U.S. donates patrol boats to RI national police

Antara News, Fri, June 3 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The U.S. Departments of Justice and State recently delivered two boats to the Indonesian National Police as part of the Indonesia Maritime Security Project (MARSEC), The U.S. Embassy here said in its official website on Friday.

The two boats increase to 19 the total number of boats provided to Indonesia as part of the MARSEC program. The patrol boats are deployed throughout the archipelago to assist Indonesia in securing vital maritime borders, sea lanes, natural resources, and ports.

In the first year of operation, the U.S.-provided boats seized over $10 million USD in contraband and continue to be an integral and effective component of Indonesia`s maritime security efforts.

Currently, the patrol boats are deployed in Batam-Riau, Sumatra; Bangka Island Straits, Balikpapan; Tarakan, Kalimantan; Bitung, North Sulawesi; Sorong, Papua; and Ternate-Sofia, North Maluku.

The United States Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program`s (ICITAP) mission in Indonesia is to support the development of the operational and organizational capacity and competencies of the Government of Indonesia`s law enforcement agencies.

ICITAP is funded by the U. S. Department of State`s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and provides organizational development interventions, technical assistance, training, and equipment donations to augment Indonesia`s law enforcement efforts.

ICITAP support helps the Indonesian National Police continue its transition to a professional democratic law enforcement organization utilizing internationally accepted law enforcement standards and practices.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

Navy to axe 'Fukushima type' nuclear reactors from submarines

Reactors sharing similar design to ones at Japanese plant to be dropped because they fail to meet safety standards

guardian.co.uk, Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent, Wednesday 23 March 2011

Trident submarines based at Faslane, Scotland, and six Trafalgar-class
subs have reactors similar to the ones involved in Japan's nuclear
crisis. Photograph: Corbis

The Royal Navy is to drop a dangerous type of reactor used in its existing nuclear submarines because it fails to meet modern safety standards, defence ministers have disclosed.

A safer type of reactor is expected to be used in the submarines that will replace the Trident fleet, as the existing design shares very similar features to the nuclear reactors involved in the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan.

Liam Fox, the defence secretary, told MPs there was a "very clear-cut" case to use the new type of reactor because it has "improved nuclear safety" and would give "a better safety outlook".

A heavily censored Ministry of Defence report disclosed earlier this month by the Guardian and Channel 4 News said the current reactors are "potentially vulnerable" to fatal accidents, which could cause "multiple fatalities" among submarine crews.

The report, written by a senior MoD nuclear safety expert, Commodore Andrew McFarlane, said the existing type compared "poorly" with those in the most modern nuclear power stations because it relied on a vulnerable type of cooling system, falling "significantly short" of modern best practice for nuclear reactors.

McFarlane warned that the naval reactors are "potentially vulnerable to a structural failure of the primary circuit". An accident could release "highly radioactive fission products", posing "a significant risk to life to those in close proximity and a public safety hazard out to 1.5km [1 mile] from the submarine".

Known as the PWR2, this type is used in the four Trident submarines based at Faslane, near Glasgow, and six Trafalgar-class ones now being taken out of service. Like the Fukushima power station north of Tokyo, the PWR2 relies entirely on back-up power supplies to provide emergency cooling in the event of an accident.

Despite the anxieties about its safety, PWR2s are also being fitted in the seven Astute-class submarines being built. These vessels will also be based at Faslane.

There have been debates within the MoD and the navy about whether the PWR2 should be used if a replacement to Trident is finally approved – or if a safer type, PWR3, should replace it. The PWR3 uses "passive" cooling, which makes it far less reliant on back-up power, and has additional methods of injecting coolant into a reactor.

The PWR3 is widely used in modern US nuclear submarines. The debate has delayed a decision on what type of reactor to install by 18 months, McFarlane's report disclosed, and has cost a further £261m.

Fox was questioned in the Commons on the reactor's safety by Angus Robertson, the Scottish National party's defence spokesman, after the disclosure of the report. Fox said: "The government's view is that that is the preferred option, because those reactors give us a better safety outlook. That is a debate on both sides of the Atlantic, but we believe that in terms of safety, the case is very clear-cut."

Robertson said: "This still raises concerns about the currently operational and incoming nuclear submarines, which don't satisfy acceptable safety standards. The UK should give up its nuclear obsession."

John Ainslie, from the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, who uncovered the original McFarlane report, said the new reactor would push up costs for the Trident replacement fleet by billions of pounds, since it would need designing and testing.

"There is another option: they should completely abandon their plan to squander billions on new nuclear submarines," he said.

Maritime casualty reports increase to 128 cases in 2010

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/28/2010

The National Commission of Transportation Safety (KNKT) revealed Tuesday that the number of maritime casualty reports had increased to 128 cases in 2010 from 124 cases in 2009.

“Although the number of cases rose, the [human losses] decreased to 185 people from 247 victims in 2009,” KNKT chairman Tatang Kurniadi said in Jakarta.

The KNKT also noted 50 percent of the casualties involved motorboats, cargo carriers and container ships, while the casualties involving tug boats accounted for only 21 percent.

“In the Java Sea there were 48 incidents, as it is the busiest waterway in the country,” he said.

Tatang added that from the total cases, KNKT only investigated five severe incidents.

SeaWorld fined $75,000 after death of animal trainer

CNN, August 23rd, 2010

SeaWorld has been fined $75,000 by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three safety violations, including one classified as willful, after the death of one of its animal trainers in February.

The agency's investigation "revealed that SeaWorld trainers had an extensive history of unexpected and potentially dangerous incidents involving killer whales at its various facilities, including its location in Orlando," said an OSHA statement Monday. "Despite this record, management failed to make meaningful changes to improve the safety of the work environment for its employees."

There was no immediate response from SeaWorld to the announcement.

– From CNN's Dugald McConnell

Former SeaWorld safety chief Linda Simons claims she was fired for talking too much to federal investigators following the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau (r.). (Connell/AP)

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Mutinous Crew on Spirit of Majapahit Brings Historic Voyage to Abrupt End

Jakarta Globe, Stephanie Riady | August 13, 2010

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• Spirit of Majapahit to Sail to Eight Countries in Pride-Building Sea Voyage 12:34am Jul 5, 2010
• Tourism Minister Sees Off Ship to Eight Countries6:31pm Jul 4, 2010

Manila. When the Spirit of Majapahit, a reconstruction of a 13th-century merchant ship, embarked on its eight-country expedition a month ago, it hoped to showcase the country’s maritime spirit and relive the past glory of the Majapahit Empire.

But after visiting just two countries, its crew members are heading home on a plane, and the ship will be sent back to Indonesia in a container.

“The expedition ended because of bad weather, mismanagement and the ship’s poor condition, which renders it unusable,” an Indonesian crew member said in a text message to the Jakarta Globe.

The decision came following mediation talks held late on Friday night in Manila.

The ship, which has 10 Indonesian and three Japanese crew members, docked in the Philippines capital on Aug. 4. It was supposed to depart for the Japanese island of Okinawa two days later, but bad weather and technical problems derailed plans.

Vera Kilapong, from the social and cultural division of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, said that while waiting for the boat’s navigational equipment to be fixed, the crew members discussed a number of problems and decided to mutiny.

According to crew members, the ship, supposedly designed to break through five-meter waves, was in bad shape and could have been seriously damaged by two- to three-meter waves.

Aside from safety issues and bad weather, the crew members cited a lack of insurance and delayed payments as reasons for wanting to abandon the voyage.

Suroso, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s director of archeological heritage, flew to Manila on Friday to try to convince the Indonesian crew members to continue with the voyage.

But after the meeting, it was decided that the crew — and their ship — would return home, albeit separately.

​“I thank God almighty because the meeting went well, and what [our demands] as the crew of the Spirit of Majapahit were met by the ministry, represented by the presence of Pak Suroso,” said the crew member, who asked not to be identified.

“The crew will be returned home on a plane as soon as possible, and the outstanding wages will be settled by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.”

The crew member said that it had been decided the ship would be sent home in a specially-designed container for ships, “as has been done with other Indonesian [replica] ships like the Phinisi Nusantara, the Arung Samudera and others.”

“This expedition will be my first and last,” the crew member added.

The original plan was to preserve the Spirit of Majapahit at a museum and turn it into a tourist attraction after it returned from its expedition.

Tourism officials could not be reached for comment on Friday, and it is unclear whether this plan will still be pursued.

SBY warns travelers about extreme weather threat

AdiantoP. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 08/11/2010 9:59 AM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has told travelers and transportation operators to bewary of extreme weather, as millions are expected to return to their hometownsfor the Idul Fitri holiday next month.

During a Cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat on Tuesday, Yudhoyono ordered theTransportation Ministry and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency(BMKG) to take measures to prevent transportation accidents caused by poorweather conditions.

“Extreme weather changes have already hit Indonesia,” he said.

“The weather is currently unfriendly; we need to remind people to be careful.”

Idul Fitri falls on Sept. 10 and 11 this year.

Millions of people from big cities across the country will return to their hometowns ina nationwide phenomenon called mudik, to celebrate Idul Fitri with theirrelatives.

The most popular transportation modes include airplane, ferry, bus, train, private carand motorcycle.

Yudhoyono said the BMKG needed to share weather forecasts with local governments and seaand land transportation operators.

“Don’t underestimate [the importance of weather forecasts],” he said.

The President mentioned the severe weather conditions currently plaguing severalother countries at the moment, including forest fires in Russia, landslides inChina and floods in Pakistan and India.

The BMKG posts daily weather forecasts and information about tidal activity on itswebsite.

The BMKG earlier forecast that this year’s dry season would arrive in Sumatra, Java,Bali, Sulawesi and Maluku sometime from May to June.

The forecast was then revised to July due to unexpected rises in sea temperaturesthat caused massive evaporation and heavy rains.

The agency said the La Nina weather phenomena would also cause extreme weather inIndonesia.

Last March,the BMKG issued an annual weather forecast stating that the dry season wouldfall in June at the latest.

However, rains continue to sweep several big cities in the country, including Jakarta.

Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said he had sent letters to governors, regents andmayors telling them to take action to prevent transportation accidents.

“All air, land and sea transportation operators must halt operations if the BMKGissues a serious weather warning,” he said.

Experts have said extreme weather conditions could increase in intensity due to climatechange caused by global warming.

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Indonesian Lawmaker’s Death in Shipwreck Raises Questions

Jakarta globe, Anita Rachman | August 08, 2010

Jakarta. House Commission III overseeing legal affairs plans to discuss lawmaker safety following a maritime mishap that left a legislator and the wife of another dead in North Sulawesi over the weekend.

“We will seriously discuss the issue that state officials, including members of the House, should also get protection at sea,” Achmad Dimyati, a lawmaker from the United Development Party (PPP), said on Sunday.

Dimyati himself had been on board the boat that overturned in Manado. Some 20 lawmakers, some with their families, were aboard.

Setia Permana, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Wahyu Nurani, wife of Democratic lawmaker Sutjipto, drowned in the accident.

Dimyati said there should be more rigid standards at sea, “not only for state officials, but for all the people. And not only in North Sulawesi, but also across the archipelago.”

He said the doomed ship was not seaworthy, and didn’t receive adequate rescue assistance.

“The boat was not in proper condition,” he said.

“We are sorry that the captain is being held by the police, but there should be someone held responsible for this, so that this same kind of thing won’t happen in the future.”

North Sulawesi Police spokesman Benny Bella told the Jakarta Globe by telephone that the captain, Alex Lahengko, 34, was being detained by the police.

“We aren’t detaining people just because the victims were lawmakers or their families, this is the normal treatment,” he said.

However, Commission III member Nudirman Munir, who was also on the boat when it capsized, said that it was unfair to blame the incident on the captain.

He said the local government should be held responsible because it did not strictly apply and check the safety standards of all boats in the area.

“The municipality of Manado should be held responsible for this,” he said. “The captain is just a regular worker. [The accident happened at] a recreational area. Many people, including foreign tourists, come there. How come they don’t have first aid or lifeguards on the beach?”

Nudirman said that the commission would ask local governments to do a better job of managing their territorial waters.

“Not only in Manado, but in all places, in Maluku and Irian Jaya [Papua], there should be water police patrols and beach guards.

“The police should add to their teams covering the water,” the lawmaker said, adding that local governments should also prohibit people from operating old boats.

Nudirman also took the opportunity to say that lawmakers were not given enough money on working visits to far-off regions. “Rupiah 15 million ($1,700) for a working visit, including the flight and the transportation and the protocols, that’s not enough,” he said.

Eva Kusuma Sundari, from the PDI-P, said that she also got about Rp 15 million for the three- day working visit.

She said the sailing trip had been optional, and several lawmakers, including Ruhut Sitompul, from the Democratic Party, skipped it.

“It was a tragedy,” she said. “If there was really a mistake, it was with the operational standards.

“Without a standardized operational system, people will become victims,” she said.

“Don’t take notice just because the victims were lawmakers. The same treatment should be given to everyone,” she said.

US envoy dedicates maritime radar equipment for Indonesia

Antara News, Thursday, July 1, 2010 18:38 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume dedicated $56 million in coastal and shipboard radar systems at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Batam Regional Maritime Command Center on Wednesday (June 30).

The systems included 16 coastal radars, 11 shipboard radars, one set of headquarters equipment and two regional command centers, according to information on the official website of the US embassy here Thursday.

The Indonesian and US governments actively collaborated in the planning and installation of the systems. Indonesia can now boast one of the world`s longest Integrated Maritime Surveillance Systems, the embassy said.

The network covers more than 1,205 kilometers of coast line in the Straits of Malacca and approximately 1,285 kilometers of coast line in the Sulawesi Sea.

The intent of the donation is to ensure Indonesia has an initial operating capacity to detect, track and monitor vessels passing through Indonesian and international waters,the US embassy said.

This capability will help Indonesia combat piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling of goods and people as well as provide situational awareness to maintain Indonesia`s border security and fight terrorism.

RI to set up radar to monitor Ambalat, Tahuna waters

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 05/02/2010 11:00 AM

The government said Sunday it planned to establish a radar system to monitor Ambalat waters in East Kalimantan and Tahuna waters in North Sulawesi, near the borders with Malaysia and the Philippines.

"When we complete the installation of the radar system in the two bodies of water, we will be able to monitor all ship movements in our waters," Defense Minister Purnomo said as quoted by kompas.com.

He said the radar would help prevent weapon smuggling, terrorism, illegal fishing and waste disposal activities.

Purnomo was on a working visit to Miangas and Marore Islands, North Sulawesi when he issued the statement.

RI, US navies to increase cooperation in Asia Pacific

Antara News, Monday, April 12, 2010 20:50 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and US navies have agreed to increase cooperation in maritime security in Asia Pacific.

It was learned here on Monday following a closed-door meeting between Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Agus Suhartono and the commander of the US 7th Fleet Command, Vice Admiral John M Bird.

"During the meeting, which was meant for a courtesy call, the two also discussed their commitment to increasing maritime cooperation in the region," the Indonesian Navy`s spokesman, Col Herry Setianegara, told ANTARA News.

He said the US Navy`s Seventh Fleet commander`s visit was also meant for deeping the relationship between the two countries` navies that had developed so far.

From its headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, the US 7th Fleet routinely sailed up to 52 million square miles of a stretch from "International Date Line" to the African Eastern Coast and from the Kuril Islands in the North to Antartics in the South to safeguard US interests.

The commander of the US Fleet holds three main authorities namely being the commander of a joint task force in dealing with natural disasters or military operations, the commander of naval operations in the territory under his jurisdiction which is his daily assignment and a defense commander.

In every meeting with his colleagues in the countries he visited the Fleet commander had always emphasized the importance of cooperation between the US and countries in Asia Pacific including Indonesia.

In connection with it, the US 7th Fleet routinely conducts joint military exercises with a number of Asia Pacific countries such as the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise with Indonesia and the Bilateral Sea Readiness and Training exercise with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.