The launch ceremony for the two patrol warships was held at the shipyard of the private Batam-based ship manufacturer PT Karimun Anugrah Sejati in Riau Islands, which produced the vessels.

Navy chief of staff Adm. Yudo Margono said the two warships were aimed at increasing the navy's patrol strength and improving safety in Indonesian waters.

"As a maritime nation and the world's largest archipelagic country, Indonesia should improve its ability to secure its vast territorial water," Yudo said in a written statement on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.

He expressed hopes that the warships could ensure the safety of vessels passing Indonesian waters.

The Type PC-40 M warship is 45.5 meters long, 7.9 meters wide and weighs 220 tons.

The vessel can reach a top speed of 24 knots with a cruising speed of 17 knots and an economic speed of 15 knots.

Karotang-872 and Mata Bongsang-873 will be manned by 35 personnel each and are equipped with radar systems and 30 mm cannons.

The two warships will be used by navy patrols at the Indonesian Naval Base (Lantamal) I in Belawan, North Sumatra and at the Lantamal X in Jayapura, Papua.

Yudo said the Navy would gradually add more patrol vessels in the future until the numbers met the country's needs.

"The increasing number of patrol ships should also be supported with the improvement of the crews' professionalism and capacity," he said. (nal)