Ship procurement permits simplified

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)