VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the maritime training center at the  Batam Navy Base on Friday. (ANTARA/HO-Kedubes AS di Jakarta) - 

Indonesia and the United States have commenced work on building a maritime training center that will cost millions of dollars.

Indonesian Maritime Security Board (Bakamla RI) Deputy for Policy and Strategy Rear Admiral Tatit E. Witjaksono and US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the maritime training center at the Batam Navy Base on Friday.

Witjaksono noted that Bakamla RI will own and operate the training center.

"This training center will serve as an important facility for Bakamla to improve the competence of its personnel in answering the challenges to its tasks to ensure security and safety at sea,” he affirmed.

The maritime training center, to be constructed at a cost of US$3.5 million (nearly Rp50.55 billion), is the result of collaboration between Bakamla RI, the US Coast Guard, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL) of the US Embassy, Joint Interagency Task Force West, US Indo-Pacific Command, and US Navy Technical Facility Command.

"The training center will comprise class rooms, office rooms, barrack, kitchen, and ship launch pad. This place can accommodate 50 students and 12 instructors," he revealed.

Ambassador Kim affirmed that the initiative was part of the US’ continued efforts to collaborate with Indonesia in fighting international crimes by offering equipment, support, training, and technical assistance to BakamlaRI since its inauguration in 2014.

“As a friendly country and partner of Indonesia, the United States remains committed to supporting the main role of Indonesia in promoting regional peace and security by fighting domestic and international crimes,” Kim noted in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Friday//ANT