Indonesia retires one of its troop carrying ferry as more replacements arrive

The TNI Tanjung Nusanive (973). Photo c/o Wikimedia Commons.

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) has retired its troop transport ship, the KRI Tanjung Nusanive (973) in ceremonies held on 24 January 2020 in Jakarta.

The ship, formerly a civilian passenger ferry owned by PT Pelni, has served with the TNI-AL since  2005 and has been used to transport troops and equipment around the Indonesian archipelago.

The ship was originally built in Germany by Jos L Meyer Shipyard in Papenberg, Germany, and was used by PT Pelni since 25 March 1984. It was transferred to the TNI-AL on 13 May 2005.

The ship is 144 meters long, with a maximum width of 23  meters and a draft of 5.9 meters. It displaces at around 8,583 tons at full displacement. It has a capacity of 1,556 passengers, and has VIP and VVIP suites as it is also being used by the Indonesian president and military leaders for certain occasions.

Aside from duties of military sea transport, the ship has been used also for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, and in support of the Indonesian government activities.

There was no mention on what will be the fate of the ship, although it was said to have been retired in consideration of improving efficiency within the TNI-AL as more military transport ships are being commissioned to replace older ships.


[1] Indonesian Navy Military Sealift Command