KRI Rigel Deployed To Find Victims Of KMP Yunicee Drowning, Ship Located At A Depth Of 78 Meters

The Indonesian Navy deployed two KRIs to evacuate victims on the KMP Yunicee ship that sank in the waters of the Bali Strait (DOK TNI)

DENPASAR - The Indonesian Navy deployed two KRIs to evacuate victims on the KMP Yunicee ship that sank in the waters of the Bali Strait.

The two KRIs deployed were KRI Rigel-933 and KRI Soputan-923. KRI Rigel has the ability to detect underwater.

The Denpasar Lanal Commander, Marine Colonel (F) I Komang Teguh Ardana, said that the alleged cause of the sinking of KMP Yunicee in Gilimanuk was human error or weather and ocean currents.

"With this incident, the Indonesian Navy deployed two elements of the KRI, namely KRI Rigel and KRI Soputan. Previously, Lanal Denpasar had also coordinated with Denpasar SAR, ASDP Gilimanuk and related elements for the evacuation process for KMP Yunicee victims," Ardana said in a written statement, Wednesday, June 30.

Meanwhile, Danlanal Banyuwangi Marine Lieutenant Colonel (F) Eros Wasis said KAL Rajegwesi also participated in the search for victims of the sinking of KMP Yunicee.

"Incidentally 3 KRIs in Banyuwangi. Immediately search for victims who are currently reported missing," he said in Banyuwangi.

Meanwhile, from the results of the KRI Rigel analysis, the KMP Yunicee carcass was found submerged at the bottom of the Bali Strait with a depth of 78 meters. This ship was also dragged up to 1.6 kilometers from the ASDP port of Gilimanuk, Jembrana, Bali.

The shipwreck is precisely located at 8.10 degrees south latitude, and 114.25 degrees east longitude.

"The ROV contacts are on the seabed as deep as 72 to 78 meters under the sea," said KRI Rigel-933 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jaenal Mutakim.

According to him, the process of searching for the ship's skeleton was hampered by strong currents.

"We had to pull the ROV and again we did monitoring from another location. After the current subsided a little, we started the search again," added Jaenal.