Six types of foreign vessels allowed operating in oil and gas activities

The government has finally issued a regulation to exempt six types of foreign vessels used in oil and gas exploration and production activities from the cabotage rule which prohibits the operation of foreign ships in trade and oil and gas activities.

With the issuance of the government?s regulation No. 22/2011 on sea transportation issued early this month, oil and gas companies are still allowed to operate six types of foreign vessels used for seismic survey, drilling, offshore construction, operational supports for offshore activities, dredging and deep water activities.

The decree was launched after the House of Representatives and the government agreed recently to exempt several types of foreign vessels which are considered vital for offshore oil and gas exploration activities in the country from the cabotage rule.

The spokesman for transportation and communication ministry Bambang S. Ervan said that the new government regulation was issued to revise the government regulation No.22/2011 issued earlier. (*)