Traditional shipbuilder As'ad Abdullah: Relying on 'God-given' skill

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

A father of six, 70-year-old As'ad Abdullah from Pegerungan Kecil, Madura is known as a traditional shipbuilder.

He relies on traditional instruments like a pasah (plane), a handsaw, a screwdriver and a tatah (chisel). When he needs to measure a piece of wood for his ship, he does it by eye, without relying on tools.

"The most important thing is the union of your eyes and heart. When your eyes look at something and you do not waver in your heart, rest assured your measurement will be accurate," Abdullah said. Your eyes and your heart will be united, he added, if you keep your heart clean.

"You must refrain from any feelings of envy or jealousy and submit yourself totally to God."

Owing to his traditional boat-making skills, As'ad has been assigned the job of making a vessel engraved as a relief at Borobodur temple, later called Borobodur Samudraraksa (Guardian of the Sea).

The vessel symbolizes the grandeur of the Indonesian people's ancestors, who were known to be seafarers as far back as the seventh century AD. The vessel that As'ad made on the basis of a model in the relief of Borobudur temple was later used for a voyage to trace what is historically known as the Cinnamon Route up to Madagascar and Ghana in Africa.

As'ad made this vessel traditionally, using neither a ruler nor nails. To obtain the curved shape of the wood, for example, he would simply put the wood in embers for some time.

"I saw only once the picture of the vessel I would later make and then remembered it well," he said.

It took him four months to make the vessel. In the process, As'ad, who was accompanied by a British expert, Nick Burningham, often debated with his British colleague. Burningham once doubted whether As'ad's vessel could ever float because it had been made in the traditional manner.

Burningham told him, As'ad said, that according to modern science, a shipmaker would start with the outer part of a ship's hold before proceeding with the inner part. As'ad, instead, believed it was the other way around.

"I didn't use a ruler and relied on my two eyes only when measuring the wood, so Nick was afraid the vessel was not symmetrical and would not be able to float. At one point, I told him flatly that if he did not trust me, he could make the vessel himself," As'ad said, reminiscing.

In June 2003 the vessel was put to the test in a voyage from Pagerungan to Bali, via Banyuwangi. On July 15, the vessel was inaugurated by State Minister for Tourism I Gde Ardika in Benoa, Bali, and on August 15, President Megawati saw it off at the start of an expedition to retrace the Cinnamon Route.

The vessel, manned by a crew of 14 people led by I Gusti Ngurah Sedana as captain, sailed on a four-month ocean voyage, visiting Mahajaga port, Madagascar, Ghana and South Africa before finally being put in a museum.

For the 40-ton vessel, which measures 18.26 meters long, 4.50 m. wide and 2.25 m. high, 100 cubic meters of wood of various kinds, such as nyamlong, teak and tamarind, were needed.

The ship, which has two sails with dual outriggers and is capable of carrying 15,000 liters of potable water, half a ton of food, half a ton of personal effects and two tons of spices, is also provided with navigational equipment such as a global positioning system device, an echo sounder (to ascertain the depth of sea water) and a satellite telephone.

As'ad said he had never learned from anybody how to make a vessel. He believed his ship-making skill was God's gift. He also said he had never took part in any particular religious rite before making a vessel. Instead, he submitted himself totally to God.

In 1970 he made his first vessel. It was a small fishing boat. "I kept thinking about vessels and imagining them. Then I started to make one and, lo and behold, I was able to make a fishing boat from a hollowed-out log. I realized then that God had bestowed on me this special skill," he said.

To date, he has made over 100 ships of various sizes. At present he is also making another, ordered from Banyuwangi. The 100-ton vessel is a reconstruction of one of the ships in the fleet of the Majapahit Kingdom.