Jakarta: Indonesia is working to secure the safe passage of two Pertamina tankers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, following a positive response from Iran amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, authorities said.
According to Nam News Network, Acting Corporate Secretary of PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) Vega Pita said the company is coordinating closely with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to facilitate the safe transit of the vessels, Pertamina Pride and Gamsunoro, through the strategic waterway.
PIS together with the Foreign Affairs Ministry are discussing technical measures so that both vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz safely, ANTARA News Agency quoted her saying on Saturday. She said both vessels are currently in the Persian Gulf, stressing that the priority remains the safety of all crew members, as well as the security of the vessels and their cargo.
“We ask for prayers and support from all Indonesian people so that this process can be resolved well,” Vega said, while expressing app
reciation to the Foreign Ministry for its support. She added that since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict, PIS has maintained intensive coordination with the ministry, alongside ongoing diplomatic communications.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry confirmed that Iran has responded positively to Jakarta’s request to allow safe passage for the two tankers. Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela said the ministry, together with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, has been coordinating closely with relevant Iranian authorities from the outset to ensure the vessels’ safety.
He said follow-up steps are being undertaken on technical and operational aspects, although no timeline has been set for the vessels’ departure. On March 5, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia was negotiating to secure the release of the two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.