Jakarta: The transportation ministry has applied the cabotage principle for several types of offshore vessels.
Director general for sea transportation Bobby Mamahit said offshore support vessels (OSV) have now been eliminated from the list of vessels foreign companies are allowed to operate in Indonesia.
“AHTS [anchor handling towage supply] vessels are no longer allowed [to be operated by foreign operators],” he told reporters.
Foreign dredging ships and OSVs with a capacity of less than 5,000 gt were previously allowed but under the new regulation, foreign companies are only allowed to operate ships over 5,000 gt, Bobby added.
“By revising the regulation we aim to encourage local shipping companies to provide these vessels to the offshore sector,” Bobby said.
Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA) chairperson Carmelita Hartoto welcomed the revision. “The change is for the better and the association is certain that the number of sophisticated offshore vessels will continue to grow following the issuance of the regulation,” Carmelita said. [16/04/14]
