Indonesian Navy Intercepts Vessel Suspected Of Carrying Toxic Waste

Navy personnel Lantamal VII Kupang armed guard aboard the tanker Red Rock after inspection of cargo ships at the port belongs Lantamal VII, Kupang,East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). (ANTARA FOTO/Kornelis Kaha/wdy/16)

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian Navy intercepted a tanker ship, identified as Red Rock, on suspicion of carrying poisonous waste to be dumped in the waters of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"We have detained this ship, which was suspected of carrying toxic waste to be dumped in the waters of NTT," operation assistant of the commandant of naval base Lantamal VII Kupang, Navy Colonel (P) M. Nazif stated here on Tuesday.

The navy monitored the ship using satellite imaging technology after receiving a report from the West Nusa Tenggara Province's local administration.

The ship was suspected of carrying toxic waste of PT. Newmont Nusa Tenggara, a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation, which operates the Batu Hijau mine in Indonesia on the island of Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

"After receiving the report, we were deployed and then located the ship in Sawu Sea and was headed to Kupang," Nazif revealed.

Intercepted by the Indonesian Warship Weling, the Red Rock, which was loaded with dozens of containers, was then escorted to the port of Lantamal VII Kupang in NTT Province and was guarded by armed navy personnel.

The ship was suspected of having onboard 50 tons of toxic waste.

The authority has been conducting investigation on the suspected ship.

"We have not yet identified what type of waste it is. We will be cooperating with the mining affairs office of the NTT administration to check the contents of the containers," Nazif added. (WDY)