Jakarta. Global ocean exploration nonprofit OceanX and the Indonesian government recently revealed updates on the so-called “Indonesia Mission 2024.”
The mission will see OceanX embark on a series of oceanographic research expeditions in Indonesian waters, totalling five segments. The OceanX mission began in May, with port calls at Batam, Aceh, Padang and the waters around Jakarta. The mission will continue until August 25, with Bitung, North Sulawesi as its final port of call.
During the first leg, the nonprofit’s research vessel Ocean Explorer successfully mapped more than 7,500 square kilometers of Indonesia’s ocean floor, as well as the first submersible dive by Indonesian scientists on the mission. It also conducted the first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and camera survey of the 2004 tsunami site. Other findings included observations of deep-sea coral reefs and the discovery of undersea hydrothermal and thermal vents, according to a press release.
The second phase of the mission included oceanographic and geophysical studies with an emphasis on marine biodiversity. It also included fisheries management, characterization of fish, megafauna and coral reef ecosystems in West Sumatra. Aerial surveys of megafauna identified hundreds of dolphins, giant whales, manta rays and reef sharks. However, habitat degradation was also found. Data also indicated possible unsustainable fishing mechanisms, as seen in the low numbers of commercial piscivorous fish such as snappers and groupers.
OceanX is partnering with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Investment and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on this mission.
Ocean Explorer’s stop in Jakarta also marks an important milestone for Ocean Education as it launches several education initiatives in partnership with the Ministry of Education, universities and non-profit organizations. In Jakarta and Bali, Ocean Education will host tours of the Ocean Explorer vessel for up to 200 students and teachers, including the charity Tanoto Foundation. The tours aim to increase access to learning opportunities in the marine sector while also allowing people to learn more about the ocean from the state-of-the-art research vessel.
The collaboration between OceanX and Tanoto Foundation will involve many teachers and students involved in marine education. In addition to the vessel tours, Tanoto Foundation will also provide printed materials for students and broadcast live from the OceanXplorer to classrooms.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Ocean X to offer Indonesia’s future leaders the opportunity to experience life on board the Ocean Explorer and see the advanced technology. They can also learn about marine science and exploration,” Tanoto Foundation Indonesia representative Inge Kusuma said in a recent press statement.
According to Inge, the collaboration also aligns with Tanoto Foundation’s efforts to improve education in the country and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “We are not only equipping our future leaders with valuable lessons in ocean conservation, but also deepening their understanding of the SDGs. Together, we are committed to providing quality and affordable education to both students and teachers across Indonesia,” he added.
In Jakarta, the Young Explorers Program (YEP) will invite two groups of students to participate in activities aboard the OceanXplorer over a multi-day period.
Young explorers aged between 18 and 22 will embark on two separate expeditions in Indonesian waters aboard the Ocean Explorer. The first group will join a voyage from Jakarta to Bali in July, while the second group will join a voyage from Bali to Bitung from the end of July to August. The participants of the YEP program consisted of 19 Indonesian nationals from various universities in Indonesia, including University of Indonesia, Bogor Marine Research Institute, Brawijaya University, Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Hasanuddin University, Padjadjaran University, Diponegoro University, and Sepuru Nopember Institute of Technology. Eleven students from the United States, Singapore, and the Philippines will also join the expedition.
OceanX also worked with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of Education to host a series of university lecture tours. They stopped off at Kuala Siah University and Padang Andalas University. The next sessions are scheduled to be held at the University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Udayana University and Sam Ratulangi University.
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