Desperate hunt for Missing Indonesian submarine as oxygen set to run out soon

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Rescue planes and ships scoured the sea north of Bali on Friday as the hunt for a missing Indonesian submarine with 53 crew on board reached a critical stage due to the discovery of oxygen on a 44-year-old ship.

Some naval vessels left the Indonesian base at Banyuwangi on Friday morning and headed for Bali Sea where they lost contact with KRI Nanggala-402 on Wednesday during a torpedo drill.

"The most important thing is the safety of the 53 sailors," President Joko Widodo said on Thursday, urging that all efforts be made to locate the ship.

Helicopters also fly from Bali in the first light.

Authorities said the sea's air supply, which had been approved for use and was said to be in good condition, would remain open until Saturday.

"Hopefully before they are found, oxygen will be enough," Yudo Margono, a naval officer, told a news conference.

Indonesian submarine commander Harry Setiawan was one of four people inside who were not members of the prison, a military official said.

Although nothing definite was found in the search so far, Yudo said something with "high magnetic force" was found at a depth of 50-100 meters (164-328 ft). It is not yet clear whether the object was suspended or at sea.

A diesel-powered submarine can withstand a depth of up to 500 meters but anything else could be dangerous, said a navy spokesman. Lake Bali can reach depths of more than 1,500 meters.

Aerial search also found an oil spill near the dock, where the navy said it could show damage to the ship or be a crew signal.

The 1,395-ton ship was built in Germany in 1977 and joined Indonesian ships in 1981, according to the Ministry of Defense. It was also awarded two years in South Korea which was completed in 2012.

The navy said power outages are likely to occur during a constant dive, which creates a lack of control and prevents emergency procedures.

U.SEND SEND "AIRBORNE PROPERTY"

Several countries that have responded to requests for assistance from Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, India, Singapore and the United States have sent special ships or aircraft.

The U.S. Department of Defense is sending "aerial vehicles" to assist in the search at sea, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby tweeted.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to address Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Friday "to convey our grief and discuss how America can help again," Kirby said.

Meanwhile, two Australian ships were on the lookout for a search that included an auxiliary ship and a powerful sonar frigate, the Department of Defense said in a statement.

Indonesia has always wanted to improve its defense capabilities but some of its equipment is old and has had fatal accidents over the years.

Indonesia previously operated 12 submarines purchased from the Soviet Union to navigate the waters of the growing island.

It now operates five - two German-type submarines and three new South Korean ships.