Indonesia counts the cost of warship mishap<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy's warship KRI Teluk Lampung,
\nwhich ran into trouble off Spain last week as it was making the
\ntrip from Germany to Indonesia, has been towed to a safer spot
\nand will be repaired before resuming its journey, officials said.<\/p>\n
News that the vessel, a tank-transport which is among 39
\nwarships being procured from Germany, had been saved came as a
\nrelief for the government as earlier reports from France
\nsuggested that it was sinking in stormy weather.<\/p>\n
It spared the government major embarrassment as the accident
\noccurred amidst allegations of massive cost overruns in the
\nprocurement of the 39 ships, all from the former arsenal of East
\nGermany. Officials have denied suggestions that the ships are
\nlittle better than scrap metal, saying that they are all in good
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who is
\nhandling the procurement, stressed on Saturday that the accident
\nwas caused by exceptionally bad weather and that technically,
\nthere was nothing wrong with the ship.<\/p>\n
"What technical mistake?" he asked reporters back. "That ship
\nwas battered by 10-meter high waves, all day and not simply five
\nor 10 minutes. Obviously it tipped over."<\/p>\n
All 52 crew of the KRI Teluk Lampung were airlifted by Spanish
\nhelicopters immediately after a distress signal was sent from the
\nBiscay Bay along the border of France and Spain.<\/p>\n
Habibie explained that the ship had kept as close to the shore
\nas possible but had to sail further out to sea to avoid
\nPortuguese waters when it ran into stormy sea.<\/p>\n
Water began pouring over the prow of the ship and into open
\nhatches, flooding the ship's bilge, and this caused the ship to
\ntip about 20 degrees.<\/p>\n
One of the advantages of these German ships is that they
\ncannot sink, Habibie said.<\/p>\n
He recalled that three tank-transports that had arrived in
\nIndonesia reported that their doors were also swept open during
\ntheir journey here but the crew managed to quickly shut them.<\/p>\n
He said that the remaining tank-landers will have their doors
\nsoldered before setting sail from Germany to prevent similar
\naccidents.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the cost of the repairs will be fully born out by
\nthe Agency for the Application of Research and Technology (BPPT)
\nwhich he also heads.<\/p>\n
Armed Force Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung on Saturday said the
\nship was not insured. "What company would insure a warship?" he
\nresponded when reporters asked about the losses to the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Navy Deputy Chief of Staff for Operational Affairs Rear
\nAdmiral Murdjijo said the KRI Teluk Lampung was the
\nresponsibility of the BPPT, although the Navy supplied the crew.<\/p>\n
The ship, captained by Lt. Col. Tedjo Edhy, set sail from
\nNeustad, Germany, along with a corvette, KRI Imam Bonjol, last
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Habibie last week denied a report in Tempo newsweekly on cost
\noverruns, stressing that the higher budget proposal for the
\nprocurement stated in Tempo includes the cost of refurbishing the
\nships, the purchase of spare parts, ammunition and the cost of
\nupgrading a number of naval bases that will house the new ships.<\/p>\n
The 39 ships ordered from Germany include 16 corvettes, 14
\ntank-transports and nine minesweepers. Seventeen of them have
\narrived in Indonesia, with the remaining 22 due later this year.<\/p>\n
Tempo said that the Ministry of Finance had turned down
\nHabibie's request for a US$1.1 billion budget, well higher than
\nthe $300 million originally estimated for the ships. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-counts-the-cost-of-warship-mishap-1447893297",
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