Minister Welcomes Norwegian Research Vessel For Indian Ocean Expedition

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyone Soesilo welcomed the Norwegian research vessel designed by Dr. Fridtjof Nansen as part of preparations for a survey mission of the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE).

Speaking at Tanjung Priok Port here on Thursday, the minister said that the Indian Ocean expedition was being carried out again to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first expedition.

The survey will be conducted for the next three years.

"This afternoon, we welcomed the Norwegian research vessel designed by Dr. Fridtjof Nansen to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Indian Ocean Expedition," he stated.

Soesilo added that Indonesia participated in the first IIOE in 1965, as well.

Indonesia had deployed one research vessel named KRI Jalanidi, which was later joined by 35 other ships from across the country.

This year, the international survey will begin tomorrow on June 25 and will be carried out for 21 days. As many as 16 researchers from 12 countries, including Norway, Indonesia, Madagascar, Spain, the Netherlands, Kenya, South Africa, France, India, Tanzania and Seychelles, are participating in it.

The 2nd IIOE is part of the 28th session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UNESCO. The event is organized in Paris, France.

The survey team will examine how the Indian Ocean Gyre, which is a large system of rotating ocean currents, can affect ecosystems and the fisheries sector.

Moreover, a study of regions in the Indian Ocean is rarely done. In fact, this region experiences a phenomenon known as Indian Ocean Dipole that has significant impacts on weather and climate change, especially in Indonesia, which is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

As for Indonesia, the results of the survey will be useful as relevant references based on which government policies in the fisheries and marine sector can framed. (WDY)