Ecosystem-based merchant ship ballast water management strategy in Soekarno Hatta Port Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

Soekarno Hatta International Port is located in Makassar city, South Sulawesi province. Many national and international ships carry out operational activities at the port. Ballast water on ships is used as ballast to maintain ship stability when the cargo is empty or half filled. Ballast water exchange is still carried out when the ship is docked and carrying out operational activities at the port. This process has potential environmental impacts, because the disposal of ship ballast water is classified as waste. Ship ballast water often contains contaminated oil, harmful pathogens, and the exchange of marine organisms that have different habitats. The purpose of this study is to determine the appropriate alternative strategy in the management of ship ballast water in port of Soekarno Hatta. This research is descriptive qualitative, which is research that intends to describe a phenomenon and the research technique used is SWOT analysis. Based on the SWOT analysis, the management of commercial ship ballast water at Soekarno Hatta Port Makassar is in the first quadrant, namely the aggressive strategy. The position of internal and external factors in the ballast water management sub-sector in this quadrant shows that strengths and opportunities are more dominant than weaknesses and threats. The resulting strategies include: carrying out training and training for ship crews on the importance of commercial ship ballast water management, checking ballast water carried out regularly by stakeholders, socializing the management of commercial ship ballast water by stakeholders, and confirming the rules related to the management of commercial ship ballast water at Soekarno Hatta Port in order to maintain its ecosystem.