Indonesian shipbuilder launches two more PC-40-class patrol vessels

Batam-based private shipbuilder, PT Karimun Anugrah Sejati, has launched two more PC-40-class patrol boats for the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL).

The vessels, which will be known in service as KRI Karotang (872) and KRI Mata Bongsang (873) once commissioned, were named and launched in the presence of the TNI-AL’s chief, Rear Admiral Yudo Margono, on 24 August at the company’s shipyard on the Riau archipelago island.

Karotang and Mata Bongsang will be the 12th and 13th PC-40-class vessels to be operated by the TNI-AL once they are in service. Besides these two ships, PT Karimum Anugrah Sejati also built the class’s fourth and fifth hulls, which were commissioned in 2017 and are now in service as KRI Torani (860) and KRI Lepu (861) respectively.

The TNI-AL inducted its first batch of three PC-40s, which were manufactured by PT Palindo Marine, in January 2017, and six more vessels were commissioned by the end of 2019. In July 2020, another private shipbuilder, PT Caputra Mitra Sejati, launched the 10th and 11th PC-40-class boats for the TNI-AL.

The class derives its design from the missile-capable KCR-40M fast attack craft that is in service with the TNI-AL, albeit being more lightly armed. The platform has an overall length of 46.5 m, an overall beam of 7.9 m, and a hull draught of 1.7 m. It can accommodate a crew of 35 and can carry one rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) at the stern.

Karotang and Mata Bongsang