KRI Canopus 936 Deployed for Jala Citra Expedition

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali has confirmed that the Republic of Indonesia Warship (KRI) Canopus-936 will be used to carry out the Jala Citra underwater expedition. “With the arrival of the new KRI Canopus-936, it is hoped that some waters that were previously untouched can be mapped,” said Ali during a press conference after receiving KRI Canopus-936 at the Kolinlamil Jakarta pier on Monday. The Jala Citra expedition is an annual hydrography and oceanography research programme aimed at updating maps of Indonesia’s sea surface or seabed. Ali explained that previously the Navy only relied on two Hydro Oceanography auxiliary ships, namely KRI Rigel-933 and KRI Spica-934. These two KRIs were deemed less than optimal due to limitations in sonar technology for seabed mapping. Therefore, with the presence of KRI Canopus-936, Ali hopes that efforts to map sea areas can be carried out maximally to strengthen the guarding of Indonesia’s territorial seas. “That equipment is used to conduct hydrographic, oceanographic, geophysical surveys, to detailed mapping on the seabed,” said Ali. In addition to monitoring underwater areas, the ship is also functioned for military operations such as submarine route mapping, sea mine detection, security patrols, and maritime intelligence support. Ali explained that KRI Canopus-936 is also capable of carrying out search and rescue (SAR) missions in water, including emergency signal detection and searching for objects on the seabed. With this technology, according to him, the Navy can search for submarines that have experienced accidents and sunk in the sea.