Incomplete Documents, Imported Oil Tanker from China Detained

If allowed to operate, the tanker from China will be dangerous for Indonesian crews and shipping.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan gave a press statement after inspecting an imported oil tanker from China that was detained at the PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) port in Palembang on Wednesday (May 8th, 2024).

PALEMBANG, KOMPAS — Because it did not comply with operational suitability documents, an imported oil tanker from China was detained by officers under the Ministry of Trade, in Palembang, South Sumatra. This is an effort to anticipate risks that could harm Indonesian ship crews and shipping.

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan after checking the ship at the PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Palembang dock, Wednesday (8/5/2024), said that the oil tanker named Zin Yun 1 hull was used ship. He is 18 years old. The ship was imported by a company to operate in Palembang.

A ship weighing 1,970 tons was seized by the team of Non-New Capital Goods Importation (BMTB) at the Post-Border area of the Medan Trade Supervision Office (BPTN) in North Sumatra. The ship did not meet one of the requirements in the import document set by the Ministry of Trade.

"After inspection, this vessel worth almost IDR 60 billion (specifically IDR 50.9 billion) has not completed one of its import documents. Therefore, this vessel must be regulated. If not, it will harm both the community and the government," said Zulkifli.

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KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

The condition of an imported oil tanker from China which was seized by the Ministry of Trade at the dock of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) in Palembang on Wednesday (May 8, 2024).

For now, according to Zulkifli, his team will impose administrative penalties on the company that imported the ship. While completing the requirements in the import documents, the empty ship will be re-exported or returned to its country of origin.

The ship can be brought back and operated if it meets these requirements. "If you continue to commit violations like this, the company concerned will be blacklisted." "If it is blacklisted, the company's business license can no longer be used or the business will be closed," he said.

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Based on data from the Ministry of Trade, the regulation of ships like this has only been done for the first time. However, the regulation of other violations that harm the community is quite routine.

Previously, they regulated the sale of 3-kilogram gas canisters that turned out to have less capacity than advertised. They also once regulated public fuel filling stations (SPBU) because the amount of fuel received by consumers was less than what they purchased.

Based on the Paben area system of BPTN Medan, the ship does not yet have the necessary business licensing documents in accordance with Ministry of Trade Regulation Number 51 of 2020 regarding Inspection and Supervision of Import Trade after Passing through the Paben area.

In Banten, at the end of last April, the Ministry of Trade cracked down on a steel factory because its products did not meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). "In Banten yesterday, we cracked down on a steel field the size of a football field because it did not meet the SNI. If left unchecked, the steel worth almost IDR 300 billion (exactly IDR 257 billion) could be fatal for the community as buildings and bridges constructed using the product could collapse,” said Zulkifli.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan inspected an oil tanker imported from China that was secured by the Ministry of Trade at the PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Palembang dock on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

For oil and asphalt

Director General of Consumer Protection and Trade Compliance at the Ministry of Trade, Moga Simatupang stated that the ship was sent from China on March 27 and arrived in Palembang on April 18. The ship, which was produced in 2006 or falls under the category of BMTB Group C, was imported by a company with the initials PT AR. The ship will be operated in Palembang to transport oil and asphalt.

In reality, the ship has already paid taxes and import duties in accordance with the Import Goods Notification (PIB) regulations. However, according to the Medan BPTN Paben system, the ship does not yet have a business licensing document in accordance with the Minister of Trade Regulation No. 51 of 2020 concerning Inspection and Supervision of Import Trade After Passing Through Paben Areas.

"For the importation, the ship must first receive technical considerations from the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Industry regarding operational feasibility testing. If it does not meet these requirements, the ship will be dangerous during voyages, both for the crew and Indonesia's shipping industry," said Moga.

Currently, Moga explained, their team is taking action in the form of a written warning or administrative measures against the company that imported the ship. "On the other hand, according to the Minister of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policies and Regulations, the ship must be re-exported first before fulfilling the related requirements," he said.