Examining a recent environmental case in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan—specifically an oil pipeline leak that had significant environmental impacts—FMIPA UI, in collaboration with the Indonesian Maritime Center, held a maritime talk themed “Marine Protection” on Thursday (26/4) at the Center of Excellence Building, FMIPA UI-PT. Pertamina, UI Campus, Depok.
The event featured two speakers: Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan, a toxicology expert from the Department of Chemistry, FMIPA UI, and Prof. Melda Kamil Ariadno, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D., an expert in maritime law.
Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan explained the types of hazardous chemicals released due to the pipeline leak. The greatest losses were felt in terms of environmental impact, as many aquatic organisms perished. Referring to the Balikpapan case, he also shared several examples of similar environmental incidents that have occurred in Indonesian and global waters, as well as how these problems were addressed. One solution that has been implemented is bioremediation.
However, aside from the impacts and how to address the pollution quickly, there are also important considerations regarding accountability for the case. Prof. Melda Kamil Ariadno, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D. explained several key points about the laws and regulations that serve as the basis for environmental cases, particularly marine pollution incidents like the Balikpapan case. Some of the references include UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), and CLC 1969, which are among the studies and conventions that discuss regulations concerning maritime issues, including pollution.
Unfortunately, in Indonesia, marine policy is not yet strong enough to regulate the conditions of the nation’s waters, especially regarding the laws and accountability of polluters at sea. According to Professor Melda, one of the weaknesses of the national marine policy is the lack of baseline data, which serves as a reference for information on the physical condition of Indonesia’s waters.
In addition, policies regulating ship permits—both for local and foreign vessels—may already be included in national marine policy or other regulations; however, their implementation remains limited. This is also a factor contributing to the lack of effective oversight of Indonesia’s national waters.
