News

On 10 April 2017 in Batam, the Indonesian Ministry of
Transportation officially launched a Pilotage service for the Malacca and
Singapore straits.  These straits are
among the most important channels in South East Asia.  Around 60-80 thousand cargo and tanker
vessels sail through these narrow channels which total 550 miles in length.

Pilotage in the Malacca and Singapore straits is
discussed by three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, every year at
the Forum of the Tripartite Technical Expert Group (TTEG).  The introduction of an Indonesian pilotage service
in the Malacca and Singapore straits was agreed at the Intersessional Meeting
of The Working Group on Voluntary Pilotage Services in Straits of Malacca and
Singapore held at Bandung, Indonesia on 18-20 January 2017.

The decision to seek the assistance of Voluntary
Pilotage Services (VPS) lies with
ship masters and will depend on navigational conditions and density of
traffic.  In many instances, VPS can
facilitate two-way communications and avoid collisions between vessels passing
each other in the crowed channel.

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation has
appointed PT. Pelindo Marine Services I as its official operator of Pilotage
services for foreign and domestic vessels passing through the Malacca and
Singapore straits.

Information provided by Budd Indonesia.