The Indonesian navy, engaged in a race against time to locate a missing submarine with 53 men on board, said on Friday that it had detected a floating "object" but is not certain whether it is the submarine.

The KRI Nanggala 402, a submarine built some 40 years ago, dived early Wednesday morning during military exercises.

He has not responded to signals since and military authorities believe the crew's oxygen reserves will run out early Saturday morning.

The unidentified strongly magnetic "object" is located between 50 and 100 meters deep.

Warships equipped with sonar have been deployed in the hope that it will be the wanted submarine.

"We only have until 3:00 am tomorrow (Saturday) so we are making the maximum effort today," Indonesian armed forces spokesman Achmad Riad told reporters.

"We hope to have good news."

Little chance of finding survivors

An oil slick spotted in the north of the island of Bali where the submersible plunged, however, raises concerns about a possible rupture of the reservoir, or even a dislocation of the submarine, according to experts. Military authorities initially announced that the submersible may have sunk to a depth of 700 meters, a depth much greater than that for which it was designed. The German-made submarine had requested permission to dive for military exercises including torpedo fire before disappearing.

The United States announced Thursday it is sending airborne troops to help Indonesia. Two Australian military ships are also en route, along with reinforcements from India and Malaysia. Singapore has dispatched a specialized submarine rescue vessel, the MV Swift Rescue, which is expected to arrive in the area on Saturday. But hope of saving the crew of 53 is rapidly dwindling. "If there is significant damage to the ship, it could mean several things, for example that the space available for the crew is very limited and there is little oxygen," observed Collin Koh, naval affairs specialist and researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“It could also mean that the oxygen tanks are also potentially damaged and that would further decrease the oxygen level,” he added.

The submarines are equipped to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide, but this equipment could also be damaged which would present another significant risk, he added.

"It is not only a question of having enough oxygen, but it is also the level of carbon dioxide inside that could determine the fate of the submariners."

World

Indonesian submarine with 53 people on board missing off Bali

World

Magnitude 6 earthquake off Indonesian coast, at least six dead

  • Bali

  • World

  • Indonesia

  • Submarine

  • Research