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Survey Ship's Visit Marks 30 Years of Cooperation with Indonesia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080222-08
Release Date: 2/22/2008 12:47:00 PM

By Edward Baxter, Sealift Logistics Command Far East

JAKARTA, Indonesia (NNS) -- Oceanographic survey ship USNS Mary Sears (T-AGS 65) is visiting Jakarta, Indonesia this week, marking 30 years of bilateral cooperation in hydrographic surveying between the U.S. and Indonesian navies.

Since the first joint survey mission was conducted in 1978, it is estimated that the U.S. and Indonesia have engaged in over 200 survey missions around Indonesia — a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands in Southeast Asia.

Mary Sears uses sophisticated technology to create three-dimensional maps of the sea floor which is used in military and commercial maritime navigation. The ship also uses sensors to measure water temperature, salinity, and currents in the ocean.

"Our cooperation in conducting these surveys has led to increased safety of navigation, safety at sea, as well as the protection of our marine environment," said Indonesian Navy Rear Adm. Willem Rampangilei, Chief Hydrographer of Jawatan Hidro-Oseanografi (JANHIDROS), Indonesia's equivalent of the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO).

The visit also marks the return of Mary Sears to Indonesian waters since the survey ship helped the Indonesian navy locate a commercial jet that crashed off the coast of Sulawesi January 2007. Mary Sears found the Adam Air airliners' black box voice recorder, as well as scattered wreckage in waters about 2,000 meters deep. USNS John McDonnell, one of six other oceanographic survey ships in the U.S. Navy's inventory, also surveyed areas off Aceh, Indonesia, in early 2005 when a tsunami devastated the island of Sumatra.

"Indonesia and the United States have a long history of hydrographic and oceanographic cooperation," said Capt. John Cousins, commanding officer of the Naval Oceanographic Office, based at Stennis Space Center, Miss. "We hope our visit here to Jakarta will lead to even more cooperation between our offices in the future."

Both Rear Adm. Rampangilei and Capt. Cousins spoke to more than 50 reporters in a press conference held aboard the ship, Feb. 20, at Tanjung Priok port just outside Indonesia's capital city.

"The visit by USNS Mary Sears is a great opportunity for the U.S. Navy to work with our counterparts in Indonesia," Cousins said. "We can exchange ideas, discuss procedures, and gain a better understanding of oceanography and hydrography. Greater cooperation leads to improved safety at sea for all nations. One direct result will be better nautical charts, and improved commerce for everyone."

Other officers from Indonesia's hydrographic office took the opportunity to observe technical equipment up-close, as well as see hydrographic charts — one of which was produced when the Adam Air wreckage was found. Guests also attended an evening reception in the ship's laboratory.

"We have shared hydrographic data with the Indonesian government and mariners all over the world can use that data in order to navigate safely," said Cousins.

Cousins, as well as other staff members from NAVO are also visiting JANHIDROS headquarters in order to exchange ideas and gain a better understanding of Indonesia's current hydrographic survey projects and capabilities.

Members of the press and the Indonesian navy also took the opportunity to explore the ship with a guided tour from Chief Mate Andrew Swan.

Mary Sears' crew is made up of 26 civilian mariners under contract to MSC who operate and navigate the ship and nine scientific staff members from NAVO who carry out the sophisticated oceanographic and hydrographic survey operations. The MSC crew is led by Capt. Bruce LaChance, the ship's civilian master, while senior NAVO representative Jeff Smith leads the scientific staff.

MSC operates the U.S. Navy's fleet of more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, re-supply Navy ships at sea, chart the ocean floor and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.