BALIKPAPAN – For fishermen along the coastal areas of Manggar and Teritip in Balikpapan, reaching offshore fishing platforms and floating fish cages is a daily activity that comes with various challenges. To address these needs, a team from Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) has developed an economical outrigger boat that is easy to build and designed to meet seaworthiness requirements, supporting fishermen’s mobility and safety at sea.

Fishing communities along the Manggar coast rely heavily on marine transportation to access fishing platforms and floating fish cages as their primary sources of livelihood. However, the limited availability of seaworthy boats and the high cost of purchasing modern vessels remain major obstacles for small-scale fishermen. In addition, rough sea conditions require transportation vessels with good stability that are affordable and can be built using locally available materials.

To address these challenges, ITK lecturers and students have developed a double-outrigger boat as an appropriate technology solution for coastal communities. The boat is designed using a combination of ulin wood, meranti wood, and pipes as stabilizing components. The selection of materials and design aims to produce an economical boat that can be easily assembled by local boatbuilders while meeting the technical requirements for transportation in coastal waters.

One of the key advantages of this innovation is its double-outrigger system. The outrigger structures on both sides of the boat function as stabilizers, improving its balance when navigating waves. According to the technical data provided by the development team, this system can increase the boat’s transverse stability by up to 40 percent compared to conventional boats without outriggers. As a result, the boat is expected to remain more stable and reduce the risk of capsizing when operating in rough waters.

In terms of design, the outrigger boat has a total length (Length Overall/LOA) of 6.54 meters and a length between perpendiculars (Length Between Perpendiculars/LBP) of 6.27 meters. Its maximum beam measures 1.1 meters, while the deck width is 1 meter. Meanwhile, the hull depth to the deck and the design draft are both 0.3 meters. The overall height from the keel to the top of the railing is 0.6 meters, with a displacement of 2,212 kilograms.

The boat is expected to help fishermen carry out various operational activities, including traveling to floating fish cages, maintaining the facilities, transporting equipment, and distributing catches from fishing platforms. In addition to improving mobility, its economical design also has the potential to reduce procurement and maintenance costs for small-scale fishermen.

Beyond developing the vessel itself, the innovation initiative also includes maritime safety training for local fishermen. The training aims to improve their understanding and awareness of safety practices while operating at sea. Thus, the benefits of this innovation extend beyond providing transportation facilities to strengthening the knowledge and preparedness of coastal communities.

The innovation was developed by a team comprising three ITK lecturers: Ir. Chris Jeremy Verian Sitorus, S.T., M.T., from the Marine Transportation Engineering Study Program; Muhammad Anjas Syam, S.T., M.T., and Ir. Ahmad Azwar Mas'ud M., S.T., M.T., from the Marine Engineering Study Program. The team also involved nine students from the Naval Architecture and Informatics fields: Zakaria Rezeki Sinaga, Muhammad Arsyad Azzakir, Ahmad Ashraf, Mohhammad Defan Ramadan, Agung Jeremia Sitorus, Obet Cahyono Sagala, Samuel Leonardo Saputra Purba, Tobangun Allo Toparante, and Martselino Tegar Barus.

Through the development of this outrigger boat, ITK seeks to provide technological solutions that address the needs of coastal communities. This innovation demonstrates that marine transportation solutions do not always have to be expensive; instead, they can be designed to meet specific needs by utilizing local materials while prioritizing safety. Ultimately, the boat is expected to support fishermen in Manggar and Teritip in carrying out their activities more safely, efficiently, and productively.