Indonesia and Australia Collaborate to Improve Non-Convention Vessels Standards

Members of Indonesia’s shipping industry gathered in Jakarta yesterday with officials from the Department of Transportation to discuss a new and comprehensive set of standards for non-convention vessels.

The 3rd workshop on Indonesian Non-Convention Vessels Standard Project, officially opened by Senior Advisor for Transportation, Mr Budi Muliawan Suyitno, and Australian Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Paul Robilliard, will run until 29 May.

“This workshop reflects the close cooperation between Australia and Indonesia on maritime safety issues, particularly through the efforts of Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority and Indonesia’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation,” Mr Robilliard said.

Non-convention vessels are those ships not covered by international standards because they operate on domestic shipping routes within the Indonesian archipelago.

“This workshop is an important step in finalising a comprehensive set of safety standards for Indonesian domestic shipping,” Mr Robilliard said.

The workshop is part of cooperative activities funded under Australia’s Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance Package.

This project has been running since September last year and several experts from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority have provided advice and guidance to Indonesian master mariners and engineers who have been reviewing marine safety standards from around the world to come up with a package of standards appropriate for Indonesia.

In May 2007 the Australian Government announced a three year $23.9 million Transport Safety Assistance Package to enhance the safety of Indonesia’s aviation and marine transport network.

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