The incident comes after Reuters reported about a dozen similar detentions last year. In these cases, shipowners made unofficial payments of around $300,000 each and vessels held by the Indonesian navy east of Singapore were released.
The Nord Joy oil tanker was boarded by armed navy personnel on May 30 while anchored in Indonesian waters east of the Singapore Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, officials said. the two sources of security.
Asked whether naval officers had asked for $375,000 to free the Nord Joy, Indonesian navy spokesman Julius Widjojono said: “It is strictly forbidden.” He did not respond to requests for further details.
He confirmed that navy personnel had detained the Nord Joy on suspicion of anchoring in Indonesian waters without a permit, violating Indonesian sea passage rights and sailing without a national flag.
“According to preliminary information, (the case) is still under investigation at the naval base in Batam,” he said.
Under Indonesian law, anchoring without a permit is punishable by a maximum sentence of one year in prison for the captain of a vessel and a fine of 200 million rupiah ($13,840), said Widjojono.
The Indonesian navy said in November there had been a spike in detentions for anchoring without permission, deviating from the shipping route or stopping mid-course for an unreasonable amount of time.
The ships were released due to insufficient evidence or the cases went through Indonesian courts and no payment was made to the navy or its personnel, the navy said.
(Graphic: Map of tankers and product carriers sailing or anchored near Singapore:
)
BATAM NAVAL BASE
The Nord Joy is a vessel flying the Panamanian flag, 183 meters (200 yards) long and capable of carrying up to 350,000 barrels of fuel.
Reuters was unable to determine who owns the vessel.
Synergy Group, the Singapore-based company that runs the Nord Joy, did not respond to questions about the alleged demand by navy personnel for an unofficial payment.
Synergy told Reuters that the Nord Joy anchored in a position believed to be far from Indonesian territorial waters on May 26 and that on May 30 the Indonesian Navy boarded the vessel alleging it was on the shore. his territory.
Synergy said it is working with the Navy, attorneys and local agents to resolve the issue.
The Nord Joy was escorted by navy ships to an anchorage near Batam, 20 miles (32 km) south of Singapore which is home to a naval base, the two sources told Reuters.
The captain of the tanker was taken to the base and told by naval officers to arrange for the payment of $375,000 or risk months of lost income if the case goes to court, said the sources.
The cost of chartering a North Joy-sized refined products tanker from Singapore to China fluctuates regularly. It peaked at $1.12 million a day on May 9 and was $820,000 as of June 8, according to data from ship broker Simpson Spence Young.
For years, ships anchored in the waters east of the Singapore Strait waiting to dock, thinking they were in international waters and therefore didn’t have to pay duty. of port, according to maritime analysts.
In recent years, the Indonesian Navy has publicly stated that much of this area is within its waters and that it intends to crack down on ships anchoring there without a licence.
(Chart: Singapore to China Oil Tanker Daily Charter Rate: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/dwvkrnbkjpm/)DailyCleanTankerRatesJune2022.png
($1 = 14,454.0000 rupiah)