Jakarta, INTI - The implementation of an intelligent monitoring system continuously developed by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) for Marine Navigation Aids (SNBP) is further strengthening the role of research and innovation in enhancing maritime safety. The initiative is the role of research and innovation in enhancing maritime safety. The initiative is the result of a research collaboration between the Research Center for Electronics (PRE) under BRIN’s Organization for Electronics and Informatics Research (OREI) and the Class III Type A Tanjung Intan Navigation District of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation. The partnership aims to improve shipping safety while reinforcing national energy resilience.
Head of OREI-BRIN Budi Prawara emphasized that the off-ship system is designed and operated to enhance maritime traffic safety and improve maintenance efficiency of navigation aids.
“We are collaborating with the Tanjung Intan Navigation District in Cilacap to develop the Smart Buoy. It is expected to help improve maritime safety, particularly in Cilacap, which is a nationally vital area,” he said in Cilacap, Central Java, on Friday, February 13, 2026.
Budi explained that one of the Smart Buoy’s features is a GPS sensor to monitor positioning. "The Smart Buoy is equipped with a GPS sensor to monitor the position of the navigation aid in case it moves outside its designated radius," he added.
Safeguarding a Vital Energy Distribution Route
A similar view was expressed by Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Masyhud, who stated that the reliability of the navigation system along the Tanjung Intan–Cilacap shipping lane is crucial. The area serves as a vital route for national energy distribution.
“Given its strategic role, the reliability of marine navigation aids is a key factor. The utilization of BRIN’s smart buoy technology enables real-time monitoring of water conditions. This allows emergency responses to be carried out more quickly and accurately to ensure maritime safety and smooth shipping operations,” he said.
Nationally, marine navigation aids managed by the Directorate General of Sea Transportation are spread across 25 Navigation Districts, totaling 5,468 units. “With such extensive coverage, technology-based monitoring systems are considered a strategic necessity to ensure all navigation facilities operate optimally and sustainably,” he explained.
Masyhud noted that the Tanjung Intan–Cilacap shipping lane is a critical hub for fuel distribution from the refinery owned by PT Pertamina (Persero) Refinery Unit IV (RU IV) Cilacap, which has a production capacity of 348,000 barrels per day. The refinery, the largest in Indonesia, supplies around 34 percent of national fuel demand and 60 percent of fuel demand on Java Island.
Toward a National Digital Navigation Model
Head of PRE BRIN Yusuf Nur Wijayanto stated that the implementation of Smart Buoy technology is projected to become a national pilot project for the development of the Marine Navigation Aid Monitoring System. "The Smart Buoy implemented here represents a model for the digital transformation of navigation systems in Indonesia," he said.
Yusuf explained that Smart Buoy development began in 2024 with the signing of a research and development cooperation agreement between the Tanjung Intan Navigation District and PRE-BRIN for an integrated navigation aid monitoring system.
“The development of Smart Buoy is a continuation of BRIN’s research in electronics and informatics since 2022 through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation. In the same year, one Smart Buoy prototype was successfully installed in the working area of the Tanjung Emas Navigation District in Semarang,” he added.
In 2024, the cooperation was expanded to the Tanjung Intan Navigation District in Cilacap. “To date, two Smart Buoy units have been installed and integrated with the control center at the Tanjung Intan Navigation District Office, allowing real-time monitoring,” he concluded.
In addition to enhancing maritime safety, the technology also has potential for broader applications, such as environmental and disaster monitoring. Previously, BRIN utilized buoy technology for tsunami early warning systems. Therefore, national synergy among stakeholders is needed to develop multipurpose smart buoys to safeguard Indonesia’s maritime territory.
Conclusion
The Smart Buoy initiative demonstrates how research-driven innovation can directly strengthen maritime safety and national energy resilience. By integrating real-time monitoring technology into critical shipping lanes, BRIN and the Ministry of Transportation are advancing Indonesia’s digital navigation transformation while securing vital fuel distribution routes. The project also opens opportunities for broader applications in environmental and disaster monitoring, reinforcing Indonesia’s long-term maritime security strategy.
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