Indonesia Shoots and Seizes Iran's Giant Tanker Transporting IDR 4.6 Trillion Oil
- A giant tanker named MT Arman 114 which is flagged by Iran was captured by the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla RI), Friday (7/7/2023).
Head of RI's Bakamla, Vice Admiral TNI Aan Kurnia said, MT Arman 114 carried out illegal activities in the North Natura Sea, which is included in Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The illegal activity took the form of transhipment or transfer of cargo from one ship to another on a ship with the Cameroon flag, MT STinos, which fled, dumped waste, and defrauded the automatic identification system (AIS).
The ship is crude oil or light crude oil (LCO) weighing 272,569 metric tons.
Based on Bakamla's estimate, the value of the oil cargo reached IDR 4.6 trillion.
Aan revealed that this ship has a very large size, almost like an aircraft carrier, with a length of up to 330 meters.
Normally, tankers are about 80 to 100 meters long, so they are almost the size of a football field.
Aan said that if the sale of oil was carried out legally, Indonesia could obtain income from the sale. At least, Indonesia will receive a tax percentage of total sales.
"This is extraordinary, the state should be able to receive significant taxes," said Aan.
Aan revealed that currently his party is carrying out further investigations regarding the illegal activities carried out by the ship. Bakamla has also coordinated with various related institutions, including the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, Immigration, the Indonesian Navy and the police.
Based on the results of the interim investigation, there were three legal violations allegedly committed by the ship.
These violations included transhipment, waste disposal, and automatic identification system (AIS) blackouts.
"From the results of the interim investigation, the suspicion that emerged was that the company ordered this ship to sell oil at a certain point because there were buyers there, so they made transit in Indonesian territory," said Aan.
"This activity can be considered as a detrimental action, as if there were no apparatus to supervise and act at will. This cannot be allowed. Finally, we will take legal action," he added.
Aan hopes that this case can be tried in court. According to him, this is important in order to give a deterrent effect to the perpetrators.
"I hope this case will be brought to court, with various existing legal processes, at least there will be a deterrent effect so they will not repeat similar actions in our waters," he said.
Arrest chronology
MT Arman 114 was arrested while carrying out illegal activities in the North Natura Sea.
Then, the patrol boat Bakamla, KN Pulau Marore-322 gave chase after finding this illegal activity.
"Because we don't want to stop, we continue to carry out according to the rules. So, we have a regulatory procedural stage to stop the ship, starting with communication, then speaking a little louder, then we have carried out warning shots," said Aan quoted from Kompas.com.
"Shoot into the air, forward, to the bow, stern of the ship, he still won't stop," he said again.
The ship MT Arman 114 then fled to Malaysia's EEZ.
Meanwhile, the MT STinos fled northwest.
Bakamla is also focused on pursuing MT Arman.
With good cooperation between Bakamla and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), KN Marore Island 322 was allowed to carry out a hot pursuit or entry by APMM into Malaysia's EEZ.
Aan said, this is a good implementation of cooperation between coast guards in ASEAN as has been built through the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum (ACF) mechanism.
"Fortunately the relationship between Bakamla and Malaysia is good so we can work together," said Aan.
From APMM sent seven personnel along with one helicopter which immediately descended on the MT Arman 114 ship.
Bakamla and APMM also arrested the ship.
After inspection, the ship MT Arman 114 had an Egyptian captain and 28 crew members from Syria.
The ship is loaded with Light Crude Oil (LCO) 272,569 metric tons.
Bakamla is currently investigating the activities of MT Arman 114 and MT STinos who fled, and where they came from.
"But one thing is clear, they are selling oil in our waters. So our territorial waters are often used for illegal activities," said Aan.
Based on the results of the investigation, MT ARMAN 114 is suspected of having committed an unlawful act as stipulated in Law Number 5 of 1983 concerning Indonesia's EEZ; Law No.17 of 2008 concerning Shipping and other Shipping Laws and Regulations; and Law 32 of 2009 concerningProtection and management of the environment.(*)
Indonesia Tembak dan Tangkap Kapal Tanker Raksasa Iran Pengangkut Minyak Rp 4,6 Triliun
- Sebuah kapal tanker raksasa bernama MT Arman 114 yang berbendera Iran berhasil ditangkap oleh Badan Keamanan Laut Republik Indonesia (Bakamla RI), Jumat (7/7/2023).
Kepala Bakamla RI, Laksamana Madya TNI Aan Kurnia mengatakan, MT Arman 114 melakukan aktivitas ilegal di Laut Natura Utara, yang masuk wilayah zona ekonomi eksklusif (ZEE) Indonesia.
Aktivitas ilegal itu berupa transhipment atau pemindahan muatan dari satu kapal ke kapal lain dengan kapal berbendera Kamerun, MT STinos, yang kabur, membuang limbah, dan melakukan pengelabuan automatic identification system (AIS).
Kapal tersebut minyak mentah atau light crude oil (LCO) seberat 272.569 metrik ton.
Berdasarkan perkiraan Bakamla, nilai muatan minyak tersebut mencapai Rp 4,6 triliun.
Aan mengungkapkan bahwa kapal ini memiliki ukuran yang sangat besar, hampir seperti kapal induk, dengan panjang mencapai 330 meter.
Normalnya, kapal tanker memiliki panjang sekitar 80 hingga 100 meter, sehingga kapal ini hampir seukuran lapangan bola.
Aan menyampaikan bahwa jika penjualan minyak tersebut dilakukan secara legal, Indonesia dapat memperoleh pendapatan dari hasil penjualan tersebut. Setidaknya, Indonesia akan menerima sejumlah persentase pajak dari total penjualan.
"Ini luar biasa, seharusnya negara dapat menerima pajak yang signifikan," ujar Aan.
Aan mengungkapkan bahwa saat ini pihaknya sedang melakukan penyelidikan lebih lanjut terkait aktivitas ilegal yang dilakukan kapal tersebut. Bakamla juga telah berkoordinasi dengan berbagai lembaga terkait, termasuk Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Politik, Hukum, dan Keamanan, Kementerian Dalam Negeri, Kementerian Luar Negeri, Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup, Imigrasi, TNI Angkatan Laut, dan kepolisian.
Berdasarkan hasil penyelidikan sementara, terdapat tiga pelanggaran hukum yang diduga dilakukan oleh kapal tersebut.
Pelanggaran-pelanggaran tersebut meliputi transhipment, pembuangan limbah, serta pemadaman automatic identification system (AIS).
"Dari hasil penyelidikan sementara, dugaan yang muncul adalah perusahaan memerintahkan kapal ini untuk menjual minyak di titik tertentu karena ada pembeli di sana, sehingga mereka melakukan transit di wilayah Indonesia," jelas Aan.
"Aktivitas tersebut dapat dianggap sebagai tindakan merugikan, seolah-olah tidak ada aparat yang mengawasi dan bertindak semaunya. Hal ini tidak dapat dibiarkan. Akhirnya, kita akan mengambil tindakan hukum," tambahnya.
Aan berharap agar kasus ini dapat disidangkan di pengadilan. Menurutnya, hal tersebut penting agar memberikan efek jera kepada para pelaku.
"Saya berharap kasus ini dibawa ke pengadilan, dengan berbagai proses hukum yang ada, setidaknya akan ada efek jera sehingga mereka tidak akan mengulangi lagi tindakan serupa di perairan kita," ungkapnya.
Kronologi penangkapan
MT Arman 114 ditangkap saat melakukan aktivitas ilegal di Laut Natura Utara.
Kemudian, kapal patroli Bakamla, KN Pulau Marore-322 mengejar usai mendapati adanya aktivitas ilegal tersebut.
“Karena tidak mau berhenti, kami tetap melaksanakan sesuai aturan. Jadi, kami ada tahap prosedur aturan untuk menghentikan kapal, mulai dari komunikasi, kemudian agak keras bicaranya, kemudian melakukan tembakan peringatan itu sudah kami laksanakan," kata Aan dikutip dari Kompas.com.
"Tembak ke udara, ke depan, ke haluan, buritan kapal, dia tetap tidak mau berhenti," ujarnya lagi.
Kapal MT Arman 114 kemudian kabur ke wilayah ZEE Malaysia.
Sementara kapal MT STinos kabur arah barat laut.
Bakamla pun fokus mengejar MT Arman.
Dengan adanya kerja sama yang baik antara Bakamla dengan Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM), KN Pulau Marore 322 diizinkan melakukan hot pursuit atau masuk oleh APMM ke ZEE Malaysia.
Aan mengatakan, ini merupakan implementasi kerja sama yang baik antara coast guard di ASEAN sebagaimana telah dibangun melalui mekanisme ASEAN Coast Guard Forum (ACF).
“Untungnya hubungan Bakamla dengan Malaysia ini baik sehingga kita bisa saling kerja sama,” kata Aan.
Dari APMM menerjunkan tujuh personel beserta satu helikopter yang langsung turun ke kapal MT Arman 114.
Bakamla dan APMM pun menangkap kapal tersebut.
Setelah diperiksa, kapal MT Arman 114 itu memiliki nakhoda berkebangsaan Mesir dengan anak buah kapal berjumlah 28 orang dari Suriah.
Kapal tersebut bermuatan Light Crude Oil (LCO) 272.569 metric ton.
Bakamla sedang mendalami aktivitas MT Arman 114 dan MT STinos yang kabur, serta dari mana mereka berasal.
“Tetapi yang jelas, mereka jual minyak di perairan kita. Jadi wilayah perairan kita sering digunakan kegiatan ilegal,” ujar Aan.
Berdasarkan hasil pemeriksaan, MT ARMAN 114 diduga telah melakukan perbuatan melawan hukum sebagaimana diatur dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1983 tentang ZEE Indonesia; UU No.17 Tahun 2008 tentang Pelayaran dan Peraturan Perundang-undangan dibidang Pelayaran lainnya; dan UU 32 Tahun 2009 tentang Perlindungan dan Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup.(*)
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