Expedition in Java Sea introduces students to work of a Navy warship

This Story Has Published on The Jakarta Post December 04, 2006

Two landing craft utility (LCU) vessels slowly drifted onto the sea after the frigate's hatchway opened.

Diesel engines on both vessels, which are usually used to transport troops and equipments to shore, began to operate under the watchful eyes of students on board the KRI Tanjung Dalpele, the largest frigate owned by the Navy.

The students, from the Surabaya 10th November Institute of Technology, were taking part in the 2006 Marine Technology expedition. They were tense and excited. When the LCUs backed up from the ship's stern and sped off, they cheered.

As many as 396 students took part in the recent expedition organized by the institute and the Eastern Navy Fleet in Surabaya as part of a student assignment for the 2006/2007 semester.

For the expedition in the Java sea, the students were accompanied by the institute's marine engineering school's dean and staff.

For the students, firsthand interaction with the warship was a once-in-a-life-time experience. The frigate which is equipped with military equipment, is rarely accessible to the general public.

Students from the institute's marine, shipping and shipping system engineering departments seemed very enthusiastic and inquisitive, asking questions on every aspect of the Korean-made ship -- from its capabilities to the armaments.

"Although the KRI Tanjung Dalpele is the country's biggest warship, its layout is similar to those of other warships, such as the engine room, navigation room and recycling room," First Lt. Endin, the ship's electrical division chief, told the students.

The students, divided into 24 groups, had their main focus on the engine room. The ship is powered by a massive 2,665 horsepower engine.

"I'd never imagined that observing a ship's engine firsthand would be far more interesting than looking at it in books," said fifth semester marine engineering student Mohammad Hafid.

Students then visited the accommodation, safety equipment and steering gear rooms. The navigation room situated on Deck F was the most popular, where students were provided with various information on the state-of-the-art equipment. It is also the place where the ship commander, Lt. Col. Purwanto, monitors every movement on board.

However, despite all the sophistication, the participants questioned the scant knowledge of crew members accompanying them during the tour. One student received a different answer to the same question from crewmen in the navigation room.

"I asked the same question to the guiding officer and the one operating a device in the navigation room, but received a different answer, in spite of the fact that it was technical in nature," said the student.

The LCU trial run, which should have been an unforgettable experience for the students, turned out to be a disappointment when the engine of one LCU stalled in the middle of the sea.

The most frustrating disruption was the change of itinerary. The expedition was initially planned to kick off at the Eastern Navy Fleet base in Surabaya, sailing to Karimun Java waters in Central Java on the first day, then resuming the voyage to Kangen Island, Madura, on the second day.

However, the organizers changed the plan due to the long distance. The expedition only took them to an offshore oil rig, which was just 17 nautical miles from the navy base.

"We didn't even have the chance to get on the rig to learn about its working procedures," said student Aldipo.

Despite that, dean of the marine engineering school, Asjhar Imron, expressed hope the expedition would be the first step in interesting the students in the country's maritime world.

"Marine engineering is not a popular discipline for students at the moment. This expedition is one of the ways (we're hoping) to draw their attention," said Asjhar.