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Indonesia to ease entry permit procedures for foreign yachts

Sabtu, 7 Februari 2015 18:03 WIB | 714 Views

Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Indonesia plans to ease the processes involved in the issuance of entry permits for foreign-owned yachts, to boost the yachting tourism sector.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said here on Saturday, "It is hoped that it will, soon, take only two hours to issue a permit."

He made the statement here while visiting Nongsa Point and Marina in Batam, Riau Islands province, in Sumatra.

The government will adopt an online system of issuing permits known as the Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory (CAIT Online), he stated, adding that it also plans to extend the stay permit for yachters from three months to six months.

Furthermore, the yachting tourism sector in Indonesia is quite competitive as compared to that of neighboring countries, Yahya pointed out.

While in Singapore, the parking fee for a yacht amounts to Sing$1,000 to Sing$1,500 per month, it is only some Sing$500 in Indonesia, he observed.

So far, thousands of yachters have parked their vessels in Singapore because the regulations and bureaucracy in Indonesia are not as competitive, he explained.

The minister further noted that the potential to attract yachters to stay in Indonesia was, in fact, high, considering Singapores limited waters, and also as yachters sail around the waters of the Riau Islands and its vicinity.

"In view of that, we must improve our services so we can compete," he emphasized.

In addition, bureaucratic reforms set to be incorporated into yachting tourism are soon expected to boost national sailing sports, Yahya affirmed.

Moreover, the Ministry of Tourism has received support from the Ministry of Transportation with regard to advancing the yachting tourism sector through the development yacht docking locations and improvement of piers capacities.

"The Ministry of Tourism has proposed to the Ministry of Transportation to develop the capacity of piers in 38 locations where yachts dock," he said.

The Ministry of Tourism, along with stakeholders in the sector, have developed 18 yacht routes from Papua in the east to Sabang in the west.

The development of these routes has been carried out through rallies, races and sailing events, such as Sail Raja Ampat, Sail Tomini, Darwin-Ambon International Yacht Rally, and Sabang International Regatta. These events have, so far, been attended by international yachters sailing from Phuket in Thailand, who then stay in Langkawi in Malaysia and stop by Sabang, Indonesia. 

LIST OF INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVED PORT OF ENTRIES AND EXIT for YACHTS

1. SABANG, ACEH
2. BELAWAN, NORTH SUMATERA
3. TELUK BAYUR, WEST SUMATRA
4. NONGSA POINT MARINA, BATAM
5. BINTAN TELANI, BINTAN
6. TANJUNG PANDAN, BELITUNG
7. SUNDA KELAPA/ANCOL, JAKARTA
8. BENOA, BALI
9. TENAU, NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR
10. KUMAI, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN
11. TARAKAN, EAST KALIMANTAN
12. NUNUKAN, EAST KALIMANTAN
13. BITUNG, NORTH CELEBES
14. AMBON, MOLUCCAS
15. SAUMLAKI, MOLUCCAS (it does not have CIQP facilities yet)
16. TUAL, MOLUCCAS
17. SORONG, WEST PAPUA
18. BIAK, PAPUA

When you apply for CAIT please list any of the above as your Point of Entry or Exit.

LATEST on SAIL TOMINI 2015

Regarding SAIL TOMINI 2015, some yachts based at the moment in Malaysia have shown some interest. I have forwarded their interest to related Authority. 

I understand that SAIL INDONESIA is planning a Rally which will start from Tarakan (coming from Tawao) on 23rd of August. Fleet are expected to leave fom Tawao on 19th of August and arrive in Tarakan on 20th. Tarakan will be the Port of Entry where all CIQP will be conducted.  But at this time it is not clear yet, although it is big possibility that this group will participate on SAIL TOMINI.

Bear in mind that the route planned for SAIL INDONESIA is designed for those who plan to sail back to Australia (exit point will be TUAL) or Philippines. Of course even you sign up for it, you are under no obligation to follow the route, provided places where you plan to stop listed on your CAIT.

The question that will arise is what happen to those yachts after TOMINI, because some of those yachts may be going back to Malaysia. It would be ideal if they could rejoin SAIL INDONESIA's fleet when the sail through Southeast of Celebes. They would be long gone when yachts coming from the North get there. I will bring up the issue to proper Authority (not that they would listen to me). I will give a shot , will see what would happen. 

    PARIGI, Parigi Moutong (main event reported will take place here on September 19th,         2015

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    0 79' 99" N     120 17' 98" E

    

SORRY MATE,... YOU STILL NEED VISA!

Plan to waive visa requirement as planned for Australian has been dropped. There are reports that decision was made due political reasons, although offficially Government official gave no explanation for that decision 

Meanwhile the plan to waive visa requirement for Chinese, Japanese, South Korean an Russian will proceed as planned. It is not clear at the moment whether we expect any increase in visiting yachts from those countries in near future.

It is not clear whether if there is any plan by Australian Government to waive visa requirement for Indonesian anytime in the future.

Historically human beings have been having problems to work together, so in my next life I'd like be born as an albatross.

SAIL TOMINI 2015

As previous years, this year Indonesian government is planning a major sailing event called "SAIL TOMINI 2015". The main event will take place on September 19, 2015. 

Once I have received the confirmation regarding the program, place or anything which connect to it, I will have it posted here and my web. 

Sail Indonesia role at the moment is to support this program. Actually Sail Indonesia is planning a Rally which will participate on this Government sponsored event.

The rally will start on August 15th from Tawao. Details will follow.

JUST IN CASE YOU ARE THINKING ABOU IT

I just received an e mail from somebody who plan to stay in Indonesia for one year. I guess there are some people out there thinking about the same thing, while I am thinking about joining a monastery up in Himalaya after spending one year in penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park in New York City.

So I wrote back. Using Social Visit Visa he can stay for two months and have it extended up to six months. Visa extension is granted for thirty days, so you have to do the process every month (cost about $35.00). But you must have somebody (Indonesian) who would be your sponsor. After six months you have to leave and reenter the country again using similar visa.

Just in case you would like to retire in Indonesia, Government is making thing a lot easier now. Let me know if you are thinking about it, so I can look it up. 

Note :

I have one year old kid who really messed up my well planned retirement plan.

LIFE IS HARD, AND THEN ... YOU DIE.

                                             Taken somewhere in South China Sea (taken from a power boat ..shame on me)

OH YES......I WISH IT WAS ME!

                               
                                                           Pasar Wajo, Buton 2014

WHAT I AM UP TO (just in case you care)

I have just got my website going. No..it is not quite done yet. Just too many empty spaces that I have to fill, which means I'd better do something so not to ruin my bad reputation. How I am going to do it between diapers changing duty and running errands for my wife who thinks she is the skipper, I have nothing but few clues.

Although I have informed my "boss" that I will not get involved with Sail Indonesia directly this year, it looks like that I am not quite home free. For now, I have been asked to assist Sail Indonesia doing promotional works, registration and few things that I have to consult with my attorney first.

I was hoping it would bring me a load of money, but the the way it looks what I hope and what I get is two totally different things. So, I'd better keep my subscription to lottery ticket up to date, although I fully realize that my chance of getting hit by lightning is a bigger possibility.

Soon I find a bit of free time, I'll start working on my calligraphy port folio again. My book writing is also on my agenda. Those who would like to share their get rich quick scheme with me, well... you know where to reach me. But seriously, I'd better doing something that will bring some bacon home, otherwise there would be serious implications.

LATEST ON CRUISING REGULATIONS THAT I AM AWARE OF

Expect nothing and you will never be disappointed. Well, it looks like the latest version of so called "improved" cruising regulation is not exactly what the doctor ordered or what I wish for.

it is true that CAIT can be extended "undefinitely". Actually CAIT is not extendable, you are simply apply for a new one. Just take care that any changes in crews and places to be visited be updated, otherwise they simply copy the old one.

Based on what I have experienced, CAIT is not really a problem. The one that really give any organizers and boat owners alike grey hair is "Custom Bond'. It is true now that it can be extended for up to one year. Problem is every time it is extended the boat has to be inspected by Custom official (which means boats have to be physically at port where there is Custom Official, which also means some paper works have to be processed and some charges have to be paid to your guarantor for sponsoring and preparing paper work.

As it is now, boat owner have to find agent or somebody who not only can get you a CAIT but also act as your guarantor (for Custom Bond a.k.a. Temporary Import Permit). This is why going with the rally is very appealing because they will be taking care of these things with no extra charges but your entry fee.

Of course it may change, for better I hope, because I heard this is not final yet. Stay tuned.

ANY QUESTION?

There must be some cruisers out there who at this minute are trying to make up their mind, or already have made up their mind on cruising in Indonesia this year. I never consider myself an expert on anything (although I used to get paid for running marinas, skipper, yacht rally organizer, calligrapher and others odd jobs that I am a little bit embarrassed to mention), but those who may have question regarding cruising in Indonesia and willing to try at your own risk, I will be honored to answer your question, provided I know the right answer. Of course there will be time when my answer would be something like these : "Gee, hell if I know" or "Yes, I used to know that answer but I was young and healthy then" or something like that.

But seriously, drop me an e mail, I will do my utmost to provide you with the answer based on I know, reliable information (I hope), publications, my own experience and others. It is free of charge, because I have committed too many sins in the past and I am looking at this as a form of self redemption.

My e mail : samseas123@gmail.com 

(my older one is still active :samsailindonesia@gmail.com)

               I was young and healthy then and .....knew all the answers

INDONESIAN TRADITIONAL BOATS

One of my greatest pleasure travelling throughout Indonesia is to able to see with my own eyes the beauty of some of the finest traditional sailing crafts which are still being used in Indonesia. I was fortunate enough to own (it is no big deal, because they are relative inexpensive) and sail on some of them (and somehow survived on some foolhardy voyages which I would not recommend to anyone who I consider a friend).

I may be wrong (some of the time), but I don't think there is another country on this planet that has so many different kind of traditional sailboats as Indonesia. Some of them have disappeared but many still can be found throughout Indonesia.

Unfortunately it is very difficult to find any information on them. I have few pictures that I would love to share it with you. I wish I had more.

"KATIR" of East Belitung

CAN'T STOP IT ...

IT COULD'VE BEEN A GREAT SHOT

RACING DAY

.....MORE ON KOLEK

Car racing ain't for me ....

"KOLEK" RACING SAMPAN OF RIAU ARCHIpELAGO

Kolek is traditional racing sailboat found in Riau Archipelago (mostly around Batam and Karimun Islands vicinity). It is built strictly for racing which is held around August every year. Usually racing season start at Belakang Padang (near Batam) on Indonesian Independence Day, August 17th. Few years ago there were over seventy sailboats took part in that race.

They are divided into five different  classes. Class determined by the number of crews, so there are twelve men crews, nine, seven, five and smallest one three. Lately three men crews are more popular, because it is easier and cheaper to find and feed the crew. Not to mention bigger boat cost more to equip and maintain. Feeding twelve men crew (who come with their family) is not simple matter for the boat owner (who are local themselves). But still, twelve men crew boats carry more prestige and attract more attention. 

Starting, just like any saiboat race is the most exciting part where usually timid and shy Malay goes trough personality transformation when all of sudden they become very aggressive and vocal. Sometimes it looks like mayhem on the water where capsizing is a normal occurrence. Speaking of capsizing, this particular boat is highly unstable. For instance, in case of twelve men crews boat, there are about ten men are on trapeze just try to keep the boat upright. What keel? This boat hardly has any keel. Well it has v shape hull, but it comes to tacking, it tacks as well as well a super tanker. So action around markers can be very exciting with everybody try anything under the sun to get the boat changing her direction. They are fine going downwind, but upwind is another matter. To steer it you need a basically long oar which double its function when there is no wind. Yes, it is probably the only racing sailboat in the world which still races when there is no wind.

When there is no wind, the helmsman using this steering oar will scull like crazy assisted by one or two men. There are unwritten rules which sometimes hotly contested when some start their own interpretation. Traditionally there are rivalries among sailboats which come from different islands. Once I had to threat them with the arrest if they did not stop arguing (it is a good idea to have somebody with uniform on your side). 

These boats are sailed by people who are almost all of them are fishermen from surrounding islands, so they can not take to many days off. They just do it for the love it. When they go racing sometime the whole village are empty because most people  just leave everything to attend the race. Racing day is more like a social gathering with people from different islands get together and be entertained by local music group playing their own traditional songs which are pretty much like American country songs minus alcohol. Street peddlers and coffee shops have their field day. Only dead Malay who doesn't drink coffee or smoke.

The boat itself are beautiful thing to look. Sleek hull and colorful sail made of nylon. Some crews treat themselves with fancy football uniforms. Each boat has her own name such as "Unrequited Love" etc. Some are outright funny and outrageous.

Do they cheat to win? Hell, yes....they are human after all. For instance like when there is no wind where you have to depend on this single oar to move the boat, all of sudden somebody come up a piece of wood, plastic bottle not to mention using hand and feet. Also there is a sculling technique some people say it is illegal.

For prize, there are prize money....and trophy. Size matters, so bigger is better. It can be made of cheap plastic crap or whatever, it does not matter. Just make sure the color is gold.

LATEST ON CAIT AND TEMPORARY IMPORT DUTY (CUSTOM BOND)

At this moment I have not received the proposed new procedure on CAIT nor Custom Bond. I guess they are still cooking it. Once I have the copy of documents, I will have it posted in this blog. 

Just hope and pray it would be better that the old one. 

PROPOSED ROUTE FOR SAIL INDONESIA 2015

I have just received from ASWINDO (they are the one that manages Sail Indonesia) proposed route for SAIL INDONESIA 2015.

Flag off in Darwin will be on July 25th. The following are destinations and dates (all  subject to change).

1. KUPANG                     28 July - 4 August
2. ALOR                            6 -   9 August
3. WAKATOBI                 11 - 17 August
4. EREKE                        18 - 21 August
5. BUTON                        22 - 25 August
6. BAU BAU                    26 - 30 August
7. BOMBANA                   1 - 6 September
8. TAKA BONE RATE      8 - 14 September
9. MEDANA BAY            16 - 21 September
10. LOVINA BEACH         22 - 28 September
11. KARIMUN JAWA        30 Sept. - 2 October
12. KUMAI                          4 - 8 October
13. MANGGAR                 10 - 14 October
14. BELITUNG                 15 - 19 October
15. CENTRAL BANGKA  20 - 24 October 
16. BINTAN                      25 - 28 October

COLORS OF BUTON

                                                                                                   Photo taken in Bau Bau, Celebes

BOATS AND FLOWER - LARANTUKA, FLORES