This step is taken to search for and confirm the whereabouts of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, which sank on July 2 in the Bali Strait.
Head of the Diving and Rescue Service of Koarmada II Surabaya, Colonel Haran Al Ahsan, stated on Monday that the Indonesian Navy and Basarnas diving team are ready to conduct underwater SAR operations.
"If later, the sea depth is detected between 40 and 50 meters, we will lower the ROV with limitations. If the current remains very strong, we will wait for the right time for the ROV to operate optimally," he stated at Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi, East Java, on Monday.
Ahsan remarked that if the ROV equipment works effectively and the wreck of KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya is located, the joint diving team will be deployed immediately.
Meanwhile, Deputy for Search and Rescue Operations of Basarnas, Ribut Eko Suyatno, reported that the Pulau Fanildo Warship (KRI) was not able to use its sonar equipment optimally due to strong sea currents, which also hindered the ROV's effectiveness in detecting, identifying, and determining the distance of objects underwater.
According to the latest data from the Joint SAR Operations Post at Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi, 30 people were found alive, seven people died, and 28 remain missing from the incident.
Suyatno stated that the SAR operations on Monday would focus all equipment on the southern area from the location where the ship was last detected.
"The furthest range for today's search is estimated to be between 20 to 25 miles, and the entire search area is to the south," he stated.
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Translator: Novi Husdinariyanto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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