The Outlaw Ocean Project

The Outlaw Ocean Project

My name is Ian Urbina and I’m the director of The Outlaw Ocean Project, a journalism non-profit based in Washington D.C. that publishes stories about human rights and environmental issues connected with the sea. I’m contacting you in light of our latest investigation and a link we’ve discovered between abuses on board a vessel owned by the Chinese fishery company, Rongcheng Wangdao Ocean Aquatic Products, and your manning agency.

In 2019, PT Ocean Jaya Samudra placed an Indonesian deckhand named Heri Kusmanto on a Chinese distant- water fishing ship owned by Rongcheng Wangdao, called the Zhen…

PT Ocean Jaya Samudra

The agency responded with an unsigned email saying they didn't understand the questions because the crew have been home for a long time and there are no problems.

The Outlaw Ocean Project

The Outlaw Ocean Project reiterated the initial questions and asked if the manning agency had any record of Heri Kusmanto.

PT Ocean Jaya Samudra

The agency replied that when he was on the ship, he didn't want to take a shower or eat, he only ate instant noodles. It also said that people were stressed so Kusmanto was sent home, and all salary was paid. The email provided no further details.