TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Pelabuhan Indonesia IV (Persero) has been stopped from scouting foreign boats docking at Tanjung Bakau Pasang Kayu Port in West Sulawesi. As a result, the government is losing billions of rupiah in non-tax revenues each year.

Scouting in Tanjung Bakau is now being done by officers not working for Pelindo IV, who don’t have scouting and tugging certificates. There is fear that the situation will jeopardize the safety of sailing activities.

Pelindo IV spokeswoman Anna Maryani said that scouting in Tanjung Bakau was previously done by the Pantoloan branch of BUP Pelindo IV. But two years ago the company was no longer allowed to do it by the Belang-Belang Port's head of the operating unit (KaUPP).

Prior to the stopping, income scout ship and tugs in the region reached Rp1.5 billion a year, which goes to the state's non-tax revenues.

Muhiddin M Said, deputy chairman of the House of Representative's Commission V, said it is a shame if the situation had incurred a loss to the state and jeopardizing sailing activities.

"Safety is a non-negotiable, number one importance for the sailing industry; we need proper scouting," Muhiddin said as Bisnis Indonesia reported, Thursday, November 26.

He said that Minister's Regulation No.57/2015 mandates the scouting and tugging of boats be done by officers certified by the state.

BISNIS | RR