Constraints Of Evacuating Sinking Ships In The Bali Strait: Basarnas Has No Sonar Equipment And Sophisticated Equipment Operators

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission V DPR RI Lasarus revealed the obstacles of Basarnas in evacuating the Tunu Pratama Jaya ship that sank in the Bali Strait on Wednesday, July 2, evening. Lasarus said that Basarnas does not yet have sonar equipment that can detect the presence of ships in the sea as well as operators of advanced equipment.

This was conveyed by Lasarus after a meeting with Basarnas at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, July 7. The meeting scheduled a discussion on the results of the 2024 BKP examination report, an evaluation of the 2025 budget absorption, and an initial stage of the RKKL of the Ministry of Institutions for the 2026 State Budget.

"The agenda is three yes. But earlier we did because a few days ago there was a ship accident in the Bali Strait, yes, the KM Tunu ship. So we also asked the Head of Basarnas for an explanation to explain the extent of the operation that had been carried out," said Lasarus at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, July 7.

"And what efforts or obstacles are in the field. One of them was revealed that Basarnas does not yet have adequate sonar equipment. To find the point where the ship is located if it sinks," he continued.

Lasarus explained that the tools owned by Basarnas today are only detectors when the object has been found. While tools to search for objects, Basarnas does not yet have them.

"If they have been found, then they have the tools. They can detect whether there are still victims trapped or not and so on. But looking for where the ship sank, Basarnas does not yet have it," he explained.

Then the second obstacle, continued Lasarus, is that Indonesia does not yet have operators for sophisticated tools. So Commission V of the DPR asked Basarnas to prioritize the necessary tools and apply for equipment procurement.

"We have to borrow from outside. This was just revealed earlier. Therefore we were at the meeting earlier. One of the conclusions of the meeting was asking Basarnas to prioritize tools that are very, very necessary," he said.

"Indonesia is wide. We are a country of islands. Our sea is 2/3 of the area of land. Which means the potential for disasters in the sea is very large. Therefore, the main tools related to accidents in the sea should have a nation of this size. We ask the new head of Basarnas for the task to be related to procurement," added Lasarus.

Lasarus said that Commission V of the DPR RI would seek to realize the budget application for the procurement of disaster evacuation equipment.

"Regarding costs, budgets and so on, we are currently in the process. Of course we are trying to discuss the budget, this can be a priority for Basarnas to be budgeted for in 2026," he concluded.