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Govt mulls deploying sea marshal to guard coal export barges
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Members of Indonesian Navy monitor the situation on board the KAL Maribaya during a maritime patrol in Tegal, Central Java, on May. 30. (Antara/Oky Lukmansyah)
I
ndonesia is exploring the option of deploying a sea marshal to guard coal export barges, either involving the Indonesian Navy or private security firms, a senior minister said on Friday.
Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan said the government was seriously looking into the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the deployment of sea marshals to guard vessels delivering goods across borders, so that the plan would not violate any laws.
"For certain, [small vessels] delivering coal to the Philippines will be guarded by the sea marshal. Whether it's the Navy [or another body], we are still exploring the options," Luhut told journalists at his office.
The importance of protection for naval vessels is due to the fact that 15 percent of coal deliveries from Indonesia to neighboring countries use small vessels such as tugboats and barges, which have become the target of hijackings in the regional waters.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Military (TNI) said in a press release that the TNI Operations Assistant had met with the Philippine Military Operation Assistant on Thursday, during which they discussed strengthening security in the sea to prevent piracy and hostage-taking cases from reoccurring.
Aside from agreeing to conduct joint maritime patrols and exercises with Navy troops of both countries, the two delegations also agreed to discuss further measures on deploying a sea marshal to escort Indonesian and Philippine export vessels, the statement said. (bbn)
