The Outside of Port Limit (OPL) as a new maritime zone to overcome marine pollution due to oil sludge impacting the coast of Bintan, Indonesia to actualise sustainable development

Abstract

The Coastal pollution in Bintan, Indonesia, caused by illegal oil sludge discharge from vessels breaches the provisions of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regarding the sludge oil discharge 30 ppm from tank cleaning and 15 ppm from machinery spaces, which is has been problem since the 1970s until today, The culprit has not been found until now because the problem of proof scientific verification between the pollutant and the impact of the pollution. Based on research using a research paradigm, qualitative methodology, and empirical legal research, The results of this study indicate the eastern segment 2 of the Singapore Strait, which is a grey area, is a source of oil sludge pollution. Therefore, it is recommended to make a strategy to overcome this pollution with establish and regulate a new maritime zone, namely, outside of port Limit (OPL) in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus littoral state can establish OPL in their territorial sea to monitor and prevent illegal sludgde oil discharges into the sea and especially the problem of oil sludge pollution in Bintan can be overcome. Therefore, sustainable development goals can be realized.