Govt to continue policy to limit of operational ships` age

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Transportation Department will continue implementing its policy to limit the age of operational ships in the country to a maximum of 25 years, a spokesman said.

"But the policy will be applied in a flexible way," M Harijogi, director general of sea transportation, said here Monday.

The policy would also be executed with due consideration of a ship`s actual condition and the way in which it was maintained, he said.

"This means a ship that has reached the maximum age limit will first be subjected to a comprehensive inspection. If the vessel proves to be still in good condition, it will be allowed to remain in service," he added.

But if the ship is in bad condition, it will definitely be prohibited from further transporting people because of the safety risks involved, Harijogi said.

He explained the department had not yet issued a relevant regulation as the matter was still being studied. In addition, the rule would be applied only to passenger ships.

The maximum age limit for ships would be part of a plan to review the existing rule on the age limit of aircraft which is now deemed necessary in light of the recent series of transportation accidents in the country.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (Inaca) has rejected the government`s plan to put a limit on the age of ships that can be operated.

The measure would curtail the national shipping industry`s capability to invest in new ships, Inaca said, adding that accidents had nothing to do with the age of ships.

Harijogi admitted that a ship`s age was more likely to affect its performance in terms of engine power, speed, and fuel consumption (than its safety).

The factor that was directly related with a ship`s safety was its maintenance but then it was also common knowledge that Indonesian shipping companies` performance in the maintenance of their ships was still low, Harijogi said.