Indonesia to Become the Host of Indonesia-Australia Transport Safety Forum

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesia Transportation Ministry hosted the 2019 Indonesia-Australia Transport Safety Forum (TSF) held in Nusa Dua - Bali, Thursday (3/28).

This event is the highest forum in transportation sector between Indonesia and Australia.

The Forum is co-chaired by Transportation Ministry’s Secretary General Djoko Sasono and Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities of Australia, Pip Spence who brought 22 delegations.

Head of Indonesian delegation in the Maritime Transportation Working Group who also serves as director of the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard (KPLP) Ahmad, explained that the forum discussed topics relating maritime transportation sub-sector, which includes the election of IMO Board of DIrectors and Council Reforms, Maritime Safety, and Marine Environment Protection.

"Indonesia expressed its response regarding the Request for Mutual Support from the Australian Government for the country’s nomination as IMO board of directors whose election will be held at the 31st IMO Assembly Meeting on November 2019," Ahmad said.

As for Maritime Safety, Ahmad said, Indonesia has proposed cooperation projects in human resources capacity building, such as training course and benchmarking on Inspection for Safe Container Certification and Implementation of Verified Gross Mass.

In addition, in regards of maritime safety, Indonesia also expressed its views regarding the determination of Traffic Separation Scheme or TSS in Sunda Strait and Lombok Strait, and the important role of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), in this case Benoa VTS, for TSS in both Straits.

During the session of Marine Environment Protection, Indonesia confirms its position regarding the IMO ship pollution rules which regulate the standards of sulphur content in bunker fuel, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

In addition, at this meeting, Indonesia also reported the latest progress of the Solid Bulk Cargoes Testing and Training Facility (SBC-TTF) and the ITSAP Ship Safety Inspection - Center of Excellence (SSI-COE) Project, the ongoing collaborative projects under the ITSAP framework

Ahmad explained that due to the fact that Indonesia through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation is currently on the process of preparing new regulation on IMDG, Indonesia proposes cooperation on technical assistance and experts with Australia.

"We also hope to continue our cooperation with AMSA on IMSBC and IMDG Code workshops and seminars," he added.

Currently, the ongoing collaboration under the ITSAP framework is Training and Mentoring for Port State Control officers. Ahmad stated that this collaboration managed to increase the number of inspection contributions carried out by Indonesian Port State Control Officers and reduce the foreign vessel substandard operating in the Indonesian Port.

Furthermore, at this meeting, Indonesia also reported the outcome of the First Marine Pollution Committee meeting held the day before.

"We have reported five new cooperation programs submitted at the MPC meeting yesterday, namely the Pilot Project in Establishment of the Port Reception Facility, Training Course for Inspection for Ballast Water Treatment Systems, Training Course for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Inspection, Training Course for Port Biological "Baseline Surveys, and Assistance in Conducting Port Biological Baseline Survey," he concluded.

At this meeting, the Indonesian delegation consisted of representatives of the Directorate General of Land Transportation, Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), Jabodetabek Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ) and National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).

Reporter: Dian Thenniarti

Translator: Wilda Stiana