ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – More than 70 percent of Indonesia’s marine territory consists of deep-sea areas that remain scientifically unexplored, a reality now being challenged through a major joint expedition by the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) and global exploration organization OceanX in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off North Sulawesi.
The mission, titled “OCEANX–BRIN: Collaborative Deep-sea Research and Capacity Building Program 2025 – Mission Leg 1,” marks a strategic step in strengthening Indonesia’s scientific sovereignty, advancing marine research, and safeguarding deep-sea biodiversity.
Mapping the Ocean Floor Down to 4,500 Meters
Reporting directly from the advanced research vessel OceanXplorer on Friday, December 19, 2025, researchers revealed significant preliminary findings. Using state-of-the-art technology, the team successfully mapped the seafloor to depths of up to 4,500 meters, capturing data on geological structures, ocean currents, and deep-sea megafauna.
BRIN’s Director of Research Vessel Fleet Management, Nugroho Dwi Hananto, emphasized that Indonesia’s vast deep-sea territory represents both an untapped scientific frontier and a strategic national asset.
“Around 70 percent of Indonesia’s waters are deep sea and remain unexplored. This presents enormous opportunities for scientific discovery while strengthening Indonesia’s position as a global maritime nation,” he said.
Seamounts as Critical Biodiversity Strongholds
The 2025 expedition marks the second year of collaboration between BRIN and OceanX, with this year’s research focusing on multi-parameter characterization of seamounts—undersea mountains that serve as critical habitats for sustaining deep-sea biodiversity in North Sulawesi.
Mission Leg 1 prioritizes seabed mapping, oceanographic conditions, marine mammal monitoring, and the identification of fish aggregating devices (FADs).
Importantly, all data and samples are securely stored in Indonesia’s National Scientific Repository, with no data transferred abroad, underscoring Indonesia’s commitment to marine data sovereignty.
National Security and Science Go Hand in Hand
BRIN Vice Head Amarulla Octavian highlighted the strong cross-sector collaboration underpinning the mission, involving multiple ministries, national research institutions, universities, and international experts aboard OceanXplorer.
The expedition operates under close supervision by the Indonesian Navy’s Hydro-Oceanographic Center (Pushidrosal) and the Ministry of Defense, with Security Officers and Ship Riders onboard to ensure full compliance with national security protocols.
“This is not merely a scientific expedition—it is a tangible demonstration of the state’s presence in safeguarding and understanding Indonesia’s marine wealth,” Amarulla stressed.
Round-the-Clock Operations, Daily Scientific Outputs
Acting Head of BRIN’s Deep-Sea Research Center, Marina C.G. Frederik, explained that operations run continuously through a structured shift system to maintain data quality and efficiency.
“Every afternoon we hold coordination meetings for the next day’s activities. Nighttime is dedicated to mapping, while mornings are used for sampling water and sediments at various depths, followed by rapid identification and preparation for repository transfer,” she explained.
The data generated are used to produce daily seafloor elevation models and to support integrated geological and biological analyses. Newly identified undersea landforms may later be proposed for official naming in collaboration with Indonesia’s Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) and Pushidrosal.
OceanX: Indonesia Is Ready to Lead Deep-Sea Science
OceanX Expedition Lead Andrew Craig praised the productivity of the expedition and the readiness of Indonesian researchers to operate at the frontier of deep-sea exploration.
“Over nearly three weeks at sea, we’ve had an extraordinary experience. The collaboration has been seamless, and the vessel’s advanced technology has enabled us to collect a remarkable volume of valuable samples and data,” he said.
A New Chapter in Indonesia’s Ocean Exploration
The BRIN–OceanX collaboration marks a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s deep-sea exploration agenda, paving the way for future missions that will deepen understanding of the nation’s marine biodiversity and geological foundations.
Amid rising global competition for ocean resources, the message from Indonesia’s waters is clear: Indonesia is no longer merely a site of exploration—it is emerging as a key global actor in deep-sea science and ocean governance. (AT Network)
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