OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2012. PT Pertamina (Persero) receives the Musi Vessel, a ship made by local shipyard  PT Daya Radar Utama, which will strengthens fuel transportation fleet to improve the resilience of national energy supply efficiently, reported the press-centre of Pertamina.

Musi Vessel, with size 3,500 dead weight ton (DWT), is the 47th ship owned by Pertamina of the total of 175 ships currently operating to ensure the security of domestic energy supply. Musi will transport fuels, covering southern Sumatera transportation route, including Padang loading port, Plaju loading port, Pangkal Balam discharging port, and Bengkulu discharging port.

"We hope that the operation of Musi to support Pertamina's fleet will be able to assist the Company's fuel distribution to every corner of the country in order to increase the resilience of our national energy supply," Vice President Corporate Communication of Pertamina Mochamad Harun.

Due to Indonesia's vast territory and archipelagic geographical makeup, fuel provision in the country is so complex that it needs complex fuel supply infrastructure. Fuels produced by a number of Pertamina's refineries are distributed to main depots through big- and medium-size vessels. They will then be distributed to end depot with small-size vessels, either Pertamina's own or rented.

The breakthrough step by adding Pertamina's own vessels is believed to increase cost efficiency in fuel transportation. Besides, this step is the form of Company's compliance to the principle of cabotage to empower domestic maritime business.

Pertamina has established itself as the pioneer in empowerment of domestic maritime business, including improving the competence and capacity of domestic shipyards. So far, Pertamina is the largest buyers of vessels made by domestic shipyards, as well as the largest customer for repair docking service at domestic shipyards.

Until the end of 2012, Pertamina plans to own 61 ships with ownership status. As many as 29 ships or 47% of them will be produced by national shipyards. Among them, 21 units have already been in operation and eight units are still under construction by PAL, DPS, Dumas, and Daya Radar Utama shipyards.

Musi is produced by Daya Radar Utama, who finished it within around 30 months from the reservation in 2009. Pertamina invested around USD12 million for the ship, which categorized into small 1 category.

"Pertamina is committed to enhancing cooperation with national partners as boat building companies, which are needed by the Company. Pertamina is determined to go forward together with other industries in Indonesia," he said.