Navy reveals plan to fight piracy

Navy reveals plan to fight piracy

BANGKA, South Sumatra: The security commander of the Navy's
Western Fleet, Rear Adm. Putu Ardana, said on Friday the Navy
would establish three operation control centers in Riau, North
Sumatra, to battle piracy in the busy Strait of Malacca.

The Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau said on
Wednesday the strait was the most piracy prone area in the world.

The bureau's data shows that of 294 piracy cases in the world
during the first nine months of this year, 90 occurred in
Indonesian waters. Of these 90 incidents, 32 took place in the
Strait of Malacca.

Ardana said two of the centers have been established in Batam,
Riau, and in Belawan, North Sumatra, while the third will be set
up at the Bangka Naval Base.

Ardana added that next year 10 speedboats would be made
available to the Batam control center, while more would follow at
the other two centers.

"We still need speedboats to ensure quick action," he told
Antara. (lup)