"By ensuring the safety and security of shipping and protecting the Indonesian seas from all forms of disturbances and threats as well as preventing and dealing with damage to the maritime environment," the ministry's director general of sea transportation, Arif Toha, said in a statement received here on Monday.
He made his remarks on the 50th anniversary of KPLP on Monday (January 30, 2023). KPLP is one of the directorates under the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, which was inaugurated on January 30, 1973.
The legal basis for the KPLP has been provided by Shipping Regulations (Scheepvaart Reglement) LN 1882 Number 115 junto LN 1911 Number 399 (police at sea), the Shipping Law (Scheepvaart Ordonantie) 1936 (Stb.1936 No 700), Shipping Regulations 1936 Article 4, and the Territorial Sea and Maritime Environment Ordinance 1939 Article 13.
Furthermore, throughout its history, KPLP has made many achievements, both on a national and international scale, he noted.
“The Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation is a maritime administration that becomes Indonesia's representative at the World Maritime Organization/IMO. In carrying out patrol duties at sea, KPLP officers always adhere to the applicable laws and international rules,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the director of KPLP, Mugen S. Sartoto, said that it has always been committed to fulfilling responsive values, namely responsibility, ownership, integrity, and factuality.
"As the front guard in protecting Indonesian waters, this principle must always be upheld, especially when providing services to the public and, of course, as an effort to enforce the law in the shipping sector," Sartoto disclosed.
Apart from carrying out the state's duties related to securing the seas, KPLP also functions as a law enforcement agency for ensuring shipping safety, he added.
He said that the KPLP has helped boost Indonesia’s respect at the global level. It has also made a major contribution to maintaining compliance with the convention rules in several aspects, including seaworthiness, safety, security, order, and maritime protection.
"KPLP personnel throughout Indonesia have been specially trained and have investigative and law enforcement functions based on national and international provisions," Sartoto informed.
KPLP currently has nine thousand personnel with total patrol boat assets of 369 units consisting of 7 class I ships (60 meters), 15 class II units (42 meters), 51 class III units (28 meters), 53 class IV units (17 meters), and 243 class V units (12 meters).
They include 35 ships under the 5 Sea and Coast Guard Bases (PLP) throughout the country, namely Class I PLP Tanjung Priok, Class II PLP Tanjung Uban, Class II Surabaya PLP, Class II Bitung PLP, and Tual PLP Class II.
Related news: MV Tatamailau turns into floating hotel for Sail Tidore
Related news: KPLP begins evacuating crew from tanker aground in Riau Island
Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
