Indonesia Offers Cooperation in Shipbuilding to Japan Mitsui

The Marine and Fishery Ministry has offered Japanese shipping giant Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., cooperation in shipbuilding sector in Indonesia. Development in the sector is needed to replace two-decade-old ships.

“Particularly, to replace ships of certain sizes in accordance with the new rules,” Marine and Fishery Ministry director general of product competition Nilanto Perbowo said yesterday in a visit to Mitsui Engineering office in Tokyo, Japan.

On the occasion, the Marine Ministry was welcomed by Senior Vice President, Managing Executive Officer Takaki Yamamoto. He said that Mitsui has already established cooperation with Indonesian firms.

Mitsui takes part in the development of power plants in Indonesia. Current projects include coal-fired power plant (PLTU) Java 4, aka Tanjung Jati B, in Jepara, Central Java. Sumimoto Mitsui Banking Corporation co-finances the project with Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC).

“We are committed to continue to develop infrastructure in Indonesia,” Yamamoto said. The company also has partnerships in education and manpower. It currently employs 200ish Indonesian workers.

The Marine Ministry director general of marine space management Bramantya Satyamurti Poerwadi explained that Indonesia is in need of multipurpose vessels of 120 meters in length. The ministry expects Indonesia to own a ‘mothership’ for fishery sector that can cover processing, storage, etc.

The Indonesian government also offers a joint venture plan with Indonesian shipbuilders to build fishing vessels, including patrol ships and investigation ships.

Mitsui appreciated the offer. The company made ‘Tenggiri’ ship back in 1979 with funds from the official development assistance (ODA). Bramantya expects to build ships either through grants, loans or even state budget.

Mitsui Engineering Shipbuilding is a renowned maker of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers. It also supplies ships to Japan Coast Guard (JCG). The company builds 32 ships ordered in phases by JCG. As many as 7 units of the ships are the latest model weighing 1,000 tons. JCG has also ordered ships weighing 3,500 tons for research, survey and drills.
Source: Tempo