KRI Canopus-936 Finally Arrives, Indonesia's First "Submarine Rescue" Vessel
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) officially welcomed the arrival of KRI Canopus-936 at the Kolinlamil Dock in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Monday (11/5/2026) after the vessel completed a 57-day voyage from Germany to Indonesia.
The arrival of KRI Canopus-936 was greeted by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, Deputy Minister of Defence Donny Ermawan Taufanto, Navy Chief of Staff (KSAL) Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, along with several high-ranking TNI and TNI AL officials.
Ali stated that the ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and made stops at several countries before reaching the homeland.
Ali explained that KRI Canopus-936 was constructed through cooperation between Indonesia and Germany by PT Palindo Marine in Batam and the Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R) shipyard in Germany.
He described KRI Canopus-936 as an auxiliary hydro-oceanographic vessel designed to conduct underwater surveys and mapping.
However, the vessel is also prepared to support submarine search and rescue operations or as a submarine rescue vessel.
KRI Canopus-936 is equipped with various high-technology underwater sensors, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), submarine drones, and surface drones.
In addition, the ship has capabilities for deep-sea and shallow-water surveys, including coastal area surveys using two small vessels carried on board.
Besides its scientific functions, the ship also has the capability to support military and maritime security operations, including submarine route mapping, sea mine detection, security patrols, and maritime intelligence support.
Ali said that the domestic content level (TKDN) of the vessel has reached more than 60 percent.
“Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to build it completely independently in Indonesia,” he said.
Ali also confirmed that TNI AL personnel have undergone seven months of training in Germany to operate KRI Canopus-936.
According to Ali, the presence of KRI Canopus-936 will strengthen Indonesia’s underwater surveying capabilities.
Previously, the TNI AL had two modern survey vessels, namely KRI Spica (934) and KRI Rigel (933).
He added that KRI Canopus-936 will be under the Navy’s Hydro-Oceanography Centre (Pushidrosal) and will be used for surveys across all Indonesian waters, including in the Jala Citra Expedition activities.