PT PAL Delivers Warship to Defense Ministry

SURABAYA, KOMPAS.com - State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL on Monday handed over a warship, the KRI Banda Aceh, to the defense ministry to support the Indonesian navy’s operations. The warship was handed over symbolically by the company’s president director, Harsusanto, to Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro at the company’s general engine division here on Monday.

The event was witnessed by state enterprises minister Mustafa Abubakar, defense forces commander Admiral Agus Suhartono, navy chief of staff Admiral Soeparno and members of the House of Representatives’ Commission I (defense affairs). The 125-meter-long landing platform dock ship was designed specially as a military ship capable of carrying troops, combat and tactical vehicles and helicopters.

Before being handed over the ship had already undergone a series of test sailing from March 2 to 8 to see its performance and also a navigational inspection on March 14.

"All the targets set according to contracts tested have been met. Some capabilities have even surpassed targets such as the ship’s speed set in the contract at 15 knots but in the test the ship could sail up to 15.2 knot. This proves that the domestically produced ship could be relied upon and give pride," Harsusanto said.

State enterprises minister Mustafa Abubakar meanwhile expresed hope that the good relations between PT PAL and the ministry of defense and the navy could be continuously maintained and increased through development of main weapon system equipment or inputs given to PT PAL for improvement of the company’s future performance.

Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the ship was needed by the navy "not only for carrying out its combat duty but also for other activities including humanitarian missions. Every year the navy (TNI-AL) conducts humanitarian mission Bhaskara Jaya," he said.

Since 1980 PT PAL has already built more than 200 ships of various kinds and measures. With regard to trading vessels the company has been able to build up to 50,000 DWT ships while it has also been able to build warships ordered by the navy.

With regard to speed patrol boats PT PAL has been able to produce various kinds and versions of the boat starting from 14-meter long up to 57 meter long boats. KRI Banda Aceh is the fourth warship of LDP version produced by PT PAL. The company has partnered with Daewoo International Corporation for building the ship.