The waters which surround Indonesia constitute limitless living and non-living resources. It is home to a gigantic and highly diversified number of ocean species of prominent ecological, as well as economic, value. The seabed contains mineral deposits such as oil, natural gas, copper, etc.
This country also plays an important role in global trade in terms of navigation. Hundreds of vessels flying different flags navigate daily through Indonesia’s channels, straits and other waterways, carrying precious cargo to and from ports including those in the Far East, Middle East, Australia and Europe.
With such a magnitude of traffic, Indonesia has serious need of a Hydrographic Office, not only to ensure the safety of navigation but also to answer demands from various government departments with regard to national development in the maritime sector. This function has been affirmed in the IHO publication entitled ‘National Maritime Policies and Hydrographic Office’ (1998).
Hydrography has a long history in Indonesia. It originated during the Dutch era, when a Hydrographic Bureau was set in 1874 to carry out survey and charting in Indonesian waters. But after Indonesia proclaimed its independence this bureau continued to conduct survey and charting activities in Indonesia because of limited indigenous mastery of hydrography. Then, in the year 1951, two sections emerged within Indonesian hydrography: firstly, the Merchant Hydrographic Department operating under the Sea Communication Ministry, and secondly the Naval Hydrographic Department under Naval Headquarters. The Merchant Hydrographic Department executed its functions as state hydrographer, having a civil duty and character of a public charts service and purveyor of nautical books and hydrography publications covering regional Indonesian waters, while the Naval Hydrography Department undertook equal duties, only for military purposes.
This situation led to Presidential Decision No. 164/1960, under which the two sections of the hydrographic department were joined to form one organisation: the Indonesian Hydro Oceanography Service (Dishidros), which now represents the Indonesian National Hydrographic Institute in its larger duties and functions.
My main task now is to steer Dishidros on its track towards modern hydrography, in which digital data, electronic systems and computerised processes become common tools and not just those of the imagination. Nevertheless, with so many blank spots yet to be charted and with limited tools, Dishidros surveyors may be the only ones who still have to work with conservative equipment such as sextant and mark together with sophisticated tools such as Automatic Data Logging (ADL) System, GPS, digital echosounder, etc.
At the moment, Dishidros owns only one ocean-going ship and three coastal survey ships. This is not enough to cover our territorial waters. With the existing equipment and all its limitations, and a condition of multi-dimensional crisis which characterises our State at this time, I as a person will make maximum effort to allow Dishidros to progress and better serve the public good, especially in terms of hydrography and oceanography data. In doing so, I will co-operate with other institutions both within and outside the country, as in a brotherhood of hydrography, for the sake of our progress.
Jalesveva Jayamahe means Exactly in the Sea; ‘We are Glorious’ is our motto.