Ocean FarmITS offshore building has successfully floated in the morning after launching

ITS Campus, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has succeeded in establishing itself as a maritime campus by building the first marine ecotourism and offshore aquaculture building in Indonesia. Ocean FarmITS officially launched the offshore construction directly into the coastal sea of ​​South Malang, Sunday (21/11) night.

Ocean FarmITS team leader Dr Eng Yeyes Mulyadi ST MSc explained that the building could be a place for fish cultivation and a marine tourism place. The upper construction has also been specially designed to have two rooms to pamper its visitors.

Ocean FarmITS team leader, Dr Eng Yeyes Mulyadi ST MSc (vest), when giving a speech for the launch of Ocean FarmITS at the Coastal Fishery Port UPT, Pondokdadap, Malang

According to him, their newest innovation can cultivate tuna because tuna has a reasonably high selling value, and it can be an additional input for local fishermen.

Ocean FarmITS offshore building which has successfully floated on the southern coast of Malang

This makes Ocean FarmITS solve the problems of fishermen on the south coast who have difficulty getting fish when the weather is terrible. “Fishermen will still earn income from fish farming and marine ecotourism when they cannot go to sea due to bad weather,” he said.

Regarding its toughness, the Offshore Engineering Study Program lecturer explained that they designed the building to withstand ocean waves up to three meters high and estimated to last about 10-15 years.

The Ocean FarmITS design is targeted for completion in December 2021

Thanks to collaborating with Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI), Ocean FarmITS has been declared successful in meeting all applicable certifications and recommendations in Indonesia. “Many tests have been carried out (on Ocean FarmITS), and the building is declared fit for operation,” he confirmed.

According to Yeyes, the main structure construction process has been completed and has successfully floated in the sea. Furthermore, Yeyes explained that the construction of the upper structure will be implemented soon and is targeted to be completed by the end of this year.

When Ocean FarmITS is successfully utilized, he is sure that the economy on the surrounding coast will also be lifted. “The tourist attraction of this offshore building will make the coast more crowded with visitors,” he said optimistically.

Photo with all parties involved in the construction of Ocean FarmITS after the launching

Yeyes admits that technology like this has been developed a lot in other countries. However, according to him, if you have to buy technology from abroad, it will make Indonesia unable to be independent, and the price will be higher.

So Yeyes hopes that Ocean FarmITS will help exploit the potential of the sea in Indonesia through a touch of technology. More than that, this building can contribute to Indonesia in maintaining food security, especially in the maritime sector.

The success of the development of the Ocean FarmITS pilot project is undoubtedly thanks to the hard work and support of many parties, such as PT Pertamina (Persero), PT Dumas Tanjung Perak Shipyards, PT Perintis Proteksi Sejahtera, BKI, Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) of East Java Province, UPT PPP Pondokdadap, The Directorate General of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (PPKL KLHK), the Central ITS Alumni Association (IKA), the surrounding community, and so on. Lastly, Yeyes would like to thank all those who have supported everything so far. (sel/HUMAS ITS)

Reporter: Sofyan Abidin

Ocean FarmITS launching was marked by tumpengan by the Director of the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRPM) ITS Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD