The arrival of the Minister of Transportation, Ir Budi Karya Sumadi, when welcomed by ITS Rector, Prof. Mochamad Ashari, in the ITS Rectorate Building

ITS Campus, ITS News – In order to develop the maritime sector in Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) was invited to cooperate by the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenhub RI) through the development of tourism ships. Starting this cooperation, the Minister of Transportation (Menhub) RI held a visit for joint discussions at the ITS Rectorate, Thursday (15/8).

This cooperation was motivated by a mandate from the President of the Republic of Indonesia to the Ministry of Transportation to develop tourism in Indonesia. “The mandate is to make four new Bali, two of which (from four new Bali, red) have sea tourism that is in North Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara,” said the Minister of Transportation, Ir Budi Karya Sumadi, while leading the discussion in ITS Senate Meeting Room.

Budi added, the cooperation of the tourism ships development with ITS was also a form of government appreciation for the work of the nation’s children in the country. Moreover, according to Budi, ITS is one of the universities which is famous for its technology in the maritime sector. So it is very appropriate to appoint ITS for this cooperation.

ITS Rector, Prof. Mochamad Ashari (right), when leading the discussion of the construction of tourism ships with the Minister of Transportation, Ir Budi Karya Sumadi (left)

Meanwhile, ITS Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochammad Ashari M Eng admitted ITS had previously been widely involved by the Ministry of Transportation, especially in the field of sea transportation. For example, there used to be the cooperation in shipbuilding made from bamboo due to the limitation of wood raw materials in Indonesia.

“However, this time the Minister of Transportation asked (cooperation, red) to make two tourism ship from ITS,” he explained. In the future, continued the rector who is often called Ashari, the tourism ships will be placed by the Ministry of Transportation in Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi and Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.

In this discussion, there was also an explanation about the ITS-made tourism ships by the Head of Department of ITS Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding Engineering, Ir Wasis Dwi Aryawan MSc Ph.D. In his presentation, Wasis said that the development of tourism ships will be directed by Glass Bottom Boat model that can show the underwater scenery to the tourists through the glass installed under the ship. “For Bunaken Island, there are three trips a day, while Labuan Bajo Island has three trips, once a trip takes two hours,” explained the bespectacled man.

Head of ITS Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding Engineering, Wasis Dwi Aryawan (standing), when presenting the tourism ships design made by ITS in front of the Ministry of Transportation

The ships that are planned to be made with the steel material have innovations, especially in power sources. Wasis admitted that the ship used electric propulsion or a fully integrated electric motor from the generator, solar cell, battery, and power supply from PLN.

“Everything will be stored in the battery to move the electric propulsion that will not cause noise,” he said. Besides that, the ships will be formed with a monohull design and are planned to be able to carry 125 passengers.

Wasis also added that the ships will later use acrylic material for the glass under the ships. “Acrylic is considered stronger and has three times the strength of glass against impact,” he said.

Minister of Transportation, Ir Budi Karya Sumadi (wearing a hat), accompanied by ITS Rector, Prof. Mochamad Ashari, Head of ITS Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding Engineering, Wasis Dwi Aryawan, and ITS Vice Rector IV, Bambang Pramujati

The ships are also considered suitable and comfortable if the wave received is not too big. By considering the purchase price aspect, the ships are estimated to be able to attract about 200 to 300 thousand tourist tickets in its operation in the future. (vi/gayatri/ITS Public Relation)