Indonesia appropriates budget for two new hydrographic survey ships

KRI Spica (934), one of the latest survey ships of the TNI-AL built by OCEA. Photo c/o Baird Maritime.

The Indonesian government has allocated an additional IDR2.04 trillion (US$143 million) to the country’s 2019 defense budget for the acquisition of two (2) new hydrographic survey ships for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL).

The two ships can be quickly modified for use as a submarine rescue platform if needed, and are expected for delivery within the 2020-2024 timeframe.

Not much details were provided although the ships are expected to be at around 90 meters long.

Indonesia has been planning to replace its former Royal Navy Hecla-class survey ship KRI Dewa Kembar (932) acquired from the United Kingdom in 1986 and now more than 50 years old.


[1] Jane’s Navy International
[2] Naval News