Bureaucracy complicates harbor improvement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Bureaucracy is complicating the efforts of the
\nMuara Baru fish harbor authority in North Jakarta to improve both
\nthe harbor's condition and the lives of its fishermen.<\/p>\n
Harbor Chief Sigit Kusyanto told visiting House members of
\nCommission IV for fishery and agriculture on Monday that he lacks
\nthe authority to do much of what needs to be done.<\/p>\n
For example, he said, "We have been lacking clean water for
\nyears. We asked the city water company PAM Jaya for an additional
\nsupply several months ago, but we have not received any
\nresponse."<\/p>\n
Bureaucracy also slows down the process of obtaining operation
\npermits for the fishermen's ships and export documents, he said.<\/p>\n
"Due to the complicated export document process many ships
\nhave been idle for weeks. The quality of the fish will continue
\nto deteriorate in the meantime," Sigit said.<\/p>\n
He also complained about the fish auction system, which has
\nbeen monopolized by certain people.<\/p>\n
For everyday operations, Muara Baru harbor needs 237 tons of
\ndiesel fuel, four tons of kerosene, 451 tons of ice, 35 tons of
\nclean water, three tons of salt and 95,000 fish tails used as
\nbait. "We can provide only about 70% of the daily demand. These
\nfactors have all affected the fishermen's productivity," he said.<\/p>\n
The harbor produces an average of 4,500 tons of fish per
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The port needs expansion and all facilities need to be
\nimproved to be able to handle the increasing number of ships
\ncommuting to the harbor everyday, he said.<\/p>\n
As many as 208 ships park at the harbor every day, while the
\nharbor can only accommodate 129 ships of between 30 and 50 meters
\nin length.<\/p>\n
The harbor authority is also having difficulties removing 44
\nships which have been parked in the harbor for more than four
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Among the 44 idle ships, 29 belong to foreigners. Most belong
\nto Taiwanese who left their ships after their fishing permits
\nexpired and the government refused to renew them, he said.<\/p>\n
He said efforts made to contact the ship owners have brought
\nno results. While ships are generally allowed to park for ten
\ndays, there are no regulations limiting the number of ships that
\ncan park in the harbor.<\/p>\n
"We want the House of Representatives to help us solve our
\nproblems here," Sigit said.<\/p>\n
PHM Siahaan, vice chairman of the House commission, suggested
\nthat Sigit take action against the ship owners.<\/p>\n
"I agree that the idle ships should be towed out of the
\nharbor," he said, adding that the space should be used for active
\nships. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bureaucracy-complicates-harbor-improvement-1447893297",
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