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Dredging and reclamation companies struggle to mend business image
Early this month, local dredging and reclamation companies established a business association called the Indonesian Dredging and Reclamation Association (IDRA)
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An aerial view shows the reclamation of islets C and D in Jakarta Bay, on the Northern Jakarta coast in this undated photo. Local dredging and reclamation companies recently established a business association called the Indonesian Dredging and Reclamation Association (IDRA) (The Jakarta Post/Rendi A. Witular)
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redging and reclamation companies are often seen as environmentally unfriendly and portrayed negatively in the media. In fact, for Indonesia as an archipelagic country, such activities are quite needed to make waterways for sea connectivity and seaport development, among other things.
Earlier this September, contractors involved in dredging and reclamation works officially inaugurated the establishment of the Indonesian Dredging and Reclamation Association (IDRA), which would serve as a business forum and lobbying group for them.
IDRA chairman Erick Limin, who is also the managing director of Limin Marine & Offshore, said the association would not only serve as a communication platform for its 104 members, but also as a lobbying body to promote the business image, healthy competition and good practices in dredging and reclamation works.
Erick said local dredging and reclamation companies still faced many challenges such as an unfriendly business climate, unsupportive regulations, unhealthy competition due to the domination of foreign companies and a lack of respect from the people, who still had a negative perception of dredging and reclamation works.
“That is why the association was established. As of today, many stakeholders are still unfamiliar with dredging and reclamation works. The people and the media still see dredging and reclamation works negatively,” he said during the inauguration of the association on Sept. 6.
Dredging and reclamation works, Erick said, could not be separated from infrastructure development in Indonesia as an archipelagic country. “On the land, we have roads for vehicles to travel on, in the sea we have what we call waterways, shipping channels so big ships can pass through. Dredging works are needed to take the sediment from the sea that prevents big ships from reaching the seaport area,” he said.
Erick acknowledged that dredging and reclamation could cause environmental problems if it was not carried out well. However, the negative environmental impact can be mitigated if the the works are based on good dredging and reclamation practices. Thus, one of the association’s missions is to promote good practices among its members, he added.
