Untar Doctor Develops Floating Breakwater to Mitigate High Wave Impact

Hotma Harapan Saragih officially earned a doctorate in Civil Engineering from Tarumanagara University (Untar) after defending his dissertation on the development of an experimental floating breakwater model during an open examination on Tuesday (30/6). Hotma developed the floating breakwater model as a port protection solution for deep-sea areas that are difficult to reach with conventional construction. In his dissertation titled ‘Development of an Experimental Model for Floating Breakwaters’, Hotma addressed the issue of high sea waves in Indonesia, which is flanked by the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These conditions often trigger abrasion, sedimentation, and disrupt port activities. He took a case study at Linau Port, Bintuhan, Bengkulu, which has a depth of around 20 metres, making the construction of a conventional breakwater less cost-efficient. ‘If built conventionally, the cost is enormous; based on planning data, it could even reach Rp2 trillion. That is why I tried to develop the floating breakwater concept as an alternative,’ Hotma said in his presentation. The research utilised data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), laboratory testing, numerical simulation using Flow-3D, and structural analysis via the Multi-Operating Structural Engineering Simulator (MOSES) software. Hotma compared two mooring systems, namely catenary mooring and pile mooring, to determine the most effective model for reducing wave energy. The results showed that model 1A with a catenary mooring system and a structure width of 60 centimetres was the best design as it produced the lowest wave transmission coefficient. ‘The experimental and numerical calculation results are still very good because the difference is below 5 per cent,’ he said. He hopes his research findings can serve as input for the government, particularly the Ministry of Transportation, in developing port infrastructure in deep-sea regions. ‘I hope this research can be used. At the very least, there is input for the Ministry of Transportation in port development and coastal protection,’ he stated. Main promoter Roesdiman Soegiarso appreciated the academic achievement, which he said reflected dedication and perseverance during the doctoral education. ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. With the knowledge you now possess, I hope you can have a positive influence on society,’ he said. He also encouraged Hotma to continue researching and producing scientific work beneficial for the advancement of science and the nation. ‘Do not be like a banana tree that only bears fruit once, but continue to produce work that is useful for science and the country of Indonesia,’ he said. Meanwhile, co-promoter Indra Noer Hamdhan assessed that the doctoral degree earned by Hotma was the fruit of hard work, prayers, and the support of family and colleagues. ‘May the doctoral degree you hold become a mandate to continue developing knowledge, maintaining academic integrity, and making real contributions to society, the nation, and the world,’ he said. Hotma completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1999, earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Trisakti University in 2014, a professional engineer programme at Bina Nusantara University in 2021, and completed his doctoral studies at Untar in 2026. During his doctoral education, he produced internationally reputable scientific publications indexed by Scopus Q2 as well as a number of articles in national journals accredited by Sinta 3.