THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority has handed two new maritime facilities over to the Indonesian government.
Australia supported the development of the Solid Bulk Cargoes Testing and Training Facility and the Ship Safety Inspection Centre of Excellence in Jakarta.
The Australian and Indonesian governments announced on Wednesday 14 June the facilities had been completed.
AMSA CEO Mick Kinley handed the two facilities over to the Indonesian Directorate General of Sea Transportation at a ceremony attended by DGST director-general Pak Arif Toha and Australia’s deputy ambassador to Indonesia Steve Scott.
“Australia and Indonesia are natural maritime partners,” Mr Scott said.
“We share one of the longest maritime boundaries in the world, and today marks a milestone in our sea transport relationship.
“Like Australia, Indonesia relies heavily on shipping for international trade. These new facilities will assist Indonesia to implement world best practice in the safe carriage of key exports like coal, iron ore and bauxite.”
AMSA expects the solid bulk cargoes facility would create a safer and more efficient mineral export sector in Indonesia.
It said the facility would ensure best practices in the safe carriage of solid bulk cargoes such as coal, bauxite, iron ore fines and nickel concentrate.
“Liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes can result in vessel instability and capsize – the leading cause of major fatalities during the transportation of solid bulk cargoes worldwide,” AMSA said.
“The facility will address this risk through policy, research, technical training and programs that support the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code).”
And the new Ship Safety Inspection Centre of Excellence was designed to establish an inspection regime with transparent regulations and processes.
AMSA said the centre would ensure reliable enforcement of SOLAS obligations and standards for Indonesian-flagged vessels and foreign vessels visiting Indonesian ports.
“The new centre will achieve this by leveraging the collective expertise of the Indonesian Directorate General of Sea Transportation, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the international maritime community, to build the necessary workforce capability to enforce compliance with international conventions,” AMSA said.
“The two facilities have been made possible by Australia and Indonesia’s Joint Declaration on Maritime Cooperation to foster a safer and more secure maritime environment for seafarers, vessels, and the global shipping industry.”
The Indonesian Directorate General of Sea Transportation is an agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, responsible for implementing polices and regulations around sea transportation.
