Vessel chartered by Pertamina smuggles out diesel oil

Fuel tanker MT Pan Oil 4 was trying to smuggle 400 tons of subsidized diesel fuel out of the country, but it failed as it was apprehended by Batam's customs office, Jakarta-based daily Kompas reported on Thursday.

The 13,888 dead-weight-ton vessel, turned out to be the one chartered by state oil and gas company Pertamina from PT Pan Maritim to transport Pertamina's fuels for a period of one year.

The vessel, transporting fuel from Pertamina's refinery plant in Sungai Pakning to Pekanbaru, Riau, was stopped by customs officials when it passed out port limit in Batam. The crews claim that they were conducting inter-island transportation of the fuel, but they were not equipped with necessary document.

Following the incident, Pertamina severs the contract with Pan Maritim for the vessel.

Pertamna's president Baihaki Hakim inspected the vessel by himself in Batu Ampar port, Batam on Wednesday.

Baihaki said that he came to witness the apprehended vessel to know himself the web of the fuel smuggling practices.

Baihaki said that he would trace the origin of the fuel, whether it was from Sungai Pakning or from other sources, including public gas stations. When the source of the fuel is traced, it would likely lead to some officials at Pertamina.

Baihaki promised that he would take stern measures against any Pertamina employee who join the smuggling ring or help the illegal business.

Meanwhile, deputy director of shipping division at Pertamina's downstream industry directorate, Ibrahim Hasyim, called on the Indonesian National Ship-owners Association (INSA) to pay more attention to smuggling practices.

Ship owners are also urged to pay more attention to its employees, especially vessel crews, so that they would join the illegal business. (*)