Batam Navy patrol detains foreign ship, crew

The Jakarta Post, Batam

A Batam Navy patrol boat apprehended Singaporean MV Bourbon Aladin ship and its 65-member crew on Wednesday for entering Indonesian waters without the required documents.

The arrest was made in Nipah Island waters, Riau Island province, which is rarely frequented by large ships.

Batam Navy Commander Col. Djoko Harijanto said the ship's captain was unable to produce the proper documents for entering the country.

"This is the first group of foreigners this year to come to Batam without the proper documents," Djoko said.

Of the 65 crew members, 16 of them are Singaporeans, 24 Indians, 13 Bangladeshis, three Malaysians, two Myanmarese, two French, two Norwegians, one Filipino, one Chinese and one Sri Lankan.

Djoko said the ship's captain claimed that the crew had wanted to test the ship's engine and were not aware that they had entered Indonesian waters. However, the Navy was suspicious considering the large crew onboard.

The ship is being detained near Batu Ampar Port in Batam. "Foreigners entering Indonesia without proper documents will be handed over to Batam immigration, it's their authority. But in the meantime, we've detained them," Djoko said.