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Indonesia investigates Iranian, Panamanian tankers over STS oil transfer
The two foreign crude oil carriers are currently headed to Batam, Riau Islands, after they were intercepted on Sunday illicitly transferring oil at sea in Indonesian waters.
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The Iranian flagged MT Horse and the Panamanian flagged MT Frea are seen anchored in the waters off Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Jan. 24, 2021. The Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) reportedly caught the two foreign tankers conducting an illegal ship-to-ship (STS) oil transfer in violation of Indonesia's right of transit passage. (Courtesy of Bakamla/-)
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ndonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) is still investigating two foreign vessels alleged of conducting an illegal ship-to-ship (STS) crude oil transfer operation on Sunday in the waters off Pontianak, West Kalimantan province.
“The two vessels are still en route to Batam. We expect them to arrive tomorrow [Jan. 26],” Bakamla sea operations director Cdre. Suwito told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Suwito added that the vessels were under the escort of Bakamla patrol vessel KN Marore 322, with the reinforcement of patrol vessel KN Belut Laut 406.
KN Marore 322 intercepted the Iranian flagged MT Horse and Panamanian flagged MT Freya “red-handed” as the two tankers were conducting an STS oil transfer operation, having turned off their Automatic Identification System (AIS), lowered their flags and covered up the vessels’ names.
Both tankers are very large crude carriers (VLCCs), or “supertankers”, each capable of carrying up to 2.2 million barrels of crude oil. The Iran-flagged MT Horse is owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), while the Panama-flagged MT Freya is owned by Shanghai Future Ship Management.
Read also: Bakamla, USCG hold workshop amid discovery of suspected Chinese UUVs
Suwito said Bakamla chief Vice Adm. Aan Kurnia would establish a joint investigative task force that involved all relevant ministries and state institutions.
