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13888
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 15:24
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http://m.oananews.org//node/13888
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RI NAVY NABS SINGAPORE-FLAGGED VESSEL FOR CARRYING CRUDE OIL WASTE
Batam, Sumatra, July 26 (ANTARA) - Batam Naval Base Commander (Lanal) Colonel M Faisal said his side on Thursday nabbed a Singapore-flagged ship, the MV Hafai, for carrying crude oil waste in Meriam waters, Sambu Island, Batam, Sumatra Island.
The ship was suspected of dumping wastes into the Phillips Strait from where they were carried to waters off northern Batam island by sea currentsThe MV Hafai which was towed by a tugboat proved to carry around 2,000 cubic meters of oil waste in its hold.
When stopped by the Indonesian Navy's patrol boat 'Hanoman', MV Hafai and Tugboat Bright Star did not have the necessary sailing documents such as port clearance, crew list, crew agreement, and delivery order documents.
"We had to detain the vessels because they did not have the required sailing documents," Col Faisal said.
The Navy has also detained the tugboat's nine crew members, all Indonesians, while the MV Hafai did not have a crew.
Based on information from the crew members, the tugboat's agent is a Singaporean identified as Bernard who lives on Samulun Island.
"They said they had been doing the same activity for two years," the naval officer said.
Amir, one of the crew members, said that the Bright Star tugboat usually transferred waste from one ship to another ship in out-port limit waters.
Northern coastal areas of Batam is heavily contaminated by oil wastes, especially during the north wind season.
The ship was suspected of dumping wastes into the Phillips Strait from where they were carried to waters off northern Batam island by sea currentsThe MV Hafai which was towed by a tugboat proved to carry around 2,000 cubic meters of oil waste in its hold.
When stopped by the Indonesian Navy's patrol boat 'Hanoman', MV Hafai and Tugboat Bright Star did not have the necessary sailing documents such as port clearance, crew list, crew agreement, and delivery order documents.
"We had to detain the vessels because they did not have the required sailing documents," Col Faisal said.
The Navy has also detained the tugboat's nine crew members, all Indonesians, while the MV Hafai did not have a crew.
Based on information from the crew members, the tugboat's agent is a Singaporean identified as Bernard who lives on Samulun Island.
"They said they had been doing the same activity for two years," the naval officer said.
Amir, one of the crew members, said that the Bright Star tugboat usually transferred waste from one ship to another ship in out-port limit waters.
Northern coastal areas of Batam is heavily contaminated by oil wastes, especially during the north wind season.
