KRI Nanggala-402 Missing, Expert Explains Bali Waters Condition

DENPASAR - The KRI Nanggala-402 submarine that was lost in Bali waters has yet to be found. The joint team, including assistance from abroad, is still trying to find the submarine with 53 crew members.

The Governor of Bali's Marine and Fisheries Expert Group, I Ketut Sudiarta, explained the sea conditions in the northern waters of Bali. The waters north of Bali are said to fall into the category of sea trenches.

"In general, the North Sea of Bali or known as the Bali Sea is a transitional sea. Between, the shallow Sundanese exposure and the deep sahul exposure," said Sudiarta when contacted, Saturday, April 24.

The North Sea of Bali belongs to a category of sea trenches known as the Bali-Flores Sea Trench. When approaching the Lombok strait, the depth of the sea is called Sudiarta reaching 1.3 km.

Meanwhile, in Celukan Bawang, Buleleng, the depth is estimated at 700 meters.

"This means that the deeper it is to the east, it is getting deeper. Because, including the troughs of the sea," he added.

The waters of Banyuwangi, East Java to the north of Singaraja, Buleleng, Bali have long been a training area for the Indonesian Navy.

"And that, indeed, as a submarine test site," said Sudiarta.

Meanwhile, the condition of the ocean currents in northern Bali, including global currents that are relatively strong and rotating. The strong current is related to the Pacific current from the Makassar Strait to the Lombok Strait to the Indian Ocean.

"The point is that there are many currents, including backflows. Due to the influence of the global flow known as Alindo, the sea currents in the Indonesian archipelago," he explained.

KRI Nanggala-402 was reported missing contact Wednesday, April 21 in northern Bali waters. The ship with type 209/1300 made in West Germany lost contact about 60 miles north of Bali waters.

"At 03.46 WIT, KRI Nanggala carried out the dive. Then at 04.00 WIT, it carried out the inundation of the number 8 torpedo launcher. So it was not a missile," said Kapuspen TNI Maj. Gen. Achmad Riad at the Base Ops Lanud I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Bali, Thursday, April 22.

On launching the number 8 torpedo, the last communication occurred. At around 4:25 a.m., the Commander of the Exercise Task Force would authorize the torpedo firing.

"That's where communication with KRI Nanggala is cut off," explained the Kapuspen.