Jakarta, INTI - The Directorate General of Sea Transportation under the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia, through the Tanjung Intan Navigation District, has partnered with the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) to develop a digital-based maritime navigation aid system, known as smart buoys, aimed at enhancing shipping safety and strengthening national energy security.
The collaboration was formalized through a Cooperation Agreement signed on September 5, 2024, between the Tanjung Intan Navigation District and BRIN’s Electronics Research Center, focusing on the research and development of an integrated monitoring system for maritime navigation aids.
Smart Buoy Technology Strengthens Maritime Safety
Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Masyhud emphasized that the reliability of navigation systems along the Tanjung Intan–Cilacap shipping route is critical, as the corridor serves as a vital channel for national energy distribution.
“Given its strategic role, the reliability of navigation aids is a key factor. The use of smart buoy technology developed through BRIN’s research allows real-time monitoring of water conditions, enabling faster and more accurate emergency responses to ensure shipping safety and operational continuity,” he said on Friday, February 13, 2026.
Nationally, maritime 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 essential to ensure these navigation facilities operate effectively and sustainably.
The Tanjung Intan–Cilacap shipping lane also plays a crucial role in fuel distribution from the Cilacap refinery operated by Pertamina, which has a production capacity of 348,000 barrels per day. As Indonesia’s largest refinery, it supplies approximately 34 percent of national fuel demand and around 60 percent of fuel consumption across Java Island.
From Research Prototype to National Digital Transformation
The smart buoy initiative builds on BRIN’s earlier research in electronics and informatics that began in 2022 through a memorandum of understanding with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation. That same year, a prototype smart buoy was successfully installed in the operational area of the Tanjung Emas Navigation District in Semarang.
The collaboration expanded to the Tanjung Intan Navigation District in 2024, where two smart buoy units have now been installed and integrated with the district’s control center, enabling continuous real-time monitoring.
Beyond maritime safety, the technology holds potential for broader applications, including environmental monitoring and disaster mitigation. BRIN has previously developed buoy systems for tsunami early warning purposes.
The research and innovation synergy between BRIN and the Directorate General of Sea Transportation represents a tangible government effort to reinforce national energy resilience while supporting Indonesia’s maritime economic development agenda. The smart buoy implementation is also projected to serve as a national pilot project for advanced navigation aid systems and as a model for digital transformation in maritime navigation across Indonesia.
Conclusion
The development of smart buoy technology through collaboration between the Ministry of Transportation and BRIN represents a major step forward in modernizing Indonesia’s maritime navigation infrastructure. By combining real-time digital monitoring with strategic energy logistics support, the system not only enhances shipping safety but also strengthens national energy resilience. As the project evolves into a national pilot for advanced navigation systems, it signals Indonesia’s broader commitment to digital transformation, maritime innovation, and sustainable infrastructure development.
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