By Chris Barrett
Singapore: Australia, India and the United States have joined Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in the multinational search for the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine that disappeared off the coast of Bali on Wednesday.
On Friday evening, the Indonesian navy said two Australians ships on separate deployments in the region - HMAS Ballarat and Sirius - had arrived at the search area to assist with the rescue effort.
Crew board the MV Swift Rescue, a submarine support and rescue vessel, before being dispatched to Indonesia from Singapore.Credit: AP
The Indonesian navy lost contact with the 42-year-old German-built vessel at 3am on Wednesday local time [6am AEST] after it set off on a dive while taking part in a training exercise.
Australia’s Anzac class frigate Ballarat has sonar capability and a helicopter, according to the Defence Department, and the support ship Sirius “can replenish ships with fuel, water and stores by day and night.”
An oil spill was found near the site where the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine, pictured in 2014, was last located.Credit: AP
The Indian navy also announced it was sending a search and rescue vessel, while the US sent a P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to the search zone.
Officials said the submarine has a maximum operating depth of 500 metres but believed it may have sunk 600 to 700 metres. AP quoted an official from South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding saying it would collapse if at a depth beyond 200 metres.
There is also only enough oxygen to keep the 53 submariners on board the vessel alive until Saturday, the Indonesian navy has warned. Submarine rescue vessels dispatched by the Singaporean and Malaysian navies are not due to arrive until Saturday and Monday respectively.
An Indonesian warship equipped with sonar capability and an echo sounder was due to return to the search area on Friday afternoon to further investigate a mystery floating object with a high magnetic force detected 50 to 100 metres below the surface, giving the navy hope it may be the submarine.
“We will chase it,” military spokesman Major General Achmad Riad said on Friday. “Hopefully it can be a starting point. But of course we will search all areas in the northern part of Bali by deploying all the equipment that we have. Hopefully with the [deployment] all the resources we can find the exact position quicker.”
The chances of locating the submarine and saving the dozens on board were slim, according to experts, but Indonesia has not given up.
“We ask for your prayers so that all the equipment that has been deployed can work their utmost to find the position [of the submarine],” Riad said.
Asked about the object that gave the high magnetic reading on Thursday, he replied: “We have explored a wide range of areas but it is possible that the undercurrent took it when it was floating. A submarine is quiet, it has no sound, only sonar can catch [its movement].”
Australian Navy Rear Admiral Mark Hammond said the Australian Defence Force “stood with its neighbour at this distressing time”.
“My thoughts are with the submariners of KRI Nanggala, their families and the Indonesian people.
“These two Australian ships will help expand the search area and extend the duration of search effort.“
US Defence Department spokesman James Kirby said the US was “deeply saddened by the news of Indonesia’s lost submarine” and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin was due to speak to Indonesia Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto on Saturday to discuss further American assistance.
“At the invitation of the Indonesian government, we are sending airborne assets to assist in the search for the missing submarine,” Kirby said.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday asked his nation of 270 million people to pray for the 49 crewmen, three gunners and the commander of the submarine.
“To all families of the submarine crews, I fully understand your situation at this very moment,” he said. “But the government has and will continue to do the best in the search and rescue operations.”
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