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Ministry to purchase mothership to tackle illegal fishing
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Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti attends a meeting with House of Representatives Commission IV overseeing maritime affairs at the House complex on Wednesday. (Antara/M. Agung Rajasa)
T
he Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry plans to purchase a mothership this year to support its ongoing fight against illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.
The mothership would feature facilities such as helipads and would have the ability to carry a number of speedboats. It would also house the ministry's control and monitoring center, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Sunday.
"We will also buy six maritime patrol aircraft and five speedboats to enhance supervision," Susi said during a working visit to London, as quoted by kompas.com.
No details were available on the budget required for the planned purchase.
Overseeing maritime and fisheries resources has become the ministry's top priority, in line with policies regulating foreign fishing vessels' permits and activities in Indonesian waters.
The government aims to only allow Indonesian fishermen to operate in the archipelago in the future, to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources.
Susi is scheduled to visit a number of shipbuilding companies in England and Scotland during her trip from April 17 to 23, as part of the ministry's efforts to seek assistance for the construction of the mothership.
One of the companies is London-based Houlder Ltd, which has more than 25 years of experience in the design and engineering of vessels for the marine and defense sectors.
Susi said she hoped an Indonesia-based shipbuilder could cooperate with Houlder to ensure a transfer of technology.
The ministry has sent a stern message to foreign-flagged vessels operating in Indonesian waters by sinking offending boats. Since Susi took office in 2014, 176 ships have been sunk, according to ministry data. (afr/rin)
