BRIN Accelerates Repairs to Research Vessel to Support Underwater Volcano Mappin

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - The Deputy Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Amarulla Octavian, is pushing for accelerated repairs to the Baruna Jaya III Research Vessel to support marine research, particularly underwater volcano mapping.

He conveyed this encouragement during a working visit to the KS Said Djauharsah Jenie in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday, March 26, 2026. He affirmed that the readiness of the research vessel is a priority, in line with the Steering Committee's directive to immediately conduct underwater volcano research. "Repairs to Baruna Jaya III must be expedited through a comprehensive assessment, including repair options and engine replacement," Amarulla conveyed.

He added that the repair process must begin with a comprehensive assessment to identify detailed technical needs. To this end, research organizations and research centers within BRIN have been tasked with conducting a thorough evaluation of the vessel's condition. Furthermore, BRIN will utilize internal consultants in the repair process, not only for Baruna Jaya III but also for other research vessels such as Baruna Jaya II and IV.

Meanwhile, the Director of Research Vessel Fleet Management, Nugroho Hananto, stated that his team had conducted assessments of five BRIN research vessels since 2022 in conjunction with the Hydrodynamics Technology Research Center. "For Baruna Jaya III, we have compiled a repair list covering aspects of the ship and its marine engineering, electrical systems, machinery, accommodations, and safety equipment," he explained.

He also continued, explaining that the ship inspection process will be carried out immediately, considering that several vessels have entered the auction stage with specific deadlines, necessitating expedited execution.

Meanwhile, the Head of BRIN's Hydrodynamics Technology Research Center, Teguh Muttaqie, revealed that the 2022 evaluation results showed that Baruna Jaya III performed better than other vessels. "Based on our sea trials, Baruna Jaya III still performs quite well and can be used for short-term missions with some improvements," he said.

The evaluation covered various aspects, including the ship's structure (hull and construction), visual inspection, engine room, propulsion system, survey equipment, navigation and communications, and other supporting systems.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Baruna Jaya III Revitalization Technical Team at BRIN, Djoko Nugroho, reported that follow-up to the procurement process was carried out by inviting several vendors and shipyards to conduct ship inspections. "The established revitalization technical team will assist the supplier with ship inspections through to docking supervision to ensure optimal, effective, and efficient operation," explained Djoko.

He stated that the technical team has been officially established, with roles assigned to it covering coordination of ship structure, machinery and deck, electrical, classification compliance, and marine surveys and navigation. "The team will work throughout the entire revitalization cycle, from planning and selection to implementation and completion," Djoko concluded.

Through this acceleration, BRIN hopes that the Baruna Jaya III Research Vessel can soon resume operations and strengthen national marine research, particularly in mapping underwater volcanoes, one of Indonesia's strategic priorities.