Bakorkamla Luncurkan Kapal Bintang Laut

KN Bintang Laut 4801 (photo : MetroTVNews)

BATAM, (IW) -- Kepala Pelaksana Harian Badan Koordinasi Keamanan Laut atau Bakorkamla Laksamana Madya TNI Bambang Suwarto di Batam, Sabtu meluncurkan Kapal Negara Bintang Laut 4801 untuk mendukung kepentingan patroli. "Ini merupakan yang pertama, kita membuat sendiri menggunakan biaya APBN," kata Bambang Suwarto seusai peluncuran.

Ia mengemukakan bahwa KN Bintang Laut 4801 buatan PT Palindo Marine Batam, merupakan kapal patroli Bakorkamla pertama yang didanai APBN. Sedang kapal-kapal Bakorkamla yang lain merupakan bantuan dari instasi lain.

Menurut Bambang, kapal itu nantinya akan dilengkapi senjata di depan dan belakang. Senjata itu dinilai cukup, karena KN Bintang Laut hanya menjaga keamanan, bukan untuk pertahanan negara.Bambang menjelaskan bahwa kapal yang diperkirakan beroperasi mulai Juli 2013 itu dilengkapi kamera jarak jauh 20 km dan teknologi satelit sehingga kegiatannya bisa langsung dimonitor dari Jakarta. "Ini termasuk yang tercanggih, sudah terintegrasi dengan sistem di Jakarta," kata dia.

Kapal berkekuatan mesin tiga kali 1.400 horse power itu juga mampu memantau plankton untuk mengetahui daerah potensi ikan. "Jadi nanti bisa memberitahu HNSI daerah yang banyak ikan," kata dia.Pembuatan kapal negara itu, menurut dia, menghabiskan dana sekitar Rp58 miliar yang seluruhnya dianggarkan APBD 2013.

Hingga 2014, katanya, Bakorkamla berencana membuat enam kapal, tiga lainnya pada 2013, yaitu Bintang Laut 4801, Singa Laut 4802 yang masih dikerjakan di Citra Shipyard Batam dan akan diluncurkan Minggu (9/6) dan satu lagi baru akan selesai September 2013 oleh PT Palindo Marine. Direktur Palindo Marine Harmanto mengatakan pembuatan kapal itu memakan waktu sekitar setahun. Kapal dirancang dan dikerjakan oleh sekitar 35 orang yang seluruhnya warga Indonesia.

Menurut dia, stabilitas KN Bintang Laut 4801 merupakan yang terbaik, karena rangka lambung bawah menggunakan baja dan bagian atas terbuat dari alumunium. "Bisa dilihat saat peluncuran tadi, tidak ada goyang, stabilitasnya bagus," kata dia.Menurut Harmanto, kapal itu memuat 60 persen konten lokal. Hanya mesin dan alat navigasi yang diimpor.

(Investor Daily)

Philippines to Receive Riverine Patrol Boats from US

The Silver Ship’s new 40 feet Riverine Patrol Boats can hit speeds of 40 knots. 

(all photos : Militaryphotos)

(IW) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is set to receive six riverine patrol boats (RPBs) from the United States in August under a US Navy (USN) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.

A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States.1513348A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States. (Silver Ships)

According to an official at manufacturer Silver Ships, a contract was signed with the USN in September 2011 and the boats were completed a year later. However, delivery was delayed until early May this year due to "non-availability of marine transport".

Although the boats are capable of open-water operations, they will be used primarily in shallow waters. They have a length of 40 ft, a beam of 10 ft 8 inches and a draft of less than two feet.

The boats feature a centre console configuration and a bow ramp to permit egress of embarked troops during beaching operations. They have three weapon mounts - two forward and one aft - for machine guns and grenade launchers as well as ballistic protection.

Powered by two Hamilton HJ-292 waterjets, each driven by a Yanmar 6LY2A-STP diesel producing 440 hp, top speed is 40 kt. Fully loaded, range is greater than 250 n miles at a cruising speed of more than 30 kt.

Besides Silver Ships, fellow US boatbuilder Willard Marine is supplying unspecified numbers of 7 m Sea Force 730 outboard rigged-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to the PN under an FMS programme.

In other news, the PN announced in March it was looking to buy three more multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) to add to its fleet of six vessels. "This acquisition is under our mid-term development plan for 2014-2017," said PN spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic.

The MPACs are similar to the CB-90 Combat Boat. The first three were constructed by Lung Teh Shipbuilding in Taiwan, while the following three were built locally to a revised design by Propmech Corporation, based in Subic Bay. The PN is hoping to later acquire 42 MPACs but funding remains an issue.

(Jane's)