RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A rare naval visit to South Africa is underscoring Indonesia’s growing maritime diplomacy, as a newly commissioned survey vessel retraces historic sea routes linking Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Indonesian Consul General in Cape Town, Tudiono, said the arrival of the Indonesian Navy’s latest hydro-oceanographic survey ship, KRI Canopus-936, reflects the close relationship between Indonesia and South Africa.

“This visit reflects the depth of historical relations between Indonesia and South Africa,” Tudiono said in a press statement on Thursday, April 16, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Carrying the spirit of Jalesveva Jayamahe, Di Laut Kita Jaya, Indonesia emphasized that the ocean serves not as a divider, but as a bridge connecting shared history, science, and future cooperation.

The vessel docked in Cape Town from April 13-16 after departing from Germany. Prior to its arrival, the ship made stops in Las Palmas, Spain, and Lagos, Nigeria, and is scheduled to continue its journey via Mauritius before returning to Indonesia on May 8, 2026.

The visit is considered rare, with only two Indonesian warships having called at Cape Town over the past three decades. It highlights Indonesia’s position as a modern maritime nation committed to sovereignty and global partnership.

As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia maintains a strong commitment to maritime stability and cooperation, while also being a pioneer of the archipelagic state concept recognized under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Beyond its operational mission, the voyage of KRI Canopus-936 carries historical significance, retracing centuries-old routes once used by Dutch VOC ships connecting the Indonesian archipelago with Europe via Cape Town.

This history is closely tied to Yusuf al-Makassari, an Indonesian cleric and freedom fighter exiled to Cape Town in 1694, whose teachings shaped the Cape Malay Muslim community and later inspired global figures such as Nelson Mandela. ***