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New boats to patrol Malacca Strait
The Maritime Security Coordinating Agency (Bakorkamla) will deploy two newly commissioned patrol boats to secure the Malacca Strait, which is prone to piracy
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he Maritime Security Coordinating Agency (Bakorkamla) will deploy two newly commissioned patrol boats to secure the Malacca Strait, which is prone to piracy.
'Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Minister Djoko Suyanto said in a written statement that Bakorkamla's patrol boats would be tasked with reducing threats in the Malacca Strait, although currently it is still safe,' Bakorkamla executive director Vice Adm. Bambang Suwarto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
'Although there is minimal threat in the Malacca Strait, there are plenty of potential dangers.'
Bambang was speaking on the sidelines of a dedication ceremony of KN Bintang Laut 4801 and Singa Laut 4802 at Bakorkamla's command post on Setokok Island, off Batam Island in Riau Islands province.
Djoko, in his position as Bakorkamla chief, was slated to officially launch the two new patrol boats, but he was included in the presidential entourage to Kazakhstan, Poland and Russia.
The 48-meter boats are the first patrol boats owned by Bakorkamla. They will be deployed at the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) across the country as well as to reduce security threats in the Malacca Strait.
'Up to this point we have been using patrol boats that belonged to other agencies under our command,' Bambang said.
'Eight catamaran patrol vessels and 10 rift patrol ships operated by the agency have been donated by various countries, but primarily from Australia.'
The boats, worth Rp 58 billion (US$5.06 million) each, are equipped with 12.7mm and 20mm guns, having been designed for security operations.
Bambang said Bakorkamla was aiming to develop a total of six 48-meter vessels, designed as an effective platform for patrolling Indonesia's exclusive economic zones, by 2014.
He added that the agency needed some 500 patrol boats to fully secure Indonesian waters.
KN Bintang Laut was made by PT Palindo Marine and KN Singa Laut by PT Citra Shipyard. The shipyards are located next to each other.
Bambang said KN Singa Laut 4802 would immediately be deployed as a communication command ship to safeguard the APEC Summit in Bali.
