IKN Waters Prone, KSAL Asks To Install Sensors For Ship Supervision

The situation of the Bumi Harapan Village Port in Sepaku, PPU, East Kalimantan, was designated as one of the special ports for loading and unloading IKN needs. (ANTARA-Nyaman Bagus P)

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali said the waters near the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) were vulnerable. He encouraged the installation of sensors to monitor crossings in these waters.

IKN as a substitute for the nation's capital is located in two districts in East Kalimantan (Kaltim), namely Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kertanegara.

The two waters are close to the Indonesian Archipelago Sea Lane (ALKI) II, which is open waters which are shipping and domestic and foreign commercial routes.

"There is indeed a track from ALKI II, it is also very vulnerable, so sensors must be prepared that can monitor crossings from ALKI. Later, the ships that will be prepared can also dock directly at Lantamal Balikpapan," Ali said during a press conference just before the Indonesian Navy Leadership Meeting (Rapim) at the Indonesian Navy Headquarters (Mabesal), Cilangkap, Jakarta, Thursday, February 29, was confiscated by Antara.

So far, said Ali, the Balikpapan Navy Main Base (Lantamal) has not been formed because the main command (city) of the Indonesian Navy will later be formed from the Balikpapan Navy Main Base (Lanal) whose status has increased to Lantamal.

The plan to increase the status of Lanal Balikpapan was announced by Ali since 2023 and was again delivered during today's press conference. However, Ali has not been able to explain in detail when the validation of the Lanal Balikpapan organization to become Lantamal will take effect.

"While what we have prepared from the Melawai area, it may be for the Lantamal," said Ali.

Melawai, who is called Ali, is a coastal area that is approximately one kilometer from Lanal Balikpapan.

Mapping potential threats in the waters and increasing the strength of sea defense in IKN are issues discussed in the 2024 Navy Rapim. Beyond that issue, Ali and the ranks of the Indonesian Navy also discussed the TNI AL work plan throughout 2024, priority for operating and training this year, security plans after the general election, maintenance and repair plans for the Indonesian Navy's defense equipment, development and empowerment targets for defense areas in the Bahari Nusantara Village, as well as plans for implementing cybersecurity within the Indonesian Navy.

The meeting was attended by 138 middle officers and high-ranking officers of the Indonesian Navy, who were also attended by the Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Admiral TNI Irvansyah.