Ships Heavily Unloaded, Owners Unloading Cash
It’s been a wild East‑Asian maritime showdown: more than a dozen ship owners have handed over roughly US$300,000 each to get their vessels out of Indonesian maritime “sticky”‑fingers. The navy says the boats were riding illegally through Indonesian waters near Singapore, and the owners were ready to pay to free them.
Who’s Paying What?
- Sources include ship owners, crew, and maritime security folks.
- Payments reportedly made in cash or via bank transfers to intermediaries claiming to be navy reps.
- Reuters couldn’t verify the exact recipients.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence Gets The Word Out
The first alarm came from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, an industry site that’s quick to publish a scoop when ships get in hot water.
Official Navy Response
Rear‑Admiral Arsyad Abdullah fired back in a written reply:
“It is not true that the Indonesian navy received or asked for payment to release the ships.”
“No payments were made to the navy and we did not employ any intermediaries in legal cases.”
He added that the navy has been snapping up ships lately that were anchoring without permission or taking weird detours, all within Indonesian law.
Why Are Ships Waiting In The Singapore Strait?
The Singapore Strait is one of the world’s busiest sea lanes, packed with ships queuing for days or weeks to dock at Singapore—a key regional hub that’s been hit hard by the pandemic backlog.
It’s common practice for boats to anchor just east of the Strait while they wait, thinking they’re in international waters and can dodge port fees. Two maritime analysts and two ship owners say this habit has turned into a perk—but Indonesia says that area is actually under its domain.
What’s Next?
The Indonesian navy is tightening the grip on vessels that anchor without licences, promising a crackdown on the practice.
A spokesman from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority declined to comment, keeping the official silence at the moment.
Cramped detention
Indonesian Navy’s Ship‑Detention Drama: A Quick‑Pay Highway
Picture this: 30 ships—from heavy‑duty tankers to bulk carriers and even a pipeline layer—have been tossed into the navy’s hands over the last three months. Most of them got the “go‑ahead” stamp after their owners dropped a hefty check of $250,000–$300,000. Think of it as buying a fast‑track exit when you know the slow‑poke court could eat the cargo’s value.
Why the Quick Cash Matters
- Oil, grain, and other high‑value cargo means profit is at stake.
- Months in a courtroom = months of missed revenue.
- Pay now and keep the ship sailing—cheaper than the long‑term loss.
The Boarding Process: More Like a Surprise Guest Check‑In
Imagine a navy warship sauntering onto Batam or Bintan—two Indonesian islands just south of Singapore—checking in crew, boarding vessels, and ferrying them straight to the base. The crew was cramped and sweltering, often staying there for weeks while owners scrambled cash or set up a bank transfer to a navy intermediary. It was less “detention” and more “copy‑and‑paste” from the crew to the ship’s hold.
Official Statements: Navy Claims No Crew Detention
Rear‑Admiral Arsyad assured reporters that “the crew stayed on board except for brief questioning.” After their Q&A, they were handed back to the helm. Yet our crew mates described a “shaky, humid holding cell”—definitely not a cozy loft.
Legal Voice: Is This Law‑Might or Beef‑Squelching?
London‑based maritime lawyer Stephen Askins put it straight: the navy can protect waters, but if they detain a vessel, they must prosecute—there’s no room for a green‑horn “extortion” skeleton. “If the navy looks like it’s after cash, it’s hard to see that detention as lawful,” he sent an email quipping about the situation.
Outcome: Some Released, Some in the Legal Quagmire
- Few vessels were dropped back to owners with no charges—insufficient evidence, they said.
- Five ship captains faced prosecution.
- Two extra captains got short prison sentences, fines of 100 million rupiah (~$9,500) and 25 million rupiah.
As drama unfolds in the maritime world, the takeaway is simple: if your ship gets locked up by the navy, a quick payout might be the best rescue plan—just like buying a taxi instead of waiting for the bus.
