ITS Marine Engineering Department Lecturer Sufian Imam Wahidi ST MSc (right) when explaining the design for making ship molds of long boats to the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini

ITS Campus, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) continues to support the program launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemensos RI). Through the Department of Naval Architecture , ITS, in collaboration with Cendrawasih University (Uncen), empowers the people of Papua Province to build long boats independently.

The Head of the Department of Shipping Engineering ITS Ir Wasis Dwi Aryawan, MSc Ph.D., explained that ships are one of the main modes of transportation for people who live in Papua Province. To help fulfill this need, the Department of Naval Architecture ITS, together with Uncen, held a workshop to empower the Papuan people in making long boats last Saturday (4/6).

The workshop, held at the ITS Department of Naval Architecture, was attended by Papuan youths from Serui Kota, Mamberamo Hulu, Mamberamo Raya, and Asmat. ” During ten days, this workshop aims to make Papuan youth able to make ship molds and gain basic knowledge about the shipping field,” said the lecturer, who received his doctorate from Newcastle University, England.

RI Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini (front center in batik), representatives of Papuan youth, and the entire team from the ITS Department of Naval Architecture after the workshop on making long boats

Wasis continued, in addition to the positive response from the youth who were very enthusiastic about this workshop, a similar response was also given by the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) RI Tri Rismaharini, who visited the event location directly. “During her visit, Mrs. Risma (Tri Rismaharini, ed) appreciated the spirit of the young people who are expected to be the engine of change in their respective regions,” said the bespectacled man.

The lecturer from Bojonegoro said that the collaboration would not stop at this workshop. A team from the ITS Department of Naval Architecture will continue to provide assistance while building this 10-meter-long ship. “Students and lecturers from the Department of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding ITS will continue to help and support the entire process of making this fiberglass ship at Uncen later,” said Wasis.

Looking far ahead, this lecturer at the Ship Design Laboratory of the ITS Shipbuilding Engineering Department hopes that later through this empowerment, he can raise the economic level of the Papuan people. “Through the new skills taught, hopefully, the youth (Papua) can meet their daily transportation needs, so they can also open up new jobs,” he concluded optimistically. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Ricardo Hokky Wibisono