Indonesia's Bakamla Drives 5 Chinese-Flagged Vessels Off Batam Waters

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) patrol vessel, KN Tanjung Datu-301, drove off five Chinese-flagged fishing vessels anchored in Tanjung Berakit waters, Batam, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

On Tuesday, at around 12:00 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesia Time), the Vessel Traffic System (VTS) in Batam detected five Chinese fishing vessels anchoring 22 nautical miles north of Tanjung Berakit, at a coordinate 1° 23.099’ N, 104°34.223’ E.

 “We contacted them through radio channel 16, but the five vessels did not respond,” said the KN Tanjung Datu-301 Commander, Bakamla Colonel Rudi Endratmoko, in a press release received by Tempo on Wednesday afternoon, September 11.

At around 04:00 p.m., Batam VTS corresponded with KN Tanjung Datu-301 to investigate the suspicious activity. Based on the investigation, the fishing vessels were found to have awaiting entry into Singapore Port. “They were anchoring without a permit from Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) office,” Rudi said.

At 08:00 p.m., the Tanjung Datu-301 Commander coordinated with the Bakamla Director of Marine Operation, Commodore Basri Mustari, to obtain a search permit. 

An hour later, the Commander briefed the VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) team for further inspection of the five vessels.

At 43 nautical miles away from the Chinese vessels, KN Tanjung Datu-301 ran the operation to drive off the illegally anchored vessels. Bakamla deployed two VBSS teams, which successfully shadowed the five vessels to move away from Batam waters to Singapore’s Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

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