Fugro receives Australia, Indonesia seismic work

Energycurrent.com, Filed from Aberdeen 11/6/2007 1:52:04 PM GMT

NETHERLANDS: Netherlands-based Fugro has been awarded two contracts for 3-D marine seismic surveys in Australia and Indonesia and received a letter of intent for another seismic contract in Indonesia. The total contract value is US$68.5 million.

Fugro has been awarded a 1,700 square kilometre (656 square mile) 3-D seismic survey for ConocoPhilips in Australia. Fugro's seismic vessel Geo Atlantic will undertake the two-month project offshore northwestern Australia beginning later this month.

In addition, a further letter of award was agreed upon with ConocoPhilips, and a letter of intent was received from StatoilHydro, each for a 3-D seismic survey in Indonesia.

These contracts cover two neighbouring blocks with a total area of 3,500 square kilometres (1,351 square miles). The vessel Geo Atlantic will take on the work after the Australian survey. All the surveys will be undertaken with a 10 streamer spread.

RI warships to secure Bali waters for UN climate change confab

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) will deploy a few of its warships in the waters around Bali to strengthen maritime security for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference scheduled to take place on the resort island Dec 1-14, 2007, a spokesman said.

"The TNI AL will surely deploy some of its warships to secure the waters around Bali as thousands of foreign delegates will attend the conference," chief of the Indonesian Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command`s information service Lt Col Toni Syaiful said here Friday.

But he stopped short of revealing the number of warships to be involved in the security maintenance effort.

"The TNI AL has a number of fast patrol ships which can be easily used to secure the waters," he said.

In securing Bali island waters, the TNI AL would coordinate with the water and air police and the sea and coast guard unit, he said.

"We hope the event which will involve other countries will run smoothly because it is related with Indonesia`s image in the eyes of the world community," he said.

The conference which will seek to lay the groundwork for a new climate deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol will bring together about 15,000 participants from 168 countries. The Kyoto Protocol will expire in 2012.

Sharks lure tourists to islands

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Jepara

"That's amazing! I can't believe I'm looking at sharks with my own eyes. Until now I've only seen them on TV," said Ratna.

Ratna, a girl from Banjarnegara in Central Java, had just arrived at a shark breeding facility on Menjangan Besar island some 90 kilometers from Jepara, Central Java.

The facility, owned and operated by Satmoko, has two shark pools located on the beach that are open to the public. An attractive stone barrier separates the large, naturalistic pools from the ocean. Bushy corals and a variety of other marine life thrive here.

However, Ratna decided not to take a dip. In one pool there were 20 adult black sharks, many 1.5 meters long. Swimming alongside them in the second pool there were 30 baby white sharks.

"I have been running this facility for 20 years, so its much older than Karimun National Park," said Satmoko, referring to the protected status of the islands.

He told The Jakarta Post it all started as a hobby and because of his fondness for sharks and other sea creatures.

To populate the aquarium, Satmoko, a former fisherman, purchased some baby sharks that were caught near the island. Satmoko's partner Ismiyati and two assistants help him run the aquarium.

The shark hatchery isn't a business enterprise, he explained. So, it's open to the public and there is no charge. "I don't receive a cent. I'm just happy that people can visit and enjoy the sharks and the environment."

Everyone who visits the nursery gets to see sharks close up. True thrill seekers are allowed to enter the pools and swim with the massive fish.

Besides sharks, Satmoko also breeds clown fish, tiger fish, rainbow fish and various other decorative species.

Ismiyati said the facility required up to 20 kilograms of fish per day to feed the sharks.

Satmoko and Ismiyati financed the facility themselves. They said they were willing to provide young sharks to individuals or institutions interested in shark breeding.

"I don't set a price (on hatchlings). I just need enough money to cover delivery costs," he said, adding that he had just sold a 40 centimeter shark to a buyer in Pati, Central Java for Rp 800,000.

The facility also recently provided a three-meter white shark to Sea World in Ancol, Jakarta.

Satmoko said he hoped the facility would play a role in luring visitors to the island chain.

"I hope they will have a wonderful time and share their experience -- the beauty of Karimun Jawa -- with friends back home. Hopefully, this will increase the number of visitors."

The island is one of 27 in the protected island chain and boasts picturesque landscapes and relatively little environmental damage. Only four islands are inhabited.

Visitors to Karimun Jawa can go swimming, sunbathing, fishing and diving.

Minister goes to the docks, likes what she sees

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Irked by the customs service's long-tainted image as a hotbed of corruption and poor service, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati took herself down to the docks to see how things have improved -- or worsened, as the case may be.

During an impromptu inspection of Tanjung Priok Port on Thursday, the minister -- to her satisfaction -- witnessed customs officers intercept a shipment of three luxury cars -- a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and a Rolls Royce Phantom -- worth Rp 11.8 billion (US$1.3 million) that were imported illegally through the misuse of diplomatic permits.

In recent months, the customs service at Tanjung Priok has also intercepted 117 commercial vehicles and used trucks that were improperly described on the customs documents as ambulances.

Other contraband involved 112 containers of banned bone meal worth Rp 5 billion, and thousands of gas cylinders -- which have recently been in the spotlight in relation to the government's gas conversion program.

There was also an attempt to illegally export 30 containers of unprocessed timber and rattan worth Rp 23 billion.

The interceptions and seizures represent the initial results of the reform of the Tanjung Priok customs office since it was designated in April as a pilot project as part of the Finance Ministry's latest effort to overhaul the service.

The ministry recently rescreened 4,000 of its 11,000 customs officials, with only 1,800 been reappointed to the service. It then recruited new officers, with some 800 of these currently assigned to Tanjung Priok Port.

"All institutions are prone to abuse of power, corruption, and other unscrupulous practices. But if we just talk about stopping it without doing anything, then nothing will actually happen," Sri Mulyani said.

"Cleaning up and beefing up Tanjung Priok is the first step for the customs service. Things should be better with new people and a new sense of integrity."

Sri Mulyani also referred to efforts to rescreen and reregister all customs clearance firms as most appeared to be deeply involved in bribery and smuggling.

Many regard the customs service as being among the most corrupt institutions in the country, along with the tax service, which also comes under the authority of the Finance Ministry.

A recent survey by the University of Indonesia's LPEM economic think tank revealed how the scale of illegal fees charged by customs officials had increased, while services were perceived as having improved, indicating that people may simply be paying for better service.

The reform program for the customs service also includes expediting clearance at the country's ports to between 20 minutes and 4 hours, if inspection is needed.

Sri Mulyani said that similar, reformed customs offices would be set up at Indonesia's other ports so as to prevent smuggling and corruption being transferred to those ports after Tanjung Priok had been cleaned up.

Regarding Thursday's attempted smuggling of luxury cars, Sri Mulyani said that her ministry was working with the Foreign Ministry to tighten up the procedures for the use of diplomatic permits.

Since 2003, customs have seized 208 luxury cars -- 43 this year alone -- with all of them being associated with the same suppliers in Singapore.

Zero tolerance for illegal fishing: Australia

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Despite mounting public outcry in Indonesia, the Australian government is adamant about continuing its zero-tolerance approach toward Indonesian fishermen caught in its waters.

Australia's ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer reiterated here Wednesday his government's stance on illegal fishing.

The country's laws specifically target fishermen using modern boats and industrial-grade fishing equipment.

When fishermen are caught violating Australian maritime laws, authorities generally sink their boats and destroy their equipment, Farmer said.

"However, fishermen using traditional boats and equipment are still allowed to fish in Australian waters ... specifically designated for that purpose," he said.

In 2006, Australian authorities apprehended a total of 359 ships belonging to Indonesian fishermen. In 2005, the number of crews caught violating the country's maritime laws numbered 279.

Farmer said in 2006, the Australian parliament ratified a law providing legal grounds for authorities to imprison foreign fishermen violating Australian laws.

Indonesian fishermen caught fishing in Australian waters face prison sentences of up to three years as well as the equivalent of a Rp 6.1 billion fine.

"We need to work together to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources on both sides of the border," he said, adding that illegal fishing was a common problem that cost the Australian and Indonesian economies millions of dollars each year.

The Ambassador is currently leading a delegation of embassy officials visiting East Nusa Tenggara to strengthen cooperation in the region and inspect a number of Australian aid projects.

On Thursday morning, Farmer is scheduled to officially open a junior high school Australia funded in Nunkurus village, 50 kilometers east of Kupang.

The school is one of 2,000 schools the Australian government plans to build in the country as part of a Rp 2.5 trillion program aimed at creating 330,000 new junior high school places by mid-2009.

In recent years in Nunkurus, elementary school graduates were unable to continue their education as the nearest junior high school was more than five kilometers away with no public transport available.

Between November 9 and 11, Farmer will visit Rote Island to educate coastal communities about the Australian government's new laws on illegal fishing.

Australian Customs officials joined forces with Indonesian Fisheries officials last month to conduct groundbreaking coordinated patrols along the maritime borders of both countries in an effort to prevent illegal fishing and other transnational crimes.

PNG to develop major tuna processing centre

Port Moresby (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) plans to make the country the tuna capital of the world by developing a multi-million kina Madang Marine Park to process Pacific catch, reports The National.

It has identified an 860-acre site at Vidar, outside Madang. The government believes that apart from increasing revenue 10-fold, the project will also create jobs for Papua New Guineans and other Pacific islanders.

PNG's Commerce, Trade and Industry Department, which is developing the concept closely with the Fisheries Authority and industry players, estimates that the project will cost about K100 million (US$36.3 million).

Somali pirates free two vessels

BBC News

Somali pirates have released two South Korean-owned fishing boats held since May in waters off the Horn of Africa.

The two boats and their 24 Asian crew members were escorted to safe waters by the US navy.

US naval personnel later boarded the vessels and gave the crew medical check-ups, said a US spokeswoman, Cdr Lydia Robertson.

The South Korean foreign ministry says the boats are now heading for Yemen and that the crew members are safe.

The crew members include 10 Chinese, four South Koreans, three Vietnamese, three Indians and four Indonesians.

Cdr Robertson said the US navy was also urging pirates on three other ships to leave the vessels and return to Somalia.

The waters off Somalia's coast lie close to crucial shipping lanes and are notorious for piracy.

The joy of fishing

Arief Suhardiman, The Jakarta Post

Sixty fishers from the fishyforum mailing list, most have never met each other before, gathered on Peucang island in Banten. The spirit of fishing united the fishers, whom consisted of beginners to experts (hardcore).

They are made up of 30 fishers in a speedboat and four wooden vessels while the rest on land of the Peucang island.

Fishers conducted almost of the technical aspects of fishing, such as trolling, jigging, popping, casting, drifting and bottom fishing.

For two days, they have caught various fish, such as Baronang (Rabbitfish), Kerapu (grouper), Barracuda, Tenggiri (Spanish Mackerel), Tuna and Giant Trevally.

On the first day at the area of Karang Copong and Karang Ajar, they caught tens of fish, which were enough to feed all of the crew. The next day, fishers at Noah's Ark vessel caught a Giant Trevally of about 20 kilograms before released it again to the sea.

Although exhausted after the trip, several of them heading back to Jakarta and Bandung in West Java, all were already looking forward for their next adventure.

RI succeeds in saving coral reefs, says researcher

Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's efforts to preserve its marine and coastal resources has seen a decline in the number of damaged coral reefs across the country's oceans this year, a researcher said Friday.

Indonesian Institute of Science's (LIPI) oceanography researcher Suharsono said recent data had revealed a decreased percentage of damaged coral reefs -- down to 32.05 percent from 33.17 percent in 2006.

"The declining number of coral reef destruction in Indonesia shows that people's awareness to preserve our abundant ocean resources has improved, thanks to support from the government and the public," Suharsono said.

The research divided the condition of coral reefs into four categories: poor, fair, good and excellent, with the country's areas divided into three regions: west, central and east.

According to research conducted from 908 observation sites across the country's waters, the number of "excellent" and "good" coral reefs had increased to 5.51 and 25.11 percent, respectively, from 2006 figures which sat at 5.23 and 24.26 percent.

Suharsono said the worst destruction had occurred in the western region, while the central region showed the highest number of coral reefs in good condition.

Despite the decline in damaged coral reefs, Suharsono said the reefs were still faced with threats, including natural disasters, global climate change, overfishing and destructive fishing.

Indonesia has the richest coral reefs in the world in terms of quantity and diversity.

The country initiated a multilateral partnership called the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) during APEC's meeting in September in Australia.

The initiative has been lauded as a positive political move by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a good step toward saving marine resources.

The CTI includes five Asia-Pacific countries -- the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor -- and a joint effort to preserve marine resources in the Coral Triangle Area, a region stretching from the central part of Indonesia to the Solomon Islands, and up from the Indian Ocean across the Philippines to the Pacific Ocean.

The 5.7-million-square-kilometer area is the global center of marine biodiversity with more than 600 coral species and 3,000 fish species, many of which are endemic.

The triangle is home to 76 percent of the world's total coral species and 50 percent of the world's reef fish species.

Syamsul Maarif, director general of coasts and small islands in the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, said coral reefs and species has significantly contributed to the livelihood of millions of people living in coastal areas.

He said efforts still needed to be improved to increase public awareness about the importance of preserving marine biological resources, while at the same time protecting resources needed for people's livelihoods.

Australia, Indonesia organizing joint fishery patrols

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said Australia and Indonesia had taken a "great leap forward" in efforts to prevent illegal fishing in the region following a groundbreaking coordinated fisheries patrol in the Arafura Sea this week.

According to the Australian Embassy here on Friday, Australian Customs Vessel (ACV) Arnhem Bay and Indonesian Fisheries Department vessels Hiu Macan 003 and Hiu Macan 004 patrolled their respective side of the Australia-Indonesia maritime border over four days from 29 October to 1 November. A Customs Coastwatch aircraft supported the patrols with daily aerial surveillance.

Ambassador Farmer said these coordinated patrols, a result of ongoing Australia-RI maritime cooperation over recent months, would raise the capacity of both countries to combat illegal fishing and other transnational crimes.

"Illegal fishing costs the Australian and Indonesian economies millions of dollars each year and serves to deplete substantially our fish stocks, which are an important source of food and a key trade commodity," Farmer said.

The operational patrol follows an exercise in June to fine tune communication arrangements. This is the first time, however, that the two nations have rendezvoused at sea to undertake civil cooperative patrolling.

The Commander of Australia`s Border Protection Command, Rear Admiral James Goldrick, welcomed the patrol as a "concrete sign of greater cooperation between Australia and Indonesia and a more coordinated approach to reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region".

Admiral Goldrick said the Australian Customs and Indonesian Fisheries vessels and surveillance aircraft had, in this patrol, exercised communication procedures and protocols in response to illegal fishing activities within our exclusive economic zones.

He said the patrol was part of a range of measures to enable Australian Customs vessels to work more closely with Indonesian fisheries patrol vessels and increase our overall capacity to apprehend illegal foreign fishing vessels in our respective waters.

Australia and Indonesia agreed to conduct coordinated patrols at the Australia-Indonesia Fisheries Surveillance Forum in Darwin in March. The Forum established measures for cooperation on fisheries surveillance and response activities, information sharing, coordinated activity, information networks, technical assistance, as well as options for funding of these activities.

Admiral Goldrick said ongoing border protection operations remained an important deterrent to illegal foreign fishing.

"Foreign fishing vessels continue to operate just beyond the boundaries of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ). A reduction in our border protection efforts could result in a resurgence of foreign fishing activity in our waters," he said.

In the 12 months to June 2007, there was a 58 percent reduction in sightings of illegal foreign fishing vessels in Australia`s northern waters, compared with the previous year. At the same time, Australian surveillance coverage in the area increased by around eight per cent, and the rate of apprehension of foreign fishing vessels to those sighted increased by more than 40 per cent.

Tsunami detectors to be installed in eastern RI provinces

Manado (ANTARA News) - Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) will soon install around 13 earthquake and tsunami detectors in the eastern Indonesian provinces of North Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Maluku, Manado BMG spokesman Subardjo said here on Friday.

"The installation of the detectors started earlier this year and is expected to be completed by next year," Subardjo said, adding that some of the devices had already been placed in Tahuna in North Sulawesi, Ternate and Labuha in North Maluku.

In addition, Subarjo said the detectors were also being installed at Marisa, Boalemo, and Kwandang in Gorontalo province and at Bolaang Mongondow and Dumoga in North Sulawesi province.

Navy thwarts turtle smuggling attempt

BADUNG (Jakarta Post): The Benoa naval base on Tuesday thwarted an attempt to smuggle dozens of protected turtles into Bali from Banyuwangi, East Java.

"We seized the boat that carried the turtles and arrested its five crew members," Navy officer Nyoman Lastera said Wednesday, as quoted by Beritabali.com newsportal.

He said the Navy seized dozens of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), some more than 30 years old.

The turtles will be released into the sea, while the crew members will be detained at the Benoa naval base.

Mangrove park proves popular with tourists

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

As a small island, Bali is prone to erosion, but protection of its vast beaches and mangrove forests, have helped save much land, an official said Thursday.

The mangrove forests along Jalan Bypass Ngurai Rai to Benoa Peninsula in Nusa Dua, for example, are known as a greater forest park, said Sudrajat Wirapraja, head of the program section of the Denpasar Mangrove Forest Management Agency.

The park initially had a coverage of about 1,700 hectares, but the road works and other public facilities have reduced this to 1,100 hectares.

Participants in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Nusa Dua next month will visit the park.

There are two mangrove management agencies-one based in Medan, North Sumatra, and the other in Denpasar, Sudrajat said. The Denpasar-based agency, he said, covers Java, Madura, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku islands to Papua, while the one in Medan covers Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Indonesia has 9.2 million hectares of mangroves, he said.

Mangroves are an assemblage of different species of trees or bushes which grow in saline, inter-tidal areas. The mangrove forest vegetation in Indonesia is classified into two categories genuine and association mangroves. The genuine mangroves are categorized into 34 major and 0 minor types, while the association mangroves consist of 60 varieties.

Out of that, more than 30 mangrove varieties grow along Bali's beaches.

"Generally speaking, the condition of mangrove vegetation is steadily increasing," Sudrajat said, adding that since 1992 over 400 hectares of barren lands had been reforested with mangroves.

An area which needs to be reforested is located On Benoa Peninsula, covering 50 hectares, he said.

He explained that the mangrove vegetation at the mangrove park reached an average height of 5-8 meters after about 12 years.

In line with its work division, the agency is responsible for formulating plans on mangrove forest rehabilitation and protection. Sudrajat said the was done in cooperation with various parties, including the government, communities along the beaches and others living inland as well as non-governmental organizations. Sudrajat and his staff provide 5,000 mangrove seedlings every year for planting by different groups.

Ideally, Sudrajat said, one hectare should have no more than 1,600 trees so as to enable them to grow to their optimum size. But in a rehabilitation area, up to 5,000 seedlings are planted in one hectare at an interval of 2 by 3 meters.policy is intended to anticipate dead plants, which cannot grow due to improper planting techniques or others," he said.

Planting mangroves isn't a simple thing to do.

"That's why, various parties asking for rehabilitation assistance have to tell the agency far earlier than the scheduled event. We provide seedlings free of charge. During the visit UNFCCC delegates will also plant mangrove seedlings in the park," he said.

Sudrajat added that the greater mangrove forest park had various benefits. Aside from its biological function, it contributed greatly to the economic and conservation sectors. Certain species of fish and crab use mangroves to seek food and protection. Fishermen are also able to make a living from the animals they catch there.

The park has also been developed as a recreation site park has been a part of objects offered to tourists in the city tour," Denpasar Tourism Agency head Putu Budiasa said.

Aside from its fresh air, the visitors have the chance to see various birds, monitor lizards and snakes. Sudrajat said up 97 bird species lived at the park, including migrating birds from Australia.

Visitors can walk along a raised wooden track or travel by boat and canoe.

Indonesia inviting foreign investment to develop seaweed potential

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has invited Danish, German, Japanese, South Korean and Southeast Asian businessmen to invest in the development of the country`s seaweed potential, Marine and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said.

The presence of foreign investors in the national seaweed industry would hopefully increase the country`s production and the capacity of its seaweed-based food industry, he said after the opening of an international forum on and exhibition of seaweed business here Tuesday.

"Indonesia has a seaweed development potential of 222,180 hectares but only 20 percent or 1,110,900 hectares of the potential has so far been realized with Rp68.2 million spent on development of every heactare," he said.

The country produced 1,079,850 tons of seaweed in 2006, up from 910,636 tons in 2005.

Numberi expressed hope Indonesia could produce at least 1.9 million tons of seaweed in 2009.

"Therefore, Indonesia needs to develop 25,000 more hectares and Rp800 billion in fresh investment to reach the target in 2009," he told the three-day expo which was being participated in by 150 businessmen from foreign countries.

Brunei Darussalam, Chinese and Malaysian entrepreneurs are also taking part in the expo.

Indonesia has already set up seaweed developing centers in 18 locations in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.

Singapore, Malaysia go to international court to settle island

Singapore (ANTARA News) - Singapore and Malaysia will appear before the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands next week to settle their claims to a strategically located island.

Both countries have said they will accept the court's decision on Pedra Branca and two outcrops in the Singapore Strait as the final word in the 28-year disagreement.

The hearings in the Hague, where the 15-member court is located, follow three rounds of pleadings between the two countries from March 2004 to November 2005.

The city-state has exercised sovereignty over the island since the 1840s when the British colonial government built a lighthouse there.

The island, about 40 kilometres east of Singapore, is strategically located at the eastern entrance of the strait.

Malaysia staked its claim to the island in 1979 and calls it Pulau Batu Putih, triggering the row.

An agreement was signed on February 6, 2003 to submit the dispute to the international body.

The court said on its website Wednesday that the city-state will have four days starting November 6 to present its case. Malaysia will make its case from November 13 to 16.

The court has set aside three weeks for the case, a Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement was quoted by DPA as saying.

Bali governor asks people to conserve endangered seaweed

Nusa Penida, Bali (ANTARA News) - Governor of world renown island tourist of Bali, Dewa Beratha, has asked farmers in Nusa Penida islet to conserve endangered seaweed called spinosum and increase cultivation of the plant.

In a working visit here on Wednesday, Beratha said the spinosum endangered water plant, which was only found in coastal areas in Nusa Penida islet, some 19 miles southeast of Denpasar, must be conserved.

Local people started to know that spinosum was endangered seaweed after the Bogor-based Institute of Agriculture and the Denpasar-based Udayana University conducted researches on the seaweed in Nusa Penida`s coastal area sometime ago, Beratha said.

The people began conserving and cultivating the seaweed afterwards.

Local farmers said selling price of the endangered seaweed was more expensive than common one`s.

Pirates 'overpowered' off Somalia

BBC News

A group of pirates that hijacked a cargo ship in the waters off Somalia have been overpowered by the ship's crew, according to one official.

The ship's capture was reported on Tuesday morning by the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme.

But a few hours later, the programme's Andrew Mwangura said the ship's 22 crew had regained control of the vessel.

Somalia is notorious for piracy. Only Indonesia's waters are considered more prone to pirate attacks.

Only on Monday, a Japanese vessel was seized off the East African coast.

After Tuesday's hijack, militiamen demanded a $15,000 (£7,250) ransom to free the vessel, said Paddy Ankunda, a spokesman for African Union troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

"The hijacking was masterminded by the same people who were supposed to bring it into the dock," he said.

The freighter had apparently unloaded its cargo - thought to have been sugar - by the time of its capture.

Mr Mwangura said the crew were sailing the ship back to Mogadishu after defeating the pirates.

"I hear the crew on the ship overpowered the gunmen. The crew were 22 while the gunmen were eight," he said.

KADIN calls for speedy improvement of sea-port facilities

Nanning, China (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has urged the government to soon improve facilities at Indonesian seaports as they were no longer adequate, thus often causing delays in the delivery of Indonesian exports.

"We want our sea transportation system to be improved, including its infrastructure as many export commodities such as coal, crude palm oil, oil and gas often get stuck due to conditions at our sea ports," KADIN Chairman MS Hidayat said here on Monday.

He made the statement amid the ongoing fourth China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) being held here October 28-31.

He said the government should also improve sea port facilities to prevent stagnation in the country`s exports.

Because of late delivery, Indonesian crude palm oil exports were often subjected to price deductions, he said "Our crude palm oil businessmen often complain as their selling price are often deducted for arriving late," he said.

He said foreign importers preferred to buy the commodity from Malaysia as the latter always sent their commodity on time.

He added the transportation minister was trying to help solve the problem by calling on Chinese businessmen to invest in sea ports in Indonesia so their facilities could be improved.

The fourth expo which opened on Sunday aimed to enhance regional cooperation in port development.

It is meant to serve as a forum for cooperation between China and ASEAN in both trade and investment as well to speed up the conclusion of a China-ASEAB Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

The Constitution of the Oceans

The Jakarta Post

I Made Andi Arsana, New York City

Attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York was an interesting experience. Being an observer, it was exciting for me to see how a negotiation and consultation went. The day I attended an informal consultation of the law of the sea was taking place. The moment reminded me that the future of ocean affairs and the law of the sea was being discussed in the room.

This year, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is 25 years old. People refer to it as the "Constitution of the Oceans", being the most comprehensive codified law of the sea in human history.

The road to establish the convention was long and winding, and it took nine years to finish before it was ratified by the majority of coastal states around the globe. To date, it has been signed by 154 coastal states and the European Union, including Indonesia, with the Law No. 17/1985.

The convention also deals with international maritime boundaries. In this regard, Indonesia has 10 neighboring states, namely India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Timor Leste, with which maritime boundaries need to be settled. To date, 18 agreements have been established making Indonesia one of the most productive in this regard. However, Indonesia still has work to do.

It has to be admitted that the journey of Indonesia remains colored in inconveniences concerning maritime boundary disputes. The Ambalat case, outer-island issues and pending maritime boundaries with Singapore are examples we see in the news even now. The story of Sipadan and Ligitan islands is a legend that keeps being retold.

Now it is worth remembering all those issues and learn some lessons from them to build a better story for the future.

Most of the people in Indonesia believe that Sipadan and Ligitan islands were taken by Malaysia from Indonesia. This is a mistake. Sipadan and Ligitan were owned by no state. Indonesia and Malaysia tried to claim them and Malaysia won sovereignty due to reasons of effectivity (effective occupation).

The "victory" was not only due to the efforts of Malaysia but also what the British did in the past. It was the British that implemented law and established lighthouses on the islands. It is also worth noting that the effective occupation had nothing to do with the tourism resorts Malaysia had on those two islands, as anything after 1969 was not considered. The two states agreed to consider only events taking place before 1969.

There are at least three things we should do.

First, we need to devote our energy and time to settling pending maritime boundaries with neighbors. I believe the government has been making its best efforts in this. Negotiations with Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are taking place, as well as a preliminary approach with Palau. In addition, Indonesia is currently preparing a submission to the UN concerning outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

Second, maintenance and socialization of existing maritime boundaries is inevitable. Visualizing maritime boundaries on a chart with adequate specifications, and informing relevant parties (e.g. fishermen, coastal communities, etc.) of the status and location of the boundaries is a must.

Without proper socialization and understanding, the seizure of Indonesian fishermen crossing maritime boundaries will continue. It is time to learn and care for our territory and borders.

Third, it is necessary to enhance expertise in maritime boundaries, concerning legal, political and technical aspects. It is undisputable that maritime boundary issues deal with law and politics. However, few of us are aware how much technical aspects are involved. Not much news concerns the importance of coordinating definitions using proper geodetic datum, for instance. No wonder, people tend to see maritime boundary issues only as a matter of law and politics.

Indonesia, undoubtedly, has many legal experts but more people with technical expertise are required. We need more geoscientists (e.g geodesy, geophysics, geology and hydrography) who are focused on technical aspects of the law of the sea. It is not to say that the existing experts are unqualified, just that there need to be more.

The writer is a lecturer in the Department of Geodetic and Geomatic Engineering, Gadjah Mada University. He is currently a UN-Nippon Foundation Fellow in the Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, UN, New York.

Dompu regency turns to the sea for better future

Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Dompu-NTB

Dompu might be an unfamiliar name for many but its pristine Lakey beach has made it popular among local and foreign surfers wanting to ride the waves.

Located on the south of Sumbawa Island in West Nusa Tenggara, the beach has hosted many international surfing contests, from the Dompu Indonesia Open to the Dompu-USA Surfing.

The latest event was held in mid-August, with dozens of surfers from Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa and the U.S.

"Dompu is finally becoming known in the outside world due to Lakey beach," Dompu Regent Syaifurrahman Salman told The Jakarta Post.

"But Dompu does not only have Lakey beach, we also have a very promising marine resources, not only tourism. We will continue developing these resources."

Dompu regency is located in the center of Sumbawa Island, in between Sumbawa and Bima regencies.

With an area covering 2,324 square kilometers, Dompu regency has 1,298 square km of beaches and three bays -- Saleh and Sanggar bays in the north, and Cempi bay on the south.

Apart from fishing, Dompu regency, home to 206,126 people, also boasts seaweed and pearl farming potential.

The regency has the potential to grow seaweed on 1,298 hectares in six districts -- Woja, Manggalewa, Kempo, Pekat, Huru and Kilo. Only two districts -- Dompu and Pajo -- are not suitable for seaweed farming.

However, only 85 hectares in two districts, Manggalewa and Kempo, are currently growing seaweed.

"Dompu should be able to produce at least 12,000 tons of seaweed a year but currently, we are only able to produce 10-20 tons annually. The main problem is low investment. That is why we are trying to bring investors here," Syaifurrahman said.

He said that so far the regency administration has convinced a Japanese company to develop seaweed in Dompu. The administration and the company signed a cooperation agreement earlier this year.

He said that under the agreement, the company will set up a company to directly process the seaweed in Dompu. The factory is expected to employ Dompu residents.

"Apart from growing seaweed, the company will also set up a processing factory in Dompu. Seaweed is a really good ingredient to serve as a basic material in the cosmetic and food industry," he said.

Dompu regency administration is currently working hard to promote the cultured pearl industry.

The regency has the potential to develop cultured pearl on 1,967 hectares of land in 25 different locations. However, only 329 hectares in seven locations in Pekat district have been exploited by Jakarta-based company. The rest remain untouched.

"We're working to promote cultured pearl business potential to other provinces and even abroad. For investors wanting to invest in Dompu, we will welcome and assist them."

Whale stranded on Makian island`s coast, North Maluku

Ternate, North Maluku (ANTARA News) - A 10-meter-long whale ran aground on the Peleri coast of Makian Island, Halmahera Selatan District, North Maluku, on Sunday (Oct. 28).

When local people found the whale it was still alive and shaking its body in an attempt to return to the sea, Ismet T, a local fisherman of Makian Island, said here on Monday.

The villagers then tried to help the animal by pushing it to the sea but their efforts were in vain as the whale with a diameter of three meters was too huge, he said.

"After lying on the beach for a few hours, the whale finally died. Whales are often spotted in Makian Island waters but it`s for the first time a 10-meter long whale got stranded on Makian Island`s coast," Ismet said.

It was not known how the whale became stranded but it was believed the giant mammal had lost its way on the many tiny isles around Makian Island.

Ismet said Makian residents believed the stranded whale was a sign that a tsunami might hit the area which has been jolted by frequent earthquakes lately.

Indonesia invites China to take part in seaport development

Nanning, China (ANTARA News) - The government has invited Chinese investors to participate in building modernizing seaports in Indonesia.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal made the statement when attending a China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, Guangxi, China, from October 28 to 31 this year.

The minister expressed hoped that China would invest in seaport construction in effort in Indonesia to help modernize a number of seaports.

Citing examples, the minister said that several seaports in Indonesia such as Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang (Central Java), Tanjung Perak in Surabaya (East Java), Cirebon in West Java and Makassar in South Sulawesi should be developed into international ports.

"We also invited Chinese businessmen to invest in several harbours which have yet to become operational such as the one in Bojonegoro (East Java)," he said.

Jusman said Indonesia has 977 seaports of which only 141 are ocean ports.

"But we need only 25 international-standard harbours,so that it would make us easier and more practical to maintain their safety and security aspects," he cited.

During the CAEXPO, transportation ministers from ASEAN member countries and China were also scheduled to hold a meeting to consolidate in seaport business, he added.

Tuna Industry In Asia Lucrative But Faces Many Issues

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Asian tuna industry is worth more than RM20 billion but despite its lucrative potential, players face many issues faced by Asian tuna players, Malaysian International Tuna Port Sdn Bhd (MITP) chief executive director Datuk Annuar Zaini Binyamin said today.

These include the sustainability of tuna stock in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, volatile global fuel prices and its impact on tuna vessels, management of illegal fishing activities in Asia, food safety & sanitary requirements in Asia's tuna exports and the imposition of trade barriers and quotas by western importers, he said.

"It is estimated that the annual economic losses from illegal, unreported & unrecorded (IUU) fishing activities in Asia-Pacific is over RM15 billion," said Annuar Zaini when giving an Asian perspective of the industry at the inaugural 1st Worldwide Tuna Congress of Azores held in Portugal, which ended today.

The event was co-organised by the National Association of the Fish Processing Industry of Spain (ANFACO) and the Portuguese Government, according to MITP in a statement.

Annuar Zaini said he strongly believes that these challenges can be overcome through mutually beneficial Euro-Asia trade agreements and IUU management initiatives, innovation of tuna products, as well as the development of better facilities and infrastructure in Asia's strategically located fisheries ports to encourage larger commercial tuna vessels to land their catch at these facilities.

He noted that Malaysia was among the top prominent tuna landing hubs in Asia from the 1960s to 1980s but since then, it has lost this position to fisheries ports from neighbouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore which have spurred the development of their fishing technology and tuna-landing infrastructure.

"Today, pelagic tuna catches in Malaysia have been recorded at 55,000 to 64,000 metric tonnes annually in the last five years," he said.

Since tuna in Malaysia is more of a by-catch than a primary fisheries source, Malaysia needs to rely on the development of better port facilities and infrastructure to capitalise on the lucrative tuna industry, he added.

Annuar Zaini also stressed on the need to facilitate better Euro-Asia and intra-Asia cooperation to resolve the issues and challenges faced by the Asian players as well as to develop the tuna industry in Asia & Europe effectively.

Hundreds of tourists enjoy a little taste of Central Java

The Jakarta Post

Hundreds of foreign tourists, mostly from the U.S., arrived in Central Java capital Semarang's Tanjung Emas port on board a Holland America Line Amsterdam cruise Friday.

According to Bobby from Merapi Tours and Travel agency, which guided the 687 tourists on their one-day tour in Central Java, the cruise stopped in Singapore on Thursday and will continue on to Bali. From the resort island, the cruise, which left from Seattle in the U.S., will depart to Australia.

"I'm so happy that I can visit Indonesia and enjoy a ride on board a steam-powered train in Ambarawa, especially since many souvenir traders offered their handicrafts. This is really interesting," German tourist Bunde Reinhard told The Jakarta Post.

The man, who is on a 62-day vacation on board the cruise with his wife, was one 120 tourists who decided to take a trip on the 1902 train. After the train trip, the tourists visited Borobudur Temple.

Other tourists decided to visit Semarang's sights, such as Sam Poo Kong temple, Blenduk church in Semarang's old town as well as learning about jamu (herbal medicine) and the making of batik.

"We will visit countries in Asia, Australia and Polynesia. This is a long trip," Bunde said, while smoking a cigar during a break at Jambu train station.

The nine-kilometer train trip, which traveled from Ambarawa to Bedono, was popular with the tourists, some of which got a close-up look at the train and its driver, Pujiono.

Along the way, tour guide Nurudin was busy handling their questions, explaining everything, from the town, the train to the region's coffee specialty.

"This is my first time taking an old train. I love antiques and this is so much fun," said tourist Wderanfarel of Washington.

"He's right, taking this train is really fun," said Belle, Wderanfarel's wife. (JP/Suherdjoko)

Diving into providing safety training around the globe

icWales.co.uk, Oct 26 2007 by Aled Blake, Western Mail

A SPECIALIST diving company has signed a $US1.5m five-year deal with the Malaysian government to provide the country with a range of training services.

International Technical Diving Agency, which is based in New Tredegar, was set up in 1996 by Stephen Murray and Georgina Craig – both professional divers then working in the USA – to provide the diving industry with better training standards, delivered cost effectively.

The agreement with Malaysia will see Mr Murray chair the country’s committee for safety training relating to all diving activities.

The Malaysian government is also building a multi-million- pound International Diving Academy Malaysia and ITDA will be the accreditation agency for the project.

Mr Murray said, “In the past the dive industry training systems were driven by commercial goals rather than safety.

“Our aim is to improve dive safety levels world-wide – encompassing all aspects of diving, from commercial and technical diving to sport diving.”

The company operates in 30 countries, providing dive instructors with full health and safety training, certification and accreditation.

In addition to its New Tredegar headquarters, the company has offices in Germany, Egypt and Singapore.

ITDA has worked with International Business Wales, the overseas trade and investment arm of the Welsh Assembly Government, to develop many of its overseas trade opportunities.

Continuing its relationship with IBW, ITDA also intends to create similar trade links with Indonesia.

Mr Murray said, “IBW’s support has been invaluable, and has opened many doors for us. As a result, our business has grown far more rapidly than expected.

“The Far East, Egypt and South East Asia represent important opportunities, and we plan to deve- lop trade links in these regions.”

Malaysia is currently heavily reliant on foreign contractors to provide diving inspections on oil and gas pipelines and rigs – a reliance it wishes to reduce.

Backed by energy giant, Petronas, Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas company, ITDA already offers training from a $25m joint training facility in Malaysia to indigenous divers and rescue services personnel.

“With our help the Malaysian government wishes to bring on a new generation of skilled workers to carry out the tasks previously performed by outside nations,” says Mr Murray.

ITDA’s comprehensive safety programme took three years to develop. “Our accreditation programme is modelled on the UK HSE – which has some of the most stringent safety requirements in the world – and provides a unified standard that meets the diverse safety requirements demanded by different nations.

“Divers taking part in our programme are also fully trained in rescue techniques. And our expertise encompasses medical training, not only dive-related medical procedures, but the full spectrum of first-aid techniques.

“This medical service will be delivered to a broad range of industries, rather than solely to the diving world.”

Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, said, “ITDA is a small company that operates in a niche market and its services are in demand in countries around the world.

“The high quality of its operation is the key to its success and I am glad the Assembly Government has been able to support its international operations through our International Business Wales team.”

Freighter capsizes, all passengers survive

Hasrul, The Jakarta Post, Kendari

A small inter-island freighter carrying 40 passengers sank in waters off South Konawe regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday, less than a week after the KM Acita III ferry capsized in the same province, killing 31 passengers.

The wooden vessel, KM Sarliana Indah, capsized at around 5.30 a.m. off Hari Island in Laonti district, South Konawe regency.

No casualties were reported in the accident. Passing fishing boats were able to pick up 31 passengers, while 10 others were rescued by the local search and rescue team and the Navy.

The boat was found listing and a large section of its hull was underwater, while passengers clung the ship's bridge.

Rescuers tossed life buoys to survivors and towed them to the awaiting naval vessel.

The boat was on its way from Laonti district to Kendari city, at around 2:00 a.m.

"Before it sank, it hit coral reefs near the island," said the skipper, Sabola, 51.

It listed to the right and eventually rolled over and sank. Fortunately, a number of fishing boats were passing by and were able to assist the passengers.

A survivor, Sulmin, 23, said he was asleep when the accident happened, but was woken by a sudden loud bang. Still in a state of shock, Sulmin was startled when the ship listed sharply to the right. "When water rushed in, I could only pray for safety," said Sulmin.

Sulmin, a civil servant at the Laonti district office, did not lose hope. He used his mobile phone to call a friend working at the Kendari SAR, but he could not be contacted because he was still on duty in Baubau salvaging the KM Acita III.

He then tried to contact the Navy and water police unit. "Fortunately, I was connected to them and the rescue team finally arrived," said Sulmin, adding he kissed his cell phone several times and cried as help arrived.

Skipper of the KRI Bokori naval boat Second Lieut. Sarjandi, said they had rescued passengers, the skipper and a crew member.

"We brought the survivors to Kendari," said Sarjandi, adding the skipper and crew members of KM Sarliana Indah have been held for further questioning.

The other survivors, who were rescued by fishing boats, were taken to Laonti district. (JP)

Sunda Kelapa: The no-frills favorite

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It was not yet noon, but the Friday morning heat was such that a group of men had tied shirts around their heads in addition to their caps to protect them from sunburn.

Covered in white dust, the men loaded sacks of cement from a cargo truck into a traditional schooner.

This activity -- a daily routine at the port -- attracted Yannick and Mona, a French couple, strolling along the dock which has a capacity to accommodate 70 schooners.

Photographing and discussing the work, they were also impressed with the long line of vessels with uniquely pointed prows and colorful decorations mooring at Sunda Kelapa Port in North Jakarta.

Sunda Kelapa is the city's most historical port, renowned for phinisi schooners, the traditional vessels of the Bugis people of Sulawesi, still used to deliver goods around the archipelago.

An Australian couple, Pat and Jenny, who had been in the country for one week, were also fascinated by the boats.

"We have wooden boats back in Australia, but they're not like these ones," Pat said.

The phinisi ships at Sunda Kelapa are wooden vessels around 40 meters long and 15 meters wide, with two main masts with seven sails each. The boats have diesel engines they can use alternately with the sails. They can carry up to 950 tons of cargo, which varies from cement and timber, to electronic devices and appliances.

The schooners transport goods across the archipelago, but mainly to Batam island or Pontianak in Kalimantan.

The journey takes up to three full days. Some may return laden with timber from Kalimantan but most return empty to Sunda Kelapa to reload.

John (not his real name), a British man, who for 13 years has been coming to Jakarta for business, said he finds the harbor unique.

"This place offers something very traditional and very Indonesian. The boats are remarkable. You can't find them anywhere else in the world," he said.

Sunda Kelapa's history dates back to the 12th century, when it was the most important harbor of the Pajajaran Kingdom (the area now known as West Java), with trading ships from China, southern India, Japan and the Middle East.

In the 15th century it became the source of a conflict. The port was conquered by Fatahillah on June 22, 1527, marking the birth of Jakarta.

Tanjung Priok, a far more modern harbor not far from Sunda Kelapa, was constructed by the Dutch in 1873 and became one of the most prominent seaports in the country, but Sunda Kelapa maintains activity.

For something different, tourists can take a boat ride across the Dutch-made canal.

Despite being popular among foreign visitors, Sunda Kelapa is not a favorite tourist destination for locals, who prefer modern entertainment centers and shopping malls.

While the area does not see many local tourists, Basri, a 50-year-old Buginese man who takes people across the harbor in his small boat every day, said over the Idul Fitri holidays more visitors had come.

"During the holidays I made more money," he said.

Basri, usually charges locals between Rp 6,000 and Rp 10,000 (US$1), and foreigners Rp 25,000 to Rp 30,000 a trip.

As part of Jakarta's old city, the harbor attracts both locals and foreigners with its schooners, but lacks tourism infrastructure.

Attended parking is available for cars but not for motorcycles.

Tourists are permitted onto schooners to get a look at the old sturdy wooden decks or a feel for the seafaring atmosphere, but first must climb a one-meter high concrete dock curb before reaching the ship.

Sunda Kelapa may serve as a loading and storage facility, but it is not tourist friendly.

Except for warehouses and a stock piling area there's not much more for tourists to see on the dock, which is poorly maintained and partly flooded with seawater.

There are no proper restaurants at Sunda Kelapa either, only street vendors selling cigarettes, peanuts and drinks.

Toilets, another vital facility, are nowhere to be found.

The poor condition of the harbor is a concern for some tourists, like John, even though he enjoys Sunda Kelapa's uniqueness.

"It's just too bad. It has so much potential. There is so much that could be done to the place."