Passenger Ships of PELNI Lines the safety and service

by Charles Roring

Modern passenger ships have been integrated into Indonesian maritime industry since they were first introduced into Indonesian waters in 1980s. After the ro-pax ferry KMPTampomas accident in late January 1981, PELNI - the largest passenger lines in Indonesia began to modernize its fleet of passenger ships to prevent such disaster from occurring again.

KM Nggapulu was entering Port of Manokwari

In the middle of 1980s, PELNI received new passenger ships from Meyer Werft (shipyard) of Germany into its fleet to serve major ports in Indonesian islands. Some of them are KM Kambuna, KM Kerinci, KM Umsini, and KM Rinjani. KM stands for Kapal Motor or Motor Ship. These ships each could carry around 3,000 people but during the high seasons they double the capacity to between 4,000 and 5,000 passengers given that the summer load waterline did not exceed the minimum freeboard stipulated by IMO or Classification Rules.

All the additional passengers were deck ones. This is still practiced by PELNI lines at the moment. Although it is a dangerous practice during bad weather, as long as it still adheres to the stipulated freeboard, PELNI considers that the additional number of passengers will not bring the ship into the risk of sinking.

It is not clear whether PELNI also increases the number of life jackets, boats and rafts to protect the passengers at sea. In addition, the additional passengers that PELNI ships have to carry during school holiday, Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year seasons make the sea voyages are not comfortable.

More passengers mean more rooms, water, and food the ships should provide. In fact, passengers often complain that they run out of water to shower. The gangways and decks look dirty too during high season voyages.

Although waste streams produced by passenger ships are smaller compared to the whole amount produced by the whole world shipping industry, when not properly treated and discharged into the sea, they really threaten the marine environment.

The provisioning of modern passenger ships has restored passengers' confidence over PELNI's service. Feeling that such investment in high cost European made ships was worthy due to the profits and better safety standards the ships gave to the company, PELNI ordered more ships in 1990s.

Today there are nearly 30 passenger ships PELNI has in its fleet. It is a state owned shipping company that is intended not only to transport people but also to connect the whole territory of Indonesian islands as one undivided country. So, it is the government's policy to provide ships that support the development of national integrity of Indonesia and also to serve passengers from moving from one island to another.

When transatlantic passenger ship-liners have long been replaced by airplanes, it is amazing to see that PELNI is the only company that runs true passenger liners in fast schedules transporting a lot of people every year. 

Also read: Boat building and Living tradition of the Mentawai Tribe; Sailing Across the North Pole with Boat to the New World

Sailing Across the North Pole with Boat to the New World

by Charles Roring

On this article, I am not going to talk about ship but a little about a legendary boat. There was a legend in Ireland which says that the Irish monks were the first European to land on the New World. Around one thousand years ago, an Irish boat sailed across the north-pole waters to find a new land. They used a boat whose hull was not made of wood but animal skin. I read the story about this expedition on an article of National Geographic Magazine. I forgot the year of its publication. I wonder how a small boat crossed the Atlantic. It was too dangerous to sail from Ireland to the New World with a boat that was not seaworthy. All naval architects would agree with this.

There were some Irishmen who re-built similar boat and used it to cross the icy ocean and landed on Canadian territory. They proved that the Irish monks could have been the first Europeans to find the New World. I saw that the cover picture about the story was very interesting and I drew it on a small paper. The boat had sails decorated with red-cross. I used Derwent watercolor pencils to make the drawing. It took three days to finish the drawing of the boat.

Passsion of a ship toy in child's imagination

Many times when we go to the beach, we can see parents accompany their children swimming. But among the crowded swimmers, there are some who are more interested in playing with boat toys. The passion of the sea and the ship in little boy's mind bring his imagination tens of years in the future where he dreams of building a ship or being the captain of a ship sailing across the ocean.


I made a painting about such scene using watercolour pencil depicting how a father accompanies his son playing a toy of a sailing boat. Right behind them a few miles away, there is a cruise ship moving.


The message from this painting is that we must not ignore the passion of a little boy playing with his boat. We have to encourage him, if necessary, by taking him to a sea voyage aboard a real cruise ship or passenger ship where he can see the real ship.


Perhaps, the boy has another dream. Being somebody who can build a ship or boat. He might not know the name of such profession as being a naval architect is not a common job anybody sees in every day life. There are not many schools that provide such study program. So, what we must do is to guide the boy in pursuing his passion on the sea and the ship through a positive way. by Charles Roring also read: Is traveling with cruise ship still an attractive adventure? and The Speed of Ship and Propeller Pitch

Ship rudder

Every cruise ship and cargo vessel needs at least one rudder. This is usually installed behind a propeller which is located at the stern of the ship or boat. Although we cannot see it, the functions of rudder are vital for the maneuverability of the ship. A rudder, according to page 87 of Ship Design and Performance for masters and mates, is needed
1. To keep the ship on a straight line, from Port 'A' to Port 'B.' In other words, to have good course keeping properties.

2. To turn the ship in a small turning circle diameter. In other words, to have good turning characteristics, say in confined waters.

The dimensions of a rudder are determined by the coefficient K according to the type of ship, the length between perpendiculars, and the loaded draft of the ship.

The following formula is used by naval architects to calculate the rudder area of ship. A_R = K x LBP x d (m²)

If a ship is a fast one, generally, its K value is lower. So, the rudder of high speed marine vehicles is smaller than conventional speed marine vehicles with the same displacement. Below is the coefficient K for several merchant ships. The above formula can also be used for ships with twin screw propellers.

We have to remember that rudder is not the only equipment that is available for ship's maneuvering. Most cruise ships and cargo vessels have bow thrusters to help them turning to the right or to the left.

Usually the height of a rudder is 1.75 its length. Please, see the following illustration as a guidance for naval architects when designing ship's rudder.

It is important to note that the rudder size should not be too large. If it is larger than appropriate, it will be an additional resistance for the ship itself as well as decreasing the course keeping properties of the ship.Rudder is turned by hydraulic mechanism that has been installed above it inside the stern part of the ship's hull. by Charles Roring Also read: Are cruise ships safe for the marine environment?