Second Indonesian Navy Oceanographic Vessel Named KRI Spica 934

07 Agustus 2015

KRI Spica 934 (photo : Lembaga Keris)

OCEA launches second Indonesian Navy oceanographic vessel

French shipbuilder OCEA has launched the second oceanographic offshore support vessel (OSV) on order for the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL), the service announced on 5 August.

The vessel was launched at Les Sables d'Olonne on 3 August in a ceremony attended by senior members of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and the TNI-AL. IHS Jane's understands that the vessel will be named KRI Spica with pennant number 934.

Indonesia signed a USD100 million contract with OCEA in October 2013 for two 60 m OSVs. First-of-class KRI Rigel (933) arrived in Indonesia in May and is currently based with the TNI-AL's Military Sealift Command (KOLINLAMIL) in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

According to specifications provided by the TNI-AL, the platform is powered by two MTU 8V 4000 M53 engines driving two fixed-pitch propellers. The vessel can attain a top speed of 14 kt, has a standard range of 4,400 n miles at 12 kt, and can operate up to Sea State Six. Each OSV can accommodate a crew of 30 and 16 mission personnel at sea for 20 days.

The platform has been lightly armed with a Rheinmetall 20 mm cannon as its main gun and two stern-facing 12.7 mm machine guns for point defence.

The service has not released details on the survey equipment that will be fitted on board the second OSV but Rigel is equipped with Kongsberg's EA 600 single-beam echo sounder and the company's EM 2040 and EM 302 multibeam systems. The vessel also carries Kongsberg Maritime's Hugin 1000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which can perform high-speed survey missions at depths of up to 1,000 m.

"The second OSV will now undergo harbour-acceptance tests and sea-acceptance tests before delivery," said the TNI-AL in its statement. It added that Indonesian service members will arrive in France from mid-August for training and familiarisation on board the platform. The vessel is scheduled for commissioning in October.

(Jane's)