ASIA-PACIFIC

摘要

A balanced approach would benefit the Indonesian economy. As offshore exploration accounts for about half of the nation's oil and gas activity, vessels involved in this should be exempt from the new law. This approach is taken in Australia and Brazil. Some West African nations with strict protectionist cabotage laws, meanwhile, have experienced adverse effects on their economies. Not all local shipowners will be able to make huge investments in the type of vessels that are required for the exploration sector. Consequently, the most recent discussion to come out of Indonesia is that jackups, semis, drillships, pipelay and seismic vessels will all be exempt from the cabotage law. The jury is still out for what lies in store for AHTS and PSVs. Some regulatory changes pertaining to exemptions are set to be announced on April 7, and May 7, 2011, is the set date for introduction of the cabotage law.