Hydro Oceanography Cooperation Being Explored with America
Thursday, 21 February, 2008 | 15:52 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian Military (TNI) Navy Hydro Oceanography Office is exploring naval education cooperation with the United States Naval Oceanographic Office this year.

According to the Hydro Oceanography Office Head, Commander Willem Rampangilei, this activity adds to the list of inter-institutional projects over the last 30 years.

Willem said that United States has been providing a lot of aid over the last 30 years, including naval technology transfer to the Indonesian Navy.

“Now we're exploring the opportunity of technology transfer cooperation,” said Willem when welcoming USS Mary Sears, a US naval survey ship, at quay 210 Tanjung Priok Port yesterday.

However, he did not provide details of cooperation projects this year.

Capt. John Cousin, Commanding Officer of USS Mary Sears, representing the US, stated that in the near future personnel from the Indonesian Navy will be sent to study in US.

“Certainly for formal study in order to produce true hydrographic experts,” said Cousin.

Cooperation between the Hydro Oceanography Office and the US Naval Oceanographic Office that has been carried out includes assistance in tsunami early detection in Aceh and the search for the black box from the Adam Air plane which was missing in Sulawesi.

FERY FIRMANSYAH