VESSEL REVIEW | Pulau Fani – Minehunter pair handed over to Indonesian Navy

The Indonesian Navy recently commissioned two new mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels into service.

Named after two islands in eastern Indonesia, KRI Pulau Fani and KRI Pulau Fanildo were built by German shipyard Abeking and Rasmussen as modified variants of the Frankenthal-class MCM vessels operated by the German Navy.

Each of the Pulau Fani-class vessels has an LOA of 60 metres, a beam of 12 metres, a draught of 3.2 metres, a displacement of 650 tonnes, and a hull made from non-magnetised steel that is also capable of withstanding damage from onboard fires and mine detonations. A MAN hybrid propulsion setup consists of two 16V538 TB91 2,040kW diesel engines, electric motors, and a PTI.

When the electric motors are engaged, the propulsion can also generate only minimal noise, which is ideal during mine detection and clearing. To reach a maximum speed in excess of 20 knots, the main engines will turn two controllable-pitch propellers via RENK gearboxes.

Each vessel also has available space for carrying and deploying rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and unmanned MCM vehicles plus their associated equipment. For each vessel, either an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) will be used to detect and identify possible sea mines and other threats while an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) will help neutralise any identified mines. The Pulau Fani-class vessels are themselves fitted with hull-mounted sonars, though mine detection will primarily be undertaken using the vessels' own AUVs as a safer alternative.

Also fitted are degaussing systems for reducing magnetism and Raytheon Anschutz systems consisting of a navigation and bridge system and command and control systems.

The Pulau Fani-class vessels were designed to be capable of operation in both shallow and offshore waters.

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