Naval Chief Inaugurates Fleet Museum in Surabaya

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Marsetio inaugurated a fleet museum (fleet house) in the premises of the Eastern Indonesian Fleet Command Station here on Wednesday. Chief of the Eastern Fleet Command Rear Admiral Sri Mohamad Darojatim said it took four months to build the museum which was formerly a badminton building. "The museum was built on a self-financing basis. The construction of the museum was based on the need for a facility to visualize the history of the Indonesian Navy in such way that the families of naval soldiers and the general public could understand it easily," he said. The presence of the fleet museum is also complement to the history of the Indonesian Navy which aims to become a world-class navy, he said. "The museum is an integral part of the Indonesian Navy in realizing its vision to be a world-class navy. The museum is also dedicated by the extended family of the Indonesian Fleet Command to Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Marsetio who has promoted the Indonesian Navy that navies of other countries have reckoned with," he said. Admiral Marsetio meanwhile said the construction of the fleet museum was originally scheduled to be completed before the commemoration of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)'s 69th anniversary in Surabaya on October 5. However, since the rank and file of the Eastern Fleet Command were busy making preparations for the event the inauguration of the museum was postponed, he said. (*)