Government strengthens coordination for evacuation of MT Silver Sincere tanker

The Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polkam) is strengthening cross-agency collaboration to evacuate the tanker MT Silver Sincere, which sank in the waters off Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, in January 2025.

In an official press release received in Jakarta on Wednesday, it was explained that the strengthening of collaboration was carried out during a meeting at the Kemenko Polkam building in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/7).

Deputy for National Defence and National Unity Coordination at Kemenko Polkam, Major General TNI Purwito Hadi Wardhono, stated that the evacuation process must be conducted properly to avoid damaging the marine environment.

“We are striving to accelerate the handling of the MT Silver Sincere wreck, while minimising risks to shipping safety, the marine environment, and national interests,” Purwito said.

He emphasised that all relevant agencies must be united in dividing tasks to prevent overlapping authority during the evacuation process.

“The coordinating role is very important because maritime security governance involves various ministries and agencies with different authorities, so that handling measures can be carried out more quickly, in an integrated manner, and effectively,” he said.

If the method to evacuate the tanker is successful, Purwito confirmed that the concept will become the main reference for procedures on salvaging foreign ships that sink in Indonesian waters.

However, Purwito did not elaborate on the specific methods and efforts the government will undertake to evacuate the vessel.

The MT Silver Sincere, which was carrying approximately 1,000 tonnes of waste oil, sank in the waters off Bintan Regency on 12 January 2025. Based on verification by the Indonesian Navy’s Hydro-Oceanography Centre (Pushidrosal), the location of the wreck is within Indonesian waters. After several surveys, the wreck was finally located in March 2025 and was found to have shifted approximately 13 nautical miles from its original sinking position. This situation poses potential threats to shipping navigation safety, underwater infrastructure, and the environment.