the Gas Ambalat: In the Line of Duty

Swinging gently on its anchored moorings in Bitung Harbor, the Gas Ambalat looks almost like a mother nursing her child. Beside her, the smaller LPG One receives its cargo, drawing LPG from the 107-meter-long vessel in a careful ship-to-ship transfer.

On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, the LPG One took on 600 metric tons of LPG for North Sulawesi. First Officer Andi Rahmat Saleh, who was responsible for the cargo operation, moved between the control room and the deck, frequently checking with the crew to make sure the amount transferred was accurate and safe.

This kind of ship-to-ship transfer demands full concentration. Every hose connection, pressure reading, and signal between crew members must be closely monitored. On a vessel carrying LPG, safety is never treated as routine.

“It’s like we’re sitting on a bomb; any mistake could be very dangerous,”

- Andi said.

The Gas Ambalat’s tanks can hold the equivalent of around 900,000 three-kilogram gas cylinders. With a cargo this sensitive, strict safety standards are not only written in manuals. They are practiced every day. Safety drills are carried out regularly so the crew knows exactly what to do in an emergency. Fire drills, evacuation procedures, and emergency response exercises are part of life on board. These drills may look repetitive, but at sea, repetition can save lives.

For the crew, the work is not only about moving cargo from one port to another. It is also about living together in a limited space, far from home, for long stretches of time. Friendships are built over shared meals, night watches, rough weather, and quiet hours between duties. On board, fellow crew members become more than co-workers. They become the closest family available at sea.

This bond matters because life as a seafarer often means sacrifice. Important family moments can be missed. A sudden problem at home cannot always be answered with a quick return. Birthdays, emergencies, school events, and family gatherings may pass while the ship is still on duty. For many crew members, this is one of the hardest parts of being an ABK (abbr. Anak Buah Kapal, indonesian for 'ship's crews').

But they understand the larger purpose of their work. By keeping the LPG supply moving, they help maintain the flow of energy to communities across Indonesia. Their long days and nights at sea are part of a bigger responsibility: supporting the country’s energy security and sovereignty.

The Gas Ambalat makes at least two round trips each month, transporting LPG between Bitung in North Sulawesi and Kalbut Port in Situbondo, East Java. The route is not always easy. Rough seas, shifting weather, and long distances can test both the vessel and the people on board. Yet with an experienced captain, disciplined officers, and a trained crew, the ship continues to carry out its mission.

Their dedication has delivered real results. Out of the planned 98,300 metric tons of LPG for North Sulawesi and Gorontalo in 2017, around 81,000 metric tons had already been delivered by October.

Even when docked, the Gas Ambalat never truly rests. Cargo must be checked. Equipment must be maintained. Safety must be reviewed. The crew must stay ready.

For the men on board, this is service in another form. Not on a battlefield, not in an office, but on the open sea—through discipline, sacrifice, and loyalty to duty.

“It’s like we’re sitting on a bomb; any mistake could be very dangerous,”

Delivering energy to the nation is their way of serving Indonesia.