Australia offers help in search for missing submarine with 53 on board

The German-made submarine, KRI Nanggala-402, was conducting a torpedo drill in waters north of the island of Bali but failed to relay the results as expected, a navy spokesman said.

Military chief Hadi Tjahjanto said contact with the vessel was lost at 4:30am local time on Wednesday.

“We are still searching in the waters off Bali, 96 kilometres from Bali, [for] 53 people,” military chief Hadi Tjahjanto told Reuters in a text message.

Indonesia’s Defence Ministry said the submarine lost contact after being granted clearance to dive. It said a helicopter later spotted an oil slick near the dive’s starting position.

The submarine was carrying 49 crew members, its commander and three gunners, it said.

The navy said an electrical failure may have occurred during the dive, causing the submarine to lose control and become unable to undertake emergency procedures that would have allowed it to resurface.

It said it believed the submarine sank to a depth of 600-700 metres. 

‘Chilling reminder’ of dangers submariners face

Mr Tjahjanto said the navy had deployed scores of ships to search the area, including a hydrographic survey ship, and had asked for help from Singapore and Australia, which have submarine rescue vessels. 

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia would provide whatever support it could to Indonesia.

“We are obviously very concerned about these reports. It’s very distressing for families and particularly for the Indonesian Navy,” she told AM.

“We’ve indicated that we will help in any way we can. We operate very different submarines from this one, but the Australian Defence Force and Australian Defence organisation will work with defence operations in Indonesia to determine what we may be able to do.

“We will go to the support of our neighbour in any way we can.”

Singapore’s defence department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Independent Australian senator Rex Patrick, a former submariner, expressed his deep concern but said he believed there was still hope. 

“You never know what can eventuate in these situations. I wish our Indonesian friends the very best in their endeavours to quickly find the submarine and I know that the RAN and RAAF will offer all available support in assisting the Indonesian Navy,” Senator Patrick said.

“This is a chilling reminder of just how dangerous submarine service can be”.

The 1,395-tonne KRI Nanggala-402 was built in Germany in 1978, according to the Indonesian cabinet secretariat’s website, and underwent a two-year refit in South Korea that was completed in 2012.

Indonesia in the past operated a fleet of 12 submarines purchased from the Soviet Union to patrol the waters of its sprawling archipelago.

But now it has a fleet of only five — two German-built Type 209 submarines and three newer South Korean vessels. It plans to operate at least eight by 2024. 

Indonesia has been seeking to upgrade its defence capabilities but some of its equipment still in service is old and there have been deadly accidents involving, in particular, ageing military transport planes in recent years.

Reuters/ABC