UNDIP, Semarang (7/9) – Innovation and optimism marked the send-off of five student teams from the Department of Naval Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), who will compete in the 2026 Indonesian Ship Contest (Kontes Kapal Indonesia/KKI). The prestigious competition will take place from September 14 to 17, 2026, at Politeknik Negeri Bengkalis.
The send-off ceremony was held on the first floor of the Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Office as a form of support and appreciation from the faculty for the students’ hard work, particularly those from the Department of Naval Architecture, in preparing their ship designs for the national-level competition.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering UNDIP, Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamari, S.T., M.T., IPU, ASEAN Eng., expressed his appreciation for the progress and achievements of the Department of Naval Architecture, which he said had demonstrated remarkable development through 2026. He was optimistic that the participation of five teams in this year’s KKI would once again bring achievements to Universitas Diponegoro.
“We greatly appreciate the hard work of the Department of Naval Architecture and all the students who have prepared themselves to participate in the Indonesian Ship Contest (KKI). Despite the various limitations they faced, the students have produced innovative ship designs. We are optimistic that the UNDIP teams can achieve strong results,” he said.
Support for the teams’ participation has come not only from the faculty, but also from the university and several partners and sponsors. This collaboration has played an important role in supporting the preparation process, design development, and testing of the ships to be used in the competition.
The five teams that will compete in the 2026 Indonesian Ship Contest at Politeknik Negeri Bengkalis are:
- Ekalawya-1 Team (ship name: KN Pulau Sekatung)
- Ekalawya-2 Team (ship name: KN Senoa)
- Aterkia ROV Team (ship name: AterAvinoleum)
- Lembuswana Team 1 ERC (ship name: KN Ragnar)
- Lembuswana Team 2 FERC (ship name: KN Segara)
Featuring Smart and Efficient Ship Innovations
In preparation for KKI 2026, students from the Department of Naval Architecture, Faculty of Engineering UNDIP, are not simply preparing ships for competition. They have also developed a range of innovations focused on energy efficiency, safety, intelligent systems, and ship performance.
One of the key features being developed is a ship design that reduces resistance and increases speed. The design is expected to improve energy efficiency while supporting the development of more environmentally friendly vessels.
The ships are also designed to remain efficient at low speeds and equipped with intelligent navigation systems to help detect potential hazards. The technologies developed also include systems to support underwater hull inspections and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based computing.
Before being dispatched to the competition venue, various components and systems developed by the teams underwent testing; one of these was waterproofing testing to ensure that the systems were ready to operate in a marine environment.
These innovations are the result of a lengthy process involving students in ship design, construction, testing, and refinement.
Hard Work as a Source of Inspiration
Beyond being a competition, KKI offers students an opportunity to sharpen their technical skills and develop their character as future engineers.
Prof. Jamari expressed hope that the participants’ hard work would inspire other students.
“We hope what these students have done can inspire junior students and their peers. Limitations and obstacles are inevitable, but through hard work, creativity, and a commitment to continuous learning, these challenges can be overcome,” he emphasized.
The participation of five teams from the Department of Naval Architecture, Faculty of Engineering UNDIP, in KKI 2026 also demonstrates the Faculty of Engineering’s commitment to encouraging students to develop innovations that address industry needs and advance maritime technology.
In developing and producing their ship designs, the UNDIP KKI teams also received support from several partners and sponsors, including PT Naval Dipo Service, CV Dua Permata Karya, PT Global Trans Energy International, PT Wira Bahari Shipyard, PT Maritime Lentera International, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero), the Universitas Diponegoro Naval Architecture Alumni Association (IKA Kapal Universitas Diponegoro), Pertamina International Shipping Asia Pacific, and PT Indonesia Chemical Alumnia.
With the support of the university, faculty, department, sponsors, and the entire academic community, the five teams are ready to carry the spirit of innovation, hope, and pride for Universitas Diponegoro. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Ut)
