WNAM REPORT: Indonesia’s first aircraft carrier, ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, arrived at Pier 107 of Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Friday following a voyage from its former base in Italy.
As observed the vessel, which will operate under the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) as KRI Sriwijaya, entered the port area at around 8 a.m. Jakarta time.The arrival was marked by a marching band of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), which played several tunes, including the Betawi folk song “Si Jali Jali.”
Senior government officials and military officers attended the welcome ceremony, including Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, Army Chief General Maruli Simanjuntak, Navy Chief Admiral Muhammad Ali, and Air Force Chief Marshal Mohammad Tony Harjono.
Departing Italy on August 24, the aviation ship sailed across territorial and international waters to Indonesia, escorted by two Italian Navy vessels.
Head of the TNI AL Information Service First Admiral Tunggul noted that the carrier stopped in several countries during its long-distance voyage to its new home, including Sri Lanka.From Sri Lanka, he said, the ship continued sailing toward Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane I (ALKI I), passing through the waters of Bangka Belitung Islands Province to reach Jakarta.
He added that Giuseppe Garibaldi was escorted by two TNI AL frigates on its way to Tanjung Priok: KRI Brawijaya-320 and KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321.
TNI AL has taken a range of measures to prepare for the aircraft carrier’s operation, including developing a base in Lampung and training 310 personnel as prospective crew members.
The navy has also confirmed that the ship would immediately undertake a mission focused on carrying helicopters and equipment to help combat forest and land fires that have affected Indonesian regions this year.
