Vietnamese Vessel Caught for Illegal Fishing in Natuna

TheIndonesia.co - Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency, or Bakamla, reported it has seized a Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel for illegally fishing in North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands province.

Bakamla’s KN Pulau Dana-323 captured the foreign vessel during patrol duty on Friday, December 24, a statement released by the Agency read.

Commandeered by Lieutenant Col. Hananto Widhi, patrol boat KN Pulau Dana-23 was instructed by chief of Bakamla Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia to increase the safeguarding of North Natuna Sea ahead of New Year, through maritime security operations in every sectors, including drilling- and fishing-related activities.

At 06.15 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), the boat detected a radar contact from two foreign vessels that were illegally fishing in the waters of Indonesia-Malaysia border.

The foreign vessels were reportedly tried to flee and leave Indonesian waters after being approached by Bakamla’s patrol boat, and KN Pulau Dana-23’s commandeer immediately ordered rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and the VSBB (visit, board, search, and seizure) team to be deployed.

One Vietnamese boat with vessel number KG 2118 TS was successfully captured while the other one fled into Malaysian territorial waters.

Initial investigation revealed that KG 2118 TS was manned by 20 Vietnamese ship crew, and two tons of illegally caught fish were found on the boat.

The fishing vessel was suspected to have committed border violation and fishing activities in Indonesian waters without obtaining necessary documents from the Indonesian government. The vessel and its crew were taken to Batam for the next process.