Jakarta. Indonesia is stepping up efforts to remove the wreck of the Malaysian-flagged tanker MT Silver Sincere, with the government aiming to turn the operation into a national model for handling foreign vessels that sink in Indonesian waters.

The Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs held a cross-agency coordination meeting on Tuesday to accelerate the response to the tanker, which sank off Bintan Regency in the Riau Islands on Jan. 12, 2025, while carrying about 1,000 tons of waste oil.

Deputy for Coordination of State Defense and National Unity Purwito Hadi Wardhono said the case marks the first comprehensive, government-wide effort to establish standardized procedures for responding to foreign shipwrecks within Indonesia's jurisdiction.

"The top priority is to immediately stop and prevent the negative impacts caused by the sinking of this vessel," Purwito said. "Effective coordination is essential because maritime security governance involves multiple ministries and agencies with different authorities."

He said the government hopes the coordinated approach will create a clear and measurable framework for future incidents while minimizing economic losses from marine pollution, damage to underwater ecosystems and infrastructure, and disruptions to shipping routes.

The tanker's wreck was located in March 2025 after an extensive search and was found to have drifted about 13 nautical miles from its original sinking site.

Authorities warned that the displaced wreck poses risks to maritime navigation, underwater infrastructure, and the marine environment.

During the meeting, Professor Eko Ganis Sukoharsono presented findings based on 14 observation periods using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery. The analysis indicated a strong likelihood of waste oil contamination, seabed damage caused by the movement of the wreck, disruption to coastal ecosystems and fishing grounds, and potential threats to the livelihoods of fishing communities in the Riau Islands.

The findings underscore the need to expedite the removal of the vessel to prevent further environmental damage and reduce potential economic losses, Purwito said.

Purwito added that all recovery efforts must comply with Indonesian laws and regulations while safeguarding national interests.

The coordination meeting brought together representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, defense, transportation, marine affairs and fisheries, and environment, along with the Attorney General's Office, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the National Police, the Navy, the National Transportation Safety Committee, the Maritime Security Agency, and environmental experts.

According to Purwito, the government expects the handling of the MT Silver Sincere to improve navigation safety and environmental protection while serving as a benchmark for resolving similar cases involving foreign vessels in Indonesia's waters.
 

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