TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya launched a wooden ship, Baita Sena, at the Eastern Fleet Command (Komarmatim) of the Indonesian Navy, Surabaya. The ship was built by Maritime Challenge Students’ Organization of ITS Surabaya.
The project leader of Baita Sena, Dirgha Sukma Mahandeka, said its construction took a long time. From gathering materials to the launch took about a year. “The material gathering had started since February 2013,” said Dirgha on Monday, January 20, 2014.
According to Dirgha, Baita Sena is made of various types of wood: teaks, hibiscus, mahogany, merbau (ipil), shorea, bamboo, and camphor. The wood was purchased from various cities, including Surabaya and Madiun. “Our ship is whole-wood and it’s beautiful,” he said.
The woods were shaped into a ship 12 meters long and 2 meters wide. He admitted that ITS and Surabaya State Shipping Polytechnic (PPNS) provided help, including funding and guidance. As the construction was completed, they cooperated with Koarmatim to do the launching. “We can launch our work on Koarmatim’s Makassar ship, thanks to everyone who has helped us,” he said.
M. SYARRAFAH