Search area for missing journalists follows Sunda Strait current modelling

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Commander of the Banten Naval Base, Lieutenant Commander Wawan Subagyo Mardani, stated that the adjustment of the search area for the missing speedboat carrying eight passengers in the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang, is based on modelling of the current dynamics of direction and speed.

Speaking at a press conference at the Joint SAR Main Post at Carita Beach, Pandeglang, on Tuesday evening, he explained that, based on those considerations, the search area narrowed from 4,586 nautical miles (NM) to 3,962 NM on the eighth day, and not for any other reason.

“The area calculation narrowed slightly based on the SAR MAP modelling carried out by our colleagues at Basarnas, compared with data from the Navy’s Hydro-Oceanography Centre, or Pushidrosal,” he said.

The modelling, based on hydro-oceanographic data and Basarnas’ SAR MAP, provides an indication of the probable trend of sea current movements, allowing the search for the target, which is believed to have drifted, to be focused on the most accurate sectors.

According to the Basarnas map, the eighth day of the SAR operation involved 20 main SAR vessels divided across six sectors (A-F). Each sector covers the islands and waters around Mount Anak Krakatau, spanning the provinces of Banten and Lampung, and reaching as far as Bengkulu.

“The characteristics of the currents in the waters of the Sunda Strait around Mount Anak Krakatau are dynamic and continuously change in direction and speed every hour, extending to the Indian Ocean (south-west of Enggano),” he said.

However, in the area closest to Mount Anak Krakatau, still within the Sunda Strait, conditions were reported to be fairly conducive, with waves of only around 0.5-0.75 metres, allowing all planned actions to be carried out properly.

Mardani noted that, given these conditions, personnel were able to approach closer to Rakata and Sertung islands using the Sea Reader from the KN SAR Tetuka.

This approach was considered important in order to verify reports of the suspected presence of the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat being sought, although the results were nil.

“Why do we say the results were nil? Because the object was not visible at all. The target we are searching for is a speedboat with a white hull, including a white deck. It was not visible whatsoever,” he said.