Jakarta. The Indonesian Navy has received its first submarine rescue vessel, a German-made ship, as the archipelagic country seeks to boost its rescue capabilities.

German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R) and its Batam-based counterpart Palindo Marine partnered to build the vessel, with most of the inputs coming from Indonesia. The ship, better known as KRI Canopus-936, has 60% of local content.

“This is our first submarine rescue vessel,” Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali told the press at a military pier in Jakarta, as reported by the state news agency Antara.

The ship comes with technologies that can help the Navy conduct hydrographic surveys, including a detailed mapping of the seabed. The Navy will also use the ship to map submarine routes, detect sea mines, conduct security patrols, and support maritime intelligence. KRI Canopus-936 is expected to bolster the Navy’s capabilities for underwater search-and-rescue missions, including detecting sunken submarines.

Indonesia has already deployed as many as 93 personnel to Germany to learn how to operate the KRI Canopus-936.

“They have previously received training and education in France and Indonesia. We already have a hydrographic school," Ali said.

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