On October 10, The Nippon Foundation officially
handed the KN Jadayat, a buoy-tender vessel
costing US$ 7.6 to the Government of Indonesia
to help in maintaining the safety of the
Singapore-Malacca Straits.

Local and shipping papers greeted this move
with a number of warm articles, some of which
are reprinted here. All credits and rights rest
with the newspapers that printed these articles.

Further information from The Nippon Foundation
can be found elsewhere on this site, by
following the link at the bottom of this set of
articles.

Indonesia to get buoy tender vessel
Shipping Times, Oct 10, 2003

[Singapore] Continuing its ongoing commitment to the safety of
navigation in the vital straits of Malacca and Singopore, the Japan-
based Malacca Strait Council (MSC) will hand over a new buoy tender
vessel to Indonesia I n a ceremony on Batam later today. The MSC is
supported by the Japanese non-profit Nippon Foundation which fully
sponsored the S$13.2 million cost of the vessel.
   The handing over of the Jadayat to Indonesia is the
latest effort by the Nippon Foundation to assist in the maintenance
of navigation aids that are vitally crucial to the safe transit of
international shipping through the narrow and busy waterways.
Installed at some 30 locations, the Nippon Foundation has provided
two-thirds of the major lights in the Straits over the last 35
years, at a cost of nearly S$230 million.
   The Jadayat will be based at Kijang Port on Bintan Island
and will be deployed within the Riau Province focusing on the
Malacca and Singapore straits. Last year, the MSC donated a similar
vessel to Malaysia.
   "Together, the two coastal states would have greater capability
in maintaining aids to navigation that lie within the Straits," the
Nippon Foundation said in a statement. The Nippon Foundation's
maritime collaboration with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
through the MSC stretches back to 1968. --By Donald Urquhart

Indonesia strait safety ship
Lloydslist.com, October 14, 2003

By Marcus Hand in Batam

Indonesia has taken delivery of a 13.2 m (US$7.6m) buoy tender
vessel funded by Japan's Nippon Foundation to help keep the Strait
of Malacca safe.

The Jadayat was officially handed over to the government of
Indonesia, represented by Communications Minister Agum Gumelar, by
the Malacca Strait Council in Batam on Friday.

The vessel supports 30 buoys in the Malacca and Singapore Straits
that help maintain safety of navigation in one of the world's
busiest waterways.

"The floating maintenance base Jadayat symbolizes further
strengthening of maritime co-operation between Indonesia and
Japan," the Singapore-based Nippon Maritime Centre said.

The Malacca and Singapore Straits are a key trade route to Japan
with more than 80% of oil imports transiting the busy shipping
lanes.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Gumelar said that while Indonesia was
greatly concerned over safety in the straits the country's economy
was in a difficult position.

Japan donated a similar vessel to Malaysia last year and over 35
years has funded more S$230m navigational aids in the straits.

Asked later by reporters about the problem of piracy in Indonesian
waters, the minister said: "I think we need good co-operation
between Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore."