"Penal action should be taken against Captain Keith Michael Tailor following his negligence in performing the duties of a ship leader, such as miscalculating the waves, currents, and natural conditions," Herman Khaeron, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, stated in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to the politician from the Democrat Party, penal action is required, as the captain had violated Law Number 32 of 2009 on environment conservation and Law Number 1 of 2014 on the management of seaside and small islands areas.
He added that the government should also continue to supervise and monitor the conservation area, which has become an asset of Indonesias natural wealth.
Head of Marine Management of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Brahman Satyamurti Poerwadi stated that Law Number 32 of 2009 on Natural Conservation and Law Number 31 of 2004 on fisheries were violated.
He remarked that the KKPs review indicated that the damage caused to the reefs is considered a penal crime, and at least the ships captain should be held responsible for it.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry should be tasked with conducting the investigation since it holds the detailed data, according to Poerwadi.
The government will also conduct a survey along with SPICA Service Indonesia, the boat insurance service agency in Indonesia, on Friday, Mar 17, to assess the losses due to the damage to the reefs.
Deputy of Maritime Sovereignty Coordination Arif Havas Oegroseno noted that the government had contacted the agency that owns MV Caledonian Sky and SPICA to discuss the responsibility claim for the damage caused to the coral reefs in Raja Ampat on Mar 4.
"Does the insurance cover the compensation for the reef damage and other related losses or only covers the penal action against the captain?" he questioned.
Dony, the branch manager of SPICA Services Indonesia who represented the ships owner, said his side will offer compensation for the claim submitted by the third party, with a requirement of a survey and on-site data verification.
However, since the government has already deployed the survey team, which will return to Jakarta this Saturday, they will renew the deal and will hold a joint survey of the site involving the Indonesian and SPICA teams.
According to SPICA Services Indonesia, the identification and verification processes by the government and insurance agency could be accelerated by conducting a joint survey.
"The point is that we will not ignore this problem and will continue to coordinate with the government," Dony stated, adding that his side will sent an independent surveyor who is a reef expert from an Indonesian university.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
