VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) carried out a joint Indonesian-Chinese expedition on an expedition to the deepest point in the Java Trench. It aims to explore Indonesia's rich marine biodiversity. This deep sea research was done in the Hadal zone of the Java Trench stretching 3,200 km covering southern Sumatra, Java, Bali to Nusa Tenggara. The expedition participants consisted of 4 Indonesian researchers, 15 Chinese researchers, a security team from Indonesia and 40 research ship crew. The dive started on February 28, 2024 and ended in the waters around Ujung Kulon on March 22, 2024.

Marine microbiology researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency, Yustian Rovi Alfiansah, said that the Java Trench expedition aims to explore the richness of marine biodiversity in order to benefit Indonesia. The Java Trench expedition provides new information regarding the unique geology, biology and environment of the Sunda subduction zone and its potential impact on the ecosystem of the Java Trench. This expedition was done by the Directorate of Research Ship Fleet Management, BRIN and the Institute for Deep Sea Research and Engineering (IDSSE), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The research vessel used is 94.45 meters long and 17.9 meters wide with a main engine of 12,000 horsepower and a range of 10,000 nautical miles. The expedition was carried out by using the Tan Suo Yi Hao research vessel and the Fendouzhe research submarine with two passengers and one pilot.

The Java Trench Expedition is part of the Global Trench Exploration and Dive Program (Global TREnD). Yustian Rovi Alfiansyah also said that the joint expedition team was trying to dig up information about the Java Trench, including obtaining information about the deepest point of the Java Trench with the various potentials it contains. He also thanked Prof. Xiaotong Peng, the expedition leader, gave him the opportunity to become an Indonesian researcher who dived in the Java Trench using a mini-submarine to research China's deep sea.