Ship procurement permits simplified

JAKARTA (JP): The government has cut the licensing procedures for vessel procurement from foreign countries to help improve the performance of domestic shipping fleets using local flags.

Director General of Sea Transportation Soentoro said that Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto has issued ministerial decree No. 14/1996, effective from April 9, on vessel procurement and registration.

"Many procedures not directly related to the ship's operations have been eliminated by the new decree," the Antara news agency quoted the director general as saying.

Soentoro said that any parties procuring vessels previously had to ask for permits on a wide range of categories, but now they just have to meet requirements on safety, pollution prevention measures and vessel documents.

The requirements that have been waived relate to vessel construction, space arrangements, stability, equipment, telecommunications tools, engines and electricity.

The documents for a vessel include ones on nationality, measurements, safety certification, and a construction scheme certificate and a vessel chart.

Under the new decree, buyers are no longer required to undergo examination on the origins of the vessels, except for those with an unrecognized category.

Soentoro also said that the quantity of documentation required for procurement has been cut from 12 to just five copies.

Besides the office of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, buyers of vessels can also get procurement permits from 43 ports within 43 days of the transaction. (icn)