Indonesian navy officers are requesting $375,000 in order to release a tanker
- Indonesian naval personnel have requested $375,000 to release a petroleum tanker they held last week for mooring illegally in Indonesian waters off Singapore.
- The incident follows a dozen such detentions reported by Reuters last year.
- According to the two security sources, the Nord Joy petroleum tanker was boarded by armed navy officers on May 30 while anchored in Indonesian waters to the east of the Singapore Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime lanes.
Indonesian navay officer have requested $375,000 to release a petroleum tanker they held last week for mooring illegally in Indonesian waters off Singapore.
The incident follows a dozen such detentions reported by Reuters last year. Ship owners made unofficial payments of around $300,000 each in such circumstances, and the vessels seized by the Indonesian navy east of Singapore were released.
According to the two security sources, the Nord Joy petroleum tanker was boarded by armed navy officers on May 30 while anchored in Indonesian waters to the east of the Singapore Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime lanes.
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“It is totally illegal,” Indonesian navy spokesman Julius Widjojono said when asked if naval officers had sought for $375,000 to release the Nord Joy. He did not respond to demands for additional information.
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He verified that the Nord Joy had been held by Indonesian navy forces on suspicion of illegally anchoring in Indonesian seas, infringing Indonesian sea passage rights, and sailing without a national flag.
“According to preliminary information, (the case) is still under investigation at the Batam naval base,” he said.
Anchoring without a permit is punishable in Indonesia by a year in prison for the captain of a vessel and a fine of 200 million rupiah ($13,840), according to Widjojono.
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