PT Pertamina (Persero) launched an automated waste-cleaning vessel called the Autonomous Trash Skimmer at Sekeh Beach, Badung Regency, Bali, on the 10th of June.
The Autonomous Trash Skimmer was introduced as a more modern, effective, and environmentally friendly solution for managing aquatic waste. The launch event also formed part of the commemoration of World Environment Day.
The launch was led by Mochamad Iriawan, President Commissioner of PT Pertamina (Persero), and attended by members of the Board of Commissioners and Pertamina Group management. In his remarks, Iriawan stated that aquatic waste poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems, public health, and the beauty of coastal tourist destinations.
“The waste problem not only disrupts the beauty of beaches but also poses a serious threat to environmental sustainability and the Balinese economy, particularly through the tourism sector, which is the backbone of the Balinese economy,” Iriawan stated in a press release received by the press.
Iriawan added that marine debris can also pose operational risks to industries, including Pertamina.
“Waste carried by the current can interfere with ship propellers, clog equipment and machinery cooling systems, and potentially disrupt the smooth distribution of energy,” he added.
The Autonomous Trash Skimmer is an intelligent watercraft designed to collect waste in waterways either autonomously or manually. In its development, Pertamina partnered with Pertamina International Shipping, the Pertamina Foundation, Patra Jasa, the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, and coastal communities. Measuring 8 metres in length and featuring a double-hull catamaran structure, the Autonomous Trash Skimmer is equipped with various advanced technologies, including ultrasonic sensors, cameras, GPS, artificial intelligence (AI), and a real-time monitoring system that enables the vessel to detect and collect waste efficiently.
As an initial step in its implementation, Pertamina selected The Patra Bali Resort & Villas in Badung Regency, Bali, as the pilot project location for the Autonomous Trash Skimmer. The site was chosen due to its high level of coastal tourism activity, which requires sustainable waste management to maintain environmental quality and preserve its appeal to visitors.
In the initial phase, Pertamina is targeting a reduction in coastal waste volume around The Patra Bali Resort & Villas and AFT Ngurah Rai by approximately one tonne per year. Meanwhile, in the TBBM Kotabaru operational area, specifically in Semayap and Rampa Villages in Kalimantan, the programme is expected to help reduce coastal waste generation by approximately 20 tonnes per year.