Singapore has sent the MV Swift Rescue vessel to help Indonesia search for the missing submarine KRI Nanggala 402, Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Indonesian Navy lost communication with the KRI Nanggala 402 submarine with over 50 people on board that was taking part in drills near Bali. The missing submarine may reportedly be at a depth of 2,300 feet.
“The Republic of Singapore Navy’s MV Swift Rescue – our submarine rescue vessel – was dispatched expeditiously yesterday afternoon, as fast as she could get ready after our Navy Chief received a request for assistance from his Indonesian counterpart.
A medical team was also added to the regular crew in the event that hyperbaric care would be needed,” the minister wrote on his Facebook page.
He added that the Singaporean people were praying and hoping for the safety of the submarine’s crew.
Complete Facebook Statement
The Republic of Singapore Navy’s MV Swift Rescue – our submarine rescue vessel – was dispatched expeditiously yesterday afternoon, as fast as she could get ready, after our Navy Chief received a request for assistance from his Indonesian counterpart. A medical team was also added to the regular crew in the event that hyperbaric care would be needed.
Our military ties with Indonesia are very close, built up over the years of bilateral exercises and engagements at all levels. It is only natural that we do whatever we can to assist in times like this. The site for search operations, near Bali, is more than 1,500 km away and waters are deep, which is why MV Swift Rescue sailed off as soon as she could.
In the meantime, our fervent prayers and hopes go out to the crew of KRI Nanggala, for their safety and resilience and also to the search and locate teams of the Indonesian Navy currently on site.
