Transporting Fuel Through the Waves to the Sebatik Border

Tanjung Selor (ANTARA) - The oil barge Cahaya Nunukan Mandiri docked at the Sebatik Island State Border Post (PLBN) in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, last July. The vessel arrived after sailing overnight from Tarakan.

The vessel, a self-propelled oil barge (SPOB) approximately 30 metres in length, is one of the fuel transport ships owned by Pertamina Patra Niaga.

“This ship transported fuel from Tarakan last night around six o’clock, after Maghrib. It arrived here in Sebatik at eight in the morning,” said the ship’s captain, Armansyah (37).

His face still showed signs of fatigue. Alongside five colleagues, he sailed through the night, braving waves in the Sebatik waters that reached 2.5 metres. The jolting of the ship, which was carrying Pertalite, Pertamax, and Biosolar, caused the crew to experience nausea and dizziness.

In a single month, the Cahaya Nunukan Mandiri performs four fuel deliveries from Tarakan to Sebatik, an area bordering Indonesia and Malaysia. Occasionally, the vessel also delivers fuel to Nunukan and Bunyu Island.

An SPOB is a fuel transport vessel equipped with its own propulsion engine, making it more flexible for navigating shallow waters. The Cahaya Nunukan Mandiri has a maximum carrying capacity of 230 tonnes.

During the voyage, the steering shifts every three hours on a rotational basis. The six crew members serve as captain, helmsman, technician, and cook. To alleviate boredom, they typically pass the time using mobile phones or fishing.

After discharging the fuel cargo at the Sebatik PLBN pier, the crew immediately cleans up any residual oil spills.