Yuhanes in a statement received, Wednesday, September 11 2024.
This incident began on Tuesday, September 10 at around 12.00 WIB, when the Batam Vessel Traffic System (VTS) monitored 5 Chinese fishing vessels anchoring at 22 NM north of Tanjung Berakit, with coordinates 1° 23.099′ N, 104°34.223′ E.
Facing this situation, at 16.00 WIB VTS Batam coordinated with KN Tanjung Datu-301 to conduct an in-depth investigation into the suspicious activities of the five ships.
Based on the results of coordination, it was discovered that the fishing vessels were allegedly waiting in line to enter the Port of Singapore.
“At 20.00 WIB, the Commander of KN Tanjung Datu-301 Colonel Rudi Endratmoko, coordinated with the Director of Marine Operations of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency Admiral Basri Mustari to obtain approval for the inspection order,” he said.
Then, at 21.00 WIB, the Commander of KN Tanjung Datu-301 held a briefing with the VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) team to develop plans for carrying out further inspections.
With a distance of 43 nautical miles (NM) from the location of these ships, KN Tanjung Datu-301 immediately acted. On Wednesday, September 11 in the morning at 04.00 WIB, two VBSS teams were deployed to the location.
At 06.00 WIB when they arrived at the location, the VBSS KN Tanjung Datu-301 team succeeded in shadowing and escorting the five ships until they left Batam waters and moved towards the TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme) in Singapore.
“This firm step shows the commitment of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency in protecting the sovereignty of Indonesia’s territorial waters from illegal activities carried out by foreign ships,” he explained. (AT Network)
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