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Govt allocates US$104m for fishing ships, insurance, ports
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Fishermen in Aceh lift a yellow fin tuna in Krueng Aceh Port in Banda Aceh on Aug. 27. Fishermen have caught fewer tuna for export in the past two weeks as a result of bad weather and high tides. (Antara/Ampelsa)
T
he Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has allocated Rp 1.4 trillion (US$104.68 million) for the procurement of 1,080 new fishing ships, life insurance policies for 500,000 fishermen and renovation of seven fishing ports.
The fishing boats have been ordered from 60 shipbuilders and are expected to be finished around June or July, the said ministry’s acting director general of fishing, Zulficar Mochtar, adding that they would be distributed through 170 fishermen’s cooperatives across Indonesia.
"In 2016 we had a problem with the time limit and vendor readiness because we shifted into e-procurement in the middle of the year," he said on Thursday.
“But now the system is running well and vendors have already started to work,” said Zulfikar, adding that only 1,719 ships had been built from 3.350 ships ordered last year.
Regarding the life insurance, Zulfikar said that throughout 2016 the ministry issued 498,000 policies, out of a total 969,000 registered fishermen in Indonesia.
The ministry is working with state-owned insurer Jasindo to carry out the program and the remaining fishermen will receive insurance policies this year, the official said.
"During 2016, 32 fishermen already received the benefit. Their benefactors received Rp 160 million (US$12,000) each after the policyholders passed away," he said.
The seven fishing ports that will be renovated are tZam-zaman port in Jakarta, Bitung port in North Sulawesi, Untia port in South Sulawesi, Cikidang and Cianjur ports in West Java, Pengambengan port in Bali and Sendang Biru port in East Java. (bbn)
