Basarnas Deploys ROV Robots to Help Search Missing Submarine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) deployed one unit of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) robot from Jakarta to help the search process of missing submarine KRI Nanggala-402 that lost contact in the north of Bali waters.

Banyuwangi SAR Post Coordinator Wahyu Setia Budi said that one ROV unit was transported using a Hercules aircraft from Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, Jakarta, to Banyuwangi International Airport. “We have received a report that it has arrived,” he said on Friday, April 23.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) established a crisis center post at Banyuwangi Navy’s Second Fleet Command (Koarmada II) and Naval Base (Lanal) that is located near the last location of the submarine detected.

Wahyu explained that Banyuwangi SAR personnel would pick up the robot at the airport and take it to Surabaya SAR’s patrol vessel KN Antasena that is leaning on Tanjung Wangi Port.

“The ROV will be brought to KN Antasena or KN Arjuna belonging to Denpasar Basarnas,” he added.

According to Wahyu, the robot could detect underwater objects at a depth of 200 to 300 meters. “For the search process, we are waiting for instructions from Banyuwangi Naval Base,” Wahyu said.

The TNI’s naval submarine KRI Nanggala-402 lost contact with the operators in the early hours of Wednesday, April 21. The TNI had deployed dozens of vessels and one helicopter for the search operation of the missing submarine.

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