Energy Ministry Sends Personnel and Equipment Searching for Missing Submarine

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 140.Pers/04/SJI/2021

Date: 22 April 2021

Energy Ministry Sends Personnel and Equipment Searching for Missing Submarine

The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) assigns two technicians from its Marine Geology Research and Development Center (P3GL) to help search for KRI Nanggala-402 submarine which lost contact in the waters north of Bali. The technicians assigned are Wilman Darmawan and Sahnedi. They will join the operations team led by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) from April 22 to 28, 2021.

Besides assigning its personnel, the Ministry of EMR also lend Marine Magnetic SeaSpy Magnetometer belonging to P3GL. The device will be used to detect the approximate location of the submarine.

Usually, a magnetometer is used in geophysical surveys to determine subsurface geological conditions based on magnetic properties. In principle, a marine magnetometer works similarly to a metal detector, with the only difference being the threshold of the two.

KRI Nanggala 402 vessel lost contact while doing a missile drill in the waters north of Bali on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at around 03.00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The submarine is believed to have experienced a total blackout. Thus, the crew were unable to carry out emergency processes (to push the emergency button that enables the submarine to surface).

KRI Nanggala was made in Germany in 1977. It entered the fleet of Indonesia's navy in 1981. During the drill, the submarine had 53 crew aboard, consisting of 49 crew members, one unit commander, and three arsenal personnel. (IY)

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

Agung Pribadi (08112213555)

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