Nipah to become 'transit island'

Nipah to become 'transit island'

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Nipah Island

In a move to boost the local economy as well as security in the
strategic Malacca Strait, Nipah Island that directly borders
Singapore's waters will be developed as a transit area for ships
passing the key shipping lane.

Located some 20 kilometers north of Batam, in Riau Island
province, Nipah Island will be developed as a transit anchorage
area to allow various ships to stop before entering Singapore
harbor.

The transit island, which will be developed by PT Maxteer
Dyrynusa Perdana, a joint venture between PT Pelabuhan Indonesia
I and Navy's West Armada, will also serve to supply food, water
and other needs.

PT Maxteer's Operational Director, Sakti Prasodjo, told The
Jakarta Post that the plan, which will be carried out in stages,
was initiated considering the island's strategic location.

The island, he said, is located right along the busy route
where large numbers of international ships pass the Malacca
Strait and Singapore Strait.

In the initial phase, he added that the company and the Navy
will set up an integrated service office comprising related
offices like immigration, customs, port administration,
sea and water police, and the Navy.

Under the plan, the 600 square meter integrated office, the
construction of which will start late in August, will have three
stories and will be completed on Oct. 18 this year.

"The fee for the ships to anchor on the island while waiting
to enter Singapore will be based on a decree by the minister of
transportation. If the fee is not competitive enough, we'll ask
that it be reviewed," said Sakti.

However, he was reluctant to disclose the amount of investment
to be spent on the plan, only saying that the company will also
develop several projects and facilities, including a Vessel
Traffic Information System which will be equipped with Closed
Circuit TV (CCTV) to help monitor sea traffic.

"Nipah's future as a transit island is promising if we look at
the operational hours of Singapore harbor which opens from 6 a.m.
to 6 p.m., forcing some ships to line up. We will offer our
service within that time and if possible, with a competitive
mooring price compared to them (Singapore)," Sakti said.

With an area of some 60 hectares, the island, which is under
the authority of the Batam city administration, is only about 15
minutes from Singapore.

First Admiral Budiharto, Navy Commander in the western region
including Batam, said the plan to turn Nipah Island into a
transit island and the Navy's presence would also serve to let
the international world know of the country's territorial
borders.

"I'm not saying that Singapore wants to take over Nipah
Island, but we want the international world to know that this
small island is ours.

"The development of Nipah Island along with all its facilities
will have positive impact on security in the Malacca Strait
because of its strategic location, like a police post in the
street, so we'll immediately know when there's a piracy incident
or anything else," Budiharto said.

There have been rising concerns over security problems in the
Malacca Strait, mostly attacks and hijacking by pirates, among
countries which use the waterway.