In accordance with the results of the Tokyo MoU Annual Report for 2023, Indonesia was again included in the Tokyo MoU White List category. This shows Indonesia's success in maintaining this status for four consecutive years, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. This was announced by Captain Antoni Arif Priadi, Director General of Sea Transportation, on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Jakarta.

In the Tokyo MoU report, he stated that out of 654 inspections of Indonesian-flagged vessels over the past three years, 28 vessels were detained. This number increased slightly in 2021, 10 vessels in 2022, and 13 vessels in 2023. 

"With Indonesia's entry into the Tokyo MoU White List, it shows world recognition of the performance of Indonesian-flagged ships, as well as increasing world confidence in the safety and security aspects of shipping in Indonesia and making Indonesian-flagged ships able to compete with other flagged ships in the world," said Capt. Antoni.

In addition, Captain Antoni explained that the Directorate General of Sea Transportation has made various efforts to ensure that Indonesian vessels sailing abroad continue to operate properly and maintain their White List status. One of the steps taken by the Directorate General of Sea Transportation is to ask the Ship Safety Inspection Officer and the Maritime and Safety Inspection Officer to inspect the ships.

"As for the owner and/or operator whose ship is detained abroad, sanctions are given in the form of a warning, a decrease in the shipping area of the ship, or freezing the Document of Compliance (DOC) if a serious violation is found," said Capt. Antoni.

In addition, additional efforts are being made by the Directorate General of Sea Transportation through the Directorate of Shipping and Maritime Affairs to continue to assist and assess companies whose vessels are detained. One way to do this is by sending ship safety inspection officials directly to the ship to ensure the crew can fulfill all the information provided by the port control officer of the foreign country.

The Director General of Hubla further explained the benefits of Indonesia's return to the White-List category, including Indonesia's positive international reputation, enhanced reputation as a country with high safety standards, and high compliance with international maritime regulations. With the inclusion of Indonesian-flagged vessels in the White-List category, the country will be viewed more favorably by insurers, charterers, and other maritime stakeholders.

"In terms of ship inspections, there is a reduction in the frequency of inspections because ships from White-List countries tend to be inspected less frequently because they are considered to have a high level of compliance, which can reduce waiting time and avoid unnecessary delays when entering the port," said Capt. Antoni.

According to Captain Antoni, the reduction in inspection time allows vessels to operate more efficiently, reducing operational costs and increasing productivity. Vessels can also pass inspection procedures more quickly, which saves time and resources.

"Meanwhile, in terms of ease of port access, ships from White-List countries may get easier access to the port because they are considered low-risk, so the port is more likely to accept ships with a good safety track record without having to go through strict checks," Capt. Antoni explained.

From an economic perspective, Indonesian-flagged vessels on the White List are more profitable for ship operators and charterers, thus increasing competition in the shipping industry in Indonesia. This will inevitably lead to more new vessels being registered in Indonesia, which will generate more money from registration fees and taxes.

From a safety standards perspective, Indonesia's inclusion in the White-List category shows that the country has an effective maritime surveillance system, which helps to improve crew and vessel safety standards, thereby improving the maritime industry as a whole.

"More than that, in terms of diplomatic support, flag states on the white list have a stronger position in international negotiations related to maritime rules, thus allowing the country to play a greater role in global maritime policymaking and standards," Capt. Antoni said.

In this regard, Captain Antoni requested that ship owners and operators not only rest on their laurels with this positive achievement but also continue to commit to complying with international rules when their vessels operate overseas.

For information, Indonesia's Port State Control Officer (PSCO) has conducted 3,180 inspections on foreign-flagged vessels throughout 2023 and detained 34 vessels. As the only national classification society, the Indonesian Bureau of Classification again received a high performance rating.

source : https://hubla.dephub.go.id