A recent wave of viral videos featuring tugboats and barges allegedly transporting nickel ore has stirred controversy on social media due to their distinct names, JKW Mahakam and Dewi Iriana, which bear a striking resemblance to the names of Indonesia’s 7th President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Iriana.

Public speculation ran rife as netizens questioned the legitimacy and ownership of the vessels, with many assuming potential ties to the former president’s inner circle.

However, verified data from the Directorate of Shipping and Seafaring under the Transportation Ministry has confirmed that while the ships are real, they are not affiliated with Jokowi, his family, or associates.

According to government maritime registries, at least eight tugboats operate under the name JKW Mahakam, including vessels labeled 1 through 10 (excluding 4 and 9), while six barges are named Dewi Iriana, numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8.

Tugboats, or TBs, are designed to push or tow other vessels, particularly barges that lack independent propulsion systems. These vessels are frequently used in Indonesia’s booming mineral shipping sector, notably for nickel transport.

The ownership of these vessels reveals a network of private shipping companies with no traceable political links to the current or former administration.

The majority of the JKW Mahakam tugboats and Dewi Iriana barges are owned by PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya (PSS), a shipping and logistics firm specializing in mineral commodity transportation. PSS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PT IMC Pelita Logistik (PSSI), a public company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) under the ticker PSSI.

PSSI’s parent company is PT Indoprima Marine, which controls 43.83 percent of its shares. Indoprima Marine also holds a controlling stake in another major shipping entity, PT Samudera Shipping, with 56.18 percent ownership.

Tracing further, PT Indoprima Marine is partly owned (45 percent) by PT Himpunan Primajaya, a private holding company jointly controlled by Constant Marino Ponggawa and Al Hakim Hanafiah, each owning a 50 percent stake.

Both Ponggawa and Hanafiah are prominent legal practitioners and co-founders of law firm Dentons HPRP (formerly Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners). Ponggawa is a former House of Representatives (DPR) member from the now-defunct Damai Sejahtera Party, while Hanafiah was listed among the top 100 Indonesian lawyers by Asia Business Law Journal in 2021.

Ethical questions

The controversy underscores a broader issue regarding transparency and naming practices in Indonesia’s maritime and logistics sectors. While the vessels in question are fully legal and operated under certified companies, the overlap between symbolic names and national figures can create public distrust if left unaddressed.

Until further clarification from stakeholders, the use of these names may remain a source of speculation, but not evidence of impropriety.

Despite the absence of legal violations, the use of names resembling national figures has raised ethical concerns, particularly in the context of public perception and political sensitivities. Naming conventions in the shipping industry are generally unregulated, allowing companies to adopt any name not previously registered.

So far, no official response has been issued by President Jokowi or First Lady Iriana regarding the naming of the vessels. Similarly, no legal action has been taken or is reportedly underway.

While most vessels are registered under PSS or PSSI, several are owned by private entities including PT Permata Lintas Abadi, PT Sinar Pasifik Lestari, and PT Glory Ocean Lines. As these companies are not publicly listed, detailed ownership information remains undisclosed.

The following is a breakdown of the vessel ownership:

JKW Mahakam tugboats:

• JKW Mahakam 1: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya
• JKW Mahakam 2: PT Glory Ocean Lines
• JKW Mahakam 3: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya
• JKW Mahakam 5: PT Sinar Pasifik Lestari
• JKW Mahakam 6: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya
• JKW Mahakam 7: PT Permata Lintas Abadi
• JKW Mahakam 8: PT Sinar Pasifik Lestari
• JKW Mahakam 10: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya

Dewi Iriana barges:

• Dewi Iriana 1: PT IMC Pelita Logistik
• Dewi Iriana 2: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya
• Dewi Iriana 3: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya
• Dewi Iriana 5: PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya
• Dewi Iriana 6: PT Sinar Pasifik Lestari
• Dewi Iriana 8: PT Permata Lintas Abadi