Indonesian Navy Prepares Submarine Evacuation Ship For Pushidrosal

The Indonesian Navy (AU) has prepared an additional hydro-oceanographic aid ship (BHO) which also functions as a submarine evacuation system (SRVS) for the Indonesian Navy Hydro-Oceanography Center (Pushidrosal).

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali explained that the addition of one BHO ship was to increase the work of surveys and seabed mapping which was Pushidrosal's main task.

For the defense equipment (Pushidrosal) there will be additions. One more unit of BHO is being prepared and will later function apart from being a hydro-oceanographic ship as also a rescue ship (saver, ed.) for submarines," said Admiral Ali during a press conference after the handover ceremony for the position of Commander Pushidrosal (Danpushidrosal) and Pangkolinlamil at the Kolinlamil Command Headquarters, Jakarta, Monday, November 20, was confiscated by Antara.

The ship, called Ali, refers to the SRVS (submarine rescue vehicle system) made by a British company, Submarine Manufacturing & Products (SMP), which procures it in collaboration with PT BTI Indo Tekno.

In a purchase contract signed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and PT BTI Indo Tekno on September 1, 2023, the purchase of SRVS includes one rescue submarine (SRV-F Mk.3), one mothership unit and other equipment (decompression chamber, launch and recovery system, air transportability equipment, and remotely operated vehicle).

The value of the contract for the purchase of the evacuation ship system reached 100 million US dollars or around Rp. 1.5 trillion.

On the official website of Submarine Manufacturing & Products, SRV-F Mk.3 can dive to a depth of more than 500 meters.

So far, Pushidrosal has been strengthened by several ships, but only KRI Rigel-933 and KRI Spica-934 can operate for deep-sea surveys.

In the search for the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine, Pushidrosal also deployed KRI Rigel-933 to search the waters north of Bali. KRI Rigel, as well as KRI Spica, which was built in France was able to detect the seabed up to a depth of 6,000 meters.

The two KRIs, this year, were involved in several operations, including a joint seabed survey with French ships in the Malacca Strait and on Australian ships on the border of Indonesia and Australia in the Timor Sea.