Pelni's Three New Ships Seen as a Test for National Shipyard Capabilities

The plan by state-owned shipping company PT Pelni to build three new passenger ships worth Rp4.5 trillion is being seen as a momentum to test the capabilities of the national shipbuilding industry. The Indonesian Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Association (Iperindo) has welcomed the plan. The project is considered not only aimed at expanding Pelni’s fleet but also as an opportunity to prove the ability of domestic shipyards to build modern passenger ships of international standard. Iperindo Chairwoman Anita Puji Utami said the construction of the three ships must be an implementation of the government’s directive to strengthen the national maritime industry. “The project for Pelni’s three new ships must be a momentum to test and prove the capabilities of national shipyards,” said Anita. According to Anita, Indonesia needs to enhance its ability from merely operating ships to becoming a country capable of building modern ships with quality that can compete in the international market. The construction of the ships is also considered feasible to be carried out in Indonesia even though the ship design involves an Italian company. In the international shipping industry, the design provider and the construction shipyard are two different entities. As long as technical specifications, safety standards, and international classification requirements are met, the ships can be built by national shipyards. Iperindo hopes that Danantara, as a strategic shareholder of state-owned enterprises, will ensure the project has an impact on strengthening the domestic maritime industry. This step is also seen as supporting the government’s efforts to increase the use of Indonesian-flagged ships in logistics activities. “Iperindo, together with all its members, will exert every effort to support the successful construction of Pelni’s three new ships in Indonesia. We are committed to ensuring this project is carried out successfully, with the right quality, on time, and on budget,” Anita asserted. Anita said a number of national shipyards have expressed their readiness to be involved in the construction of the three ships. The national shipbuilding industry is said to have a construction capacity of around 1,200 ship units per year. In addition to construction facilities, the national shipbuilding industry has a repair capacity of around 36,000 dock spaces and is supported by ancillary industries that produce various ship components. These components include steel plates, pipes, cables, paint, diesel engines, generators, pumps, cranes, and electrical systems. “If strategic projects like this are entrusted to national shipyards, the benefits will not only produce three new ships but also strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesia’s maritime industry, create jobs, increase the use of domestic components, and drive the national economy,” said Anita. Iperindo believes the construction of Pelni’s three ships can be a first step in strengthening the independence of the national fleet and reducing dependence on foreign-flagged ships in Indonesia’s logistics system.