The nickel mining issue on Gag Island, Raja Ampat, Southwest West Papua, has returned to public attention after videos went viral on social media showing nickel ore–carrying vessels named TB JKW Mahakam and Dewi Iriana.

The ships’ names sparked speculation due to their resemblance to the initials of Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and his wife Iriana.

However, official data from the Directorate of Shipping and Seafaring (Ditkapel Kemenhub) confirms they are unrelated to the Jokowi family

There are eight tug boats named JKW Mahakam (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10) owned by various firms including PT Pelita Samudera Sreeya (PSS, a subsidiary of PT IMC Pelita Logistik Tbk/PSSI), PT Glory Ocean Lines, PT Sinar Pasifik Lestari, and PT Permata Lintas Abadi. 

Additionally, six barges named Dewi Iriana (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8) are owned by the same set of companies, including PSS and PSSI

Specifically, PSS owns tug boats JKW Mahakam 1, 3, 6, and 10, along with Dewi Iriana barges 2, 3, and 5. PT Sinar Pasifik Lestari controls JKW 5 and 8 plus Dewi Iriana 6, while PT Permata Lintas Abadi owns JKW 7 and Dewi Iriana 8. PT Glory Ocean Lines is the owner of JKW 2 

Although these companies operate in logistics and mining commodity transport, there is currently no concrete evidence linking these vessels directly to nickel mining activities on Gag Island.

Of the five mining firms—PT Gag Nikel, PT Anugerah Surya Pratama, PT Kawei Sejahtera Mining, PT Mulia Raymond Perkasa, and PT Nurham—only PT Gag Nikel is operational. Their mining permits have been suspended and are under government review