Indonesian authorities have detained two more cargoships for allegedly violating its territorial waters, South Korea's foreign ministry has said.
The ships have South Korean crew onboard and one has been held for more than three months.
South Korean operator NDSM's 5,000-cbm LPG carrier DL Lily (built 2010) was held on 9 October en route to Singapore. It is at an anchorage near a naval base between Batam and Bintan islands, with eight South Koreans and eight Indonesians onboard.
Last week, another unnamed South Korean ship was held at the same location.
It has four South Koreans and 19 Indonesians onboard.
The Yonhap news agency reported that one of the South Korean seafarers has complained of food being in short supply.
Informed in December
A foreign ministry official said that Indonesia informed the South Korean government of the seizure on 5 December. The shipowner had reportedly said it would handle the situation.
NDSM has been contacted for comment.
"At that time, crew members were on standby inside the ship — not under arrest — and we also found that food had been provided to them," the official said. "We tried to visit them, but that did not happen due to high waves caused by worsening weather."
The Indonesian Navy has said the men would be released soon.
Last year, it was reported that Indonesia was holding nine ships with more than 100 seafarers onboard due to "illegal anchoring".
Standard Club warning
The Times of India cited Indian crew as saying the tankers and bulkers were detained for four months in the Singapore Strait.
There were 87 Indian seafarers on five of the ships.
UK insurer Standard Club had earlier warned of a number of cases of ships anchored around Batam and Bintan being detained by Indonesian authorities as a part of their efforts to combat smuggling.
"The club is aware that a number of ships are apparently instructed to ‘wait for orders’ off Singapore OPL (outside port limits). However, the waters in the Strait of Singapore and Malacca may not necessarily be international and will be claimed either by Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia.
"Releasing the ship from detention in such circumstances could be difficult and a time-consuming process. As such, the club recommends its members to avoid anchoring at non-designated anchorages within the Singapore and Malacca straits unless proper approval has been granted by the relevant authorities."
