National Search and Rescue Agency

History

The formation of a national search and rescue organization in Indonesia was driven by international aviation and maritime safety requirements. In the early post-independence period, countries without a search and rescue (SAR) organization were classified as a "black area", a status that could negatively affect international relations and transportation safety. Indonesia became a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1950 and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1959, creating obligations to handle aviation and maritime accidents within its territory. To address this, the government issued Government Regulation No. 5 of 1955 to establish a SAR committee tasked with planning a national SAR system. Further steps were taken in 1968 with the establishment of the Jakarta Local SAR Team under the Ministry of Transportation, which became the precursor to a national SAR organization. A formal agency was created in 1972 through Presidential Decree No. 11 of 1972 with the establishment of the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (BASARI). For organizational efficiency, the National SAR Center was placed under the Ministry of Transportation in 1979 and renamed the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). In 2007, Basarnas was designated a non-departmental government institution directly responsible to the President, a status later updated to a non-ministerial government institution under Government Regulation No. 39 of 2009.

Task

According to presidential decree No. 99/2007 regarding National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia, Basarnas primary to task are to assist president in implementation of search and rescue activity in Indonesia.

Function

• Formulation of national and general policies in search and rescue;
• Formulation of technical policies in search and rescue;
• Policy coordination, planning and program development in search and rescue;
• Guidance, deployment, oversee search and rescue resources;
• Implementation of search and rescue;
• Implementation of initial operation of search and rescue;
• Coordinating search and rescue resources in search and rescue operation;
• Training and human resource development in the field of search and rescue;
• Research and development in the field of search and rescue;
• Information management and communication in the field of search and rescue;
• Implementing relation and cooperation in the field of search and rescue;
• Management of state assets/property within Basarnas;
• Guidance and general administration servicesin the field of search and rescue;
• Supervise over Basarnas' task and activity;
• Provide report, suggestion and consideration in the field of search and rescue; In 2021, 2,264 search and rescue operations were carried out.

Organisational structure

• Head of Basarnas (Kepala Badan SAR Nasional), Head of Basarnas is directly appointed and responsible to president.
• Secretariate General (Sekretariat Utama), its primary task are to assist in general affairs and report directly to Head of Basarnas, and it consist of 3 bureaus:
  • Bureau of General Affairs (Biro Umum)
  • Bureau of Planning and Foreign Cooperation (Biro Perencanaan dan Kerjasama Teknik Luar Negeri)
  • Bureau of Law and Human Resources (Biro Hukum dan Kepegawaian)
• Deputy of Search and Rescue Resources (Deputi Bidang Potensi SAR)
  • Directorate of Facilities and Infrastructure (Direktorat Sarana dan Prasarana)
  • Directorate of Resource Development and Search and Rescue Community (Direktorat Bina Ketenagaan dan Pemasyarakatan SAR)
• Deputy of Search and Rescue Operation (Deputi Bidang Operasi SAR)
  • Directorate of Operation and Training (Direktorat Operasi dan Latihan)
  • Directorate of Communication (Direktorat Komunikasi)
  • Data and Information Center (Pusat Data dan Informasi), a supporting unit within basarnas
• Inspectorate (Inspektorat)
• Technical Unit (Unit Pelaksana Teknis), its primary task to implement search and rescue activity in regional level, which consist of 13 Technical Unit Office Class A and 21 Technical Unit Office Class B.

Head of National Search and Rescue Agency

Equipment

Land Vehicles and Equipments

, Basarnas land equipment includes 329 rescue motorcycles, 316 personnel carriers, 146 rescue cars, 100 rescue carrier vehicles, 92 rescue car compartments, 74 amphibious ATVs, 44 rescue truck compartments, 23 heavy duty ATVs, and 7 excavators.

Water Craft

, Basarnas water craft inventory includes 4 KN SAR Class 1 (over 40 meters), 51 KN SAR Class 2 (30–40 meters), 10 KN SAR Class 3 (20–30 meters), 17 KN SAR Class 4 (under 20 meters), 53 Rigid inflatable boat (RIB) Class 1 (over 10 meters), 103 RIB Class 2 (under 10 meters), and 682 rubber boats and landing crafts.

Aircraft fleet

List of major operations

Aviation

• Adam Air Flight 574 (2007)
• Sukhoi Superjet 100 crash (2012)
• Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 (2014)
• Lion Air Flight 610 (2018)

Ship Transportation

• KM Levina (2007)

Natural Disasters

• Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami (2004)
• Sumatra Flooda and Landslides (2025)

References

References

1. "[http://www.basarnas.go.id/ Home] {{Webarchive. link. (18 June 2012 ." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120618210903/http://www.basarnas.go.id/ Archive]) National Search and Rescue Agency. Retrieved on 10 May 2012. "Jl. Angkasa Blok B.15 KAV 2-3 Kemayoran - Jakarta Pusat Jakarta - Indonesia 10720")
2. Setyaningsih, Suci Bangun Dwi. (26 July 2023). "Mengenal tentang Basarnas, Sejarah Terbentuknya, Kedudukan, hingga Tugas dan Fungsi". Tribunnews.com.
3. Luthfiyyah Ans, Ai'dah Husnala. (19 October 2021). "Bagaimana Sejarah, Tugas dan Fungsi Basarnas". Tirto.
4. (2018). "Tonggak Sejarah Berdirinya BASARNAS".
5. "[http://www.basarnas.go.id/halaman/tugas-dan-fungsi Task and Function] {{Webarchive. link. (26 September 2017 ." Tugas dan Fungsi Basarnas. Retrieved on 16 June 2017.)
6. Bainbridge, Robyn. "SAR operations in Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago state".
7. Rahmanda, Sharisya Kusuma. (30 July 2023). "Sejarah Pendirian Badan SAR Nasional, Berikut Kepala Basarnas Bintang 3 TNI dari Masa ke Masa". Tempo.
8. (21 February 2025). "Mengenal Marsdya Muhammad Syafii sosok Kepala Basarnas baru". Antara.
9. (2022). "Infografis Basarnas 2021".
10. Kaparino, Yelas. (20 August 2016). "PTDI Serahkan Heli Dauphin Kelima dan Keenam Pesanan Basarnas". Zona Terbang.
11. (2017-07-02). "Mengenal Heli Dauphin Basarnas yang Jatuh di Temanggung".
12. Muyono H, Sri. (2024-11-20). "3 Pesawat Helikopter Basarnas salurkan Bantuan Gempa Bumi Cianjur".
13. (2024-12-11). "Puspenerbal Terima Tiga Helikopter BO-105 dari Basarnas untuk Misi SAR". Indonesia Defense Magazine.
14. (26 February 2016). "AgustaWestland AW139 SAR: Helikopter BASARNAS dengan Endurance Tertinggi".