The Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA) said the government’s call for ships carrying illegal timber to be impounded would cause “massive” losses in the local shipping industry.
INSA, which is threatening to stop domestic and international log shipments, said the authorities should only confiscate any illegal wood, not the ships.
The decree is intended to replace an earlier rule for ships to unload at the next port before being allowed to sail on.
Indonesia’s sea transportation chief said the decree also fell into line with the1999 Forestry Law, which states that all parties involved in transport of illegal timber must be detained for investigation.
