Submarine base to accommodate Russian, South Korean vessels

The Jakarta Post 3 Feb 2016
Ruslan Sangadji

The Indonesian Navy is speeding up the development of a submarine base in Palu, Central Sulawesi, aiming to have it completed by the end of the year and operational early next year to accommodate Russian and South Korean vessels.

Palu Navy naval base commander Col. Yanu Madawanto said on Tuesday that construction of the naval base was costing more than Rp 21 billion (US$1.5 million) and would accommodate two Russian and South Korean-made submarines.

“Operation of the submarine dock will coinciding with the arrival of the submarines from South Korea and Russia,” said Yanu.

According to Yanu, the submarine base in Palu will be the third of its kind in Indonesia, joining the Western Fleet Command (Koarmabar) in Jakarta and Eastern Fleet Command (Koarmatim) in Surabaya.

“The naval base in Palu will become the Central Fleet Command [Koarmateng],” said Yanu.

The submarine base project was earlier delayed for a month during the negotiation process for the procurement of the submarines. How- ever, the deal has been made and the project has been resumed.

Dredging work is currently being carried out to build the dock. It will be completed in the near future and the second phase of construction will then commence.

Yanu said the Korean-made submarine that would be stationed at the Palu naval base, built by the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering of South Korea, was 6 meters wide and 60 meters long, while the Russian-made submarine was 6 meters wide and 100 meters long.

The submarine base is situated in the Palu Bay area in Watusampu subdistrict, Ulujadi district, city, at a very ideal depth.

“Palu Bay is the world’s thirddeepest sea,” said Yanu.