As the largest archipelagic nation in the world, Indonesia finds mapping its vast sea territory a challenging task.

The country’s maritime map relies on maps produced by the Dutch during the colonial era that only cover 40 percent of the entire sea territory, more than 70 years after independence.

In line with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s vow to turn Indonesia into a global maritime fulcrum, the Navy aims to speed up the sea mapping in order to mark the nation’s territory as well as for sea navigation.

One of the obstacles is that the two ships being used — KRI Rigel 933 and KRI Spica 934 — are too small and are relatively old. It has been calculated that relying on the two ships the mapping would take hundreds of years to complete, Navy chief of staff Admiral Edi Supandi said.

Therefore, the Indonesian Hydrology and Oceanography Center, overseen by the Navy, plans to bring in more ships with more sophisticated capacity to speed up the mapping process. It will purchase four hydrography ships to be used by the center as part of a plan to gradually increase its fleet.

The purchase of the ships had been proposed in the force’s strategic plan, he said, without giving further details.

He said the Navy aimed to purchase the ships over 10 years.

“We plan to include the new purchases in two Renstra [five-year budget plans],” Edi told reporters on the sidelines of an event in North Jakarta on Thursday.

A total of six ships working on the mapping process would significantly reduce the time taken. To get an idea of how much time can be saved, 10 ships would take 20 years to complete the mapping job, explained the center’s chairman Rear Adm. Harjo Susmoro.

Ships with sophisticated technology are needed for hydrographic measurements as they cover the ocean territory minutely, rather than the technology used by satellites. The ships will also identify any hazards to shipping such as undersea cables and reefs, he said.

The map produced by the center will have many purposes other than for commercial and civil navigation.

Naval patrols along the country’s borders as well as disaster-mitigation efforts will be able to rely on the map, Harjo said.

The map will also be useful when constructing ports as it will provide data on the contours and shape of the seabed.

Most importantly, the mapping process can help the country identify natural resources lying under the seabed, he added.

If left unidentified, foreign vessels could enter Indonesian waters ostensibly to gauge the depth of the ocean but in fact to conduct seismic studies to locate undersea natural resources.

“Then they can sell the data abroad,” Harjo warned.

In order to prevent this, the planned ships will also be equipped with the capability to identify natural resources.

Furthermore, he added, the move by the Navy was also based on a request by international community through the International Hydrographic Organization, of which Indonesia is a member.

The organization seeks to ensure that all of the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted.

The need to update the country’s ocean map is particularly relevant since President Jokowi has focused many of his programs on connecting seaports across the archipelago to support the country’s development.

“Hydrography is not just about mapping the ocean. It can be a supporting key for Indonesia’s economic development and the spearhead of our maritime defense,” Harjo said.

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