PT PAL in talks with South Asian navy for potential submarine MRO works

PT PAL's submarine building and MRO facility at Surabaya, which was visited by Janes on 30 May 2024. (PT PAL )

PT PAL has begun preliminary talks with a South Asian navy, which could see the Indonesian state-owned shipyard carrying out its first-ever submarine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) works for a foreign customer.

This development was disclosed by Commodore Wiranto (retd), the general manager for PT PAL's Submarine Division, during a meeting with Janes at its shipyard in Surabaya on 30 May.

The talks took place during the week that began on 20 May, said Cdre Wiranto.

Janes has been requested to redact the identity of the potential customer given sensitivities surrounding the potential deal.

“The fact that we have received the interest and confidence of a potential submarine MRO customer is testament to the quality of the facilities we have developed,” said Wiranto.

“Their interest validates what we've been told by overseas shipyards such as Naval Group and tkMS, who have affirmed that PT PAL's facilities are ready to carry out submarine building and MRO activities,” he added.

PT PAL began constructing a dedicated submarine building facility at its shipyard in Surabaya in 2016. Janes was give a tour of this facility, during which Wiranto pointed out the various areas where submarine building and MRO activities would take place.

The facility was built with guidance from South Korean shipyard Hanwha Ocean – then known as Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) – to assemble the Indonesian Navy's third Nagapasa-class diesel-electric submarine (SSK).