Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla) received an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) as a grant from the Japanese government, which is expected to strengthen the Bakamla fleet in 2027.
The OPV is being built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. and financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Head of Bakamla Public Relations, Colonel Gugun Saeful Rachman, when contacted from here on Sunday, explained that Chief of Bakamla, Vice Admiral Irvansyah, was in Tokyo on Friday (December 27) to sign the ship procurement contract.
He signed the contract with the CEO of Japan Marine Science (JMS), Tomoyuki Koyama, and the CEO of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Shin Ueda, in Minato, Tokyo.
The contract, as mentioned by JICA on its official website, is worth 9 billion yen, or around Rp928 billion.
The contract signing was a follow-up step to the grant agreement between Bakamla and the Japanese government on March 22, 2024.
The agreement is also part of the technical cooperation between JICA and Bakamla, which was signed on October 24, 2023, and began to be implemented by both parties on February 20, 2024.
"Bakamla received the grant in the form of OPV with a length of 85.6 meters. Crew training is also included in the procurement contract," Rachman said.
The vessel is expected to help Bakamla strengthen its capability to protect Indonesian waters.
The ship procurement grant cooperation is multi-year, as Bakamla will only receive the ship in 2027.
In Bakamla's official statement, the OPV has a length of 85.6 meters, is capable of sailing at a speed of 22 knots, and can carry 70 crew members.
During his visit to Japan, Chief of Bakamla Irvansyah also met Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Commander Seguchi Yoshio.
During the meeting, both discussed the friendly port visit that is planned in January 2025.
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Translator: Genta M, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
