05 July 2019

Indonesian National Police deploys largest-ever vessel for South China Sea patrols

by Ridzwan Rahmat

Yudistira, seen here during its sea trials in early-2019. (PT Daya Radar Utama)

The Indonesian National Police’s water directorate has deployed its largest-ever patrol vessel, KP Yudistira (8003), to the service’s Riau archipelago district command.

The vessel has been operating out of Batam island since mid-June 2019 where it conducts operations in and around the Riau archipelago in the South China Sea including the Natuna Islands cluster, reads a statement issued by the Indonesian National Police’s public affairs office.

According to information from its shipbuilder, PT Daya Radar Utama (PT DRU), Yudistira has an overall length of 73 m, an overall beam of 11 m, a draft of 3 m, and a standard displacement of 1,100 tonnes. It was launched by PT DRU at its Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta shipyard on 4 May 2018.

Powered by two Caterpillar C175-16 diesel engines, and three Caterpillar 150 KW generators driving two fixed-pitch propellers, the vessel can reach a top speed of 18 kt. It also carries a spare 65 kW generator for emergencies.

Yudistira has a crew complement of 56, including segregated accommodation for up to 12 female crew members, and can accommodate up to 14 more mission-specific personnel. Its cargo carrying capacity include 200 tonnes of marine diesel, 8 tonnes of aviation gasoline, 8 tonnes of automotive diesel, and 95 tonnes of fresh water.

Yudistira can also accommodate a helicopter weighing up to 10 tonnes on its flight deck, and two crane-deployed rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) in the aft section.

The vessel has been equipped with two water cannons for firefighting missions, but is currently unarmed, according to a PT DRU official who spoke to Jane’s on 2 July. However, Jane’s

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