JustUpdateOnline.com – JAKARTA, The Indonesian House of Representatives has greenlit the sale of a long-serving naval asset, the KRI Ki Hajar Dewantara-364, marking the end of its decades-long tenure in the nation’s maritime fleet. During a high-level meeting involving the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and top military commanders, Commission I of the DPR formally approved the disposal of the vessel through an open auction process.
The ship, which joined the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) in 1980, is no longer considered a viable combat unit. Consequently, it will be auctioned as scrap metal rather than a functional warship. Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan revealed that the starting bid for the auction is set at Rp 2,032,991,640. This figure is a fraction of its original procurement cost of over Rp 370 billion, a decline attributed to the vessel’s technical deterioration and its current demilitarized state.
The auction will be facilitated by the State Assets and Auction Service Office (KPKNL). Brig. Gen. Rico Sirait, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, clarified that the bidding remains open to the public, and no specific buyer has been selected yet. The decision to sell follows a lengthy assessment period that began in 2019 after the ship suffered major technical failures.
A Storied History at Sea
Constructed at the Uljanic Shipyard in Yugoslavia, the KRI Ki Hajar Dewantara-364 was a versatile 96.7-meter corvette. For nearly 40 years, it functioned as a primary training platform for the Naval Academy (AAL), capable of hosting up to 100 cadets for hands-on combat and navigation exercises.
Despite its educational focus, the vessel was a formidable part of the Escort Ship Squadron. It was originally equipped with advanced weaponry, including Exocet MM-38 anti-ship missiles, Bofors cannons, and torpedo launchers. One of its most significant historical contributions occurred in 1992 during the Aru Jaya Operation, where it played a lead role in intercepting the Portuguese vessel Lusitania Expresso in the waters near East Timor.
Economic and Operational Necessity
The move to decommission and scrap the vessel is driven by economic reality. Defense officials noted that the ship has been stripped of its armaments since 2018 and is no longer capable of independent movement. Keeping the vessel docked in Surabaya has become an administrative and financial burden on the state.
Defense analysts point out that while historical preservation is often discussed, the cost of converting old warships into museums is frequently prohibitive. Restoring such large structures and maintaining their safety requires significant long-term funding. Selling the hull for scrap metal allows the government to recoup a portion of the value while eliminating the high costs of maintenance and storage.
This auction follows a similar pattern seen in 2022, when Indonesia successfully auctioned two other aging vessels, KRI Teluk Penyu and KRI Teluk Mandar, after they reached the end of their operational lives. Most buyers for such assets are maritime industrial firms or scrap metal specialists who dismantle the ships for their raw materials and reusable components.
