History of the Relationship between IMO and Indonesia

The Montara oil spill, a catastrophic environmental incident in the Timor Sea in 2009, had a lasting impact on the surrounding region, particularly in the waters of Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Australia. The impacts affected the marine ecosystem, causing severe damage to aquatic life and causing economic hardship to local fishing villages. The Montara oil field, operated by  Thai oil company PTTEP, has become the focus of scrutiny and accountability following an oil spill. The incident sparked a legal battle between Indonesia and Australia as both countries sought to address the impact and manage its environmental and economic impacts. This cross-border dispute brought the Montara oil spill into the realm of international maritime law.This case highlighted the complexities and challenges associated with managing transboundary environmental incidents and prompted a thorough review of legal frameworks and responsibilities in the context of maritime activities. As the trial progressed, the debate surrounding the Montara oil spill raised broader questions about the need for increased international cooperation and coordination to prevent and respond to similar incidents in the future. This incident highlights the importance of sound regulatory frameworks and effective crisis management strategies to maintain the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and protect the livelihoods of local communities that depend on them.

history and Indonesia's relationship with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has strong roots since its establishment in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for maritime safety and prevention of marine pollution. With 172 Member States and headquarters in the UK, IMO continues to be a key driver in the development of international regulations and standards for ship safety, marine environmental protection and global ship safety. Indonesia itself has been participating in the IMO since 1961, marking the beginning of close cooperation between Indonesia and her IMO. Since then, Indonesia has actively participated in various IMO forum initiatives and discussions, and has worked together to address maritime security challenges and marine environmental issues faced by the global maritime community. This cooperation not only reflects Indonesia's commitment to maritime security and environmental sustainability, but also represents a positive contribution to the creation of global standards covering all major aspects of the maritime sector. Indonesia's active role in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) therefore reflects Indonesia's strong influence in shaping global policy direction in the maritime sector.  As a member of the IMO Executive Board, Indonesia not only participates but also occupies a high position in the negotiations and gains an important and strategic role in many aspects of the organization. This includes not only political leadership, but also a strong commitment in developing international maritime regulations that have a significant impact on national maritime policy. Through participation in IMO, Indonesia is committed to ensuring global maritime security and protecting the marine environment. The country's active contribution to the development of international maritime policy reflects its commitment to the sustainability of the maritime sector.As concrete evidence, Indonesia successfully proposed the installation of traffic separation strips (TSS) in the Sunda Strait and Lombok Strait, an initiative that was later adopted at the 101st MSC Conference in June 2019. This measure shows Indonesia's seriousness to actively participate in the development of regulations and standards aimed at improving shipping safety, protecting the marine environment, and promoting shipping safety at the international level. This makes Indonesia the first archipelagic country in the world to receive her IMO recognition.Therefore, Indonesia continues to play an active role in the IMO to improve maritime safety for the benefit of international shipping. Indonesia became a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with the express objective of improving maritime safety to support the smooth operation of international shipping. As the world's largest archipelago nation, Indonesia plays a key role in realizing this global vision. Indonesia's IMO membership reflects recognition of the importance of international cooperation in managing and maintaining maritime security, especially given the complexity of the archipelago's geography.  Furthermore, Indonesia is also the headquarters of the Indonesian Archipelago Route (ALKI), a strategic shipping network that not only supports domestic connectivity between islands, but also plays an important role in supporting and facilitating global trade. Indonesia's participation in IMO is therefore not only in line with its commitment to improve maritime safety in its national seas, but also to support the safety and efficiency of international shipping through its contribution to the global maritime system.  It is also a true attempt Indonesia's involvement as a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is not only a concrete step to improve the safety of ships and protect the marine environment in Indonesian waters, but also to strengthen Indonesia's role as a global maritime axis It is also seen as an opportunity to strengthen the company's ambitious vision. Indonesia's accession to the IMO Council provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation and knowledge sharing with other Member States, thereby adding strength to efforts to keep the maritime sector safe and sustainable around the world Creates a synergistic effect. In the global context, the role of IMO Board members is crucial in strengthening Indonesia's position as the world's maritime axis. Recognizing Indonesia's significant contribution to global connectivity, especially through the Indonesian Islands Route (ALKI), not only lays the foundation for closer cooperation with other member states, but also helps ensure Indonesia's strategic position in international trade. It also encourages them to play their part. Indonesia's accession to the IMO not only means improved shipping safety and the quality of environmental protection in the country's waters, but also a central role for Indonesia in protecting and preserving the archipelago's marine splendor. It is also a concrete expression of recognizing. Furthermore, membership in the IMO Council provides Indonesia with a global stage to actively contribute to shaping international regulations and standards, which in turn places it at the center of promoting ocean sustainability worldwide. Indonesia's image as a maritime axis that plays an important role can be strengthened .Therefore, this accession not only brings direct benefits at the national level, but also underlines Indonesia's role in increasingly deepening global engagement in the maritime field. The Montara oil spill incident in Indonesia has important implications in the field of international relations. The oil spill affected the waters of Indonesia, East Timor  and Australia, damaging marine life and the  local fishing economy. A legal dispute arose between Indonesia and Australia regarding the oil spill, and the case was discussed in the context of international maritime law.The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was used as the basis for resolving this dispute. This case highlights the importance of international cooperation and the need for effective international law and regulation to address transboundaries environmental issues.

penulis bernama iqbal rayhansyah penulis merupakan mahasiswa universitas teknologi yogyakarta prodi ilmu Hubungan internasional akreditasi "B", penulis merupakan mahasiswa angkatan 2022. alasan penulis mengambil prodi hubungan internasional karena penulis tertarik dengan mempelajari dunia internasional mulai dari hubungan antar negara, budaya negara lain, hingga hukum internasional. penulis menulis artikel tersebut untuk mata kuliah politik luar negeri indonesia. Ada pun beberapa dosen yang sangat membantu penulis dalam mengikuti mata kuliah yaitu Bapak Muhammad Ridha Iswadhana, S.I.P., M.A. dan Ibu Lucitania Rizky, S.I.P., M.A. penulis berencana untuk mengambil konsentrasi Diplomasi bisnis pada semester 4.

referensi: http://dishub.tanjabtimkab.go.id/berita/detail/694/sebagai-anggota-dewan-imo-indonesia-terus-tingkatkan-keselamatan-dan-keamanan-pelayaran-untuk-kepentingan-pelayaran-internasional
http://dishub.tanjabtimkab.go.id/berita/detail/694/sebagai-anggota-dewan-imo-indonesia-terus-tingkatkan-keselamatan-dan-keamanan-pelayaran-untuk-kepentingan-pelayaran-internasional
https://setkab.go.id/pencalonan-kembali-indonesia-sebagai-anggota-dewan-imo-kategori-c-periode-tahun-2018-2019/