Custom Build Programme — Sulawesi
Matching the project to the right yard
- Hull types
- Traditional timber (phinisi) · fibreglass · light steel
- For
- Charter, liveaboard and private use
- Output
- Yard shortlist + technical brief + contract & escrow structure
The Island Build Registry — Sulawesi, Indonesia
Sulawesi Boat Builder — the island’s boatyard map, legal timber, and delivery voyages for hulls built in Sulawesi
One desk that maps where in Sulawesi a hull should be built, from which timber, and how the finished vessel reaches its working waters — with contracts, escrow and supervision handled at island level.
Timber & Materials Sourcing
Legal timber, not just cheap timber
- Species
- Ulin (ironwood) · bitti · teak
- Compliance
- SVLK certificate number + issuing body cross-checked
- Output
- Sourcing package + delivery schedule to the yard
Delivery Voyage & Handover
A finished hull is not yet a delivered boat
- Routes
- Sulawesi → Bali · Labuan Bajo · the east
- Window
- Planned against the Flores Sea seasons
- Output
- Voyage plan + pre-handover survey + handover protocol
What we check before a single plank is cut
SVLK timber legalitySupplier certificate status and the issuing verification body, checked on every sourcing engagement.
Contract, milestones & escrowWritten contract structure with staged payments held against verifiable build milestones.
Class & flag: BKI and NCVSThe classification and national standard that actually govern wooden hulls in Indonesia.
Condition survey before purchaseNo used hull is recommended without an independent condition inspection first.
Sulawesi maritime hubs
Every row below is drawn from the published hub guide — where each port fits in a build, refit or delivery plan.
| Hub | Role | Typical hulls & work | Go there for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makassar (South) | Gateway port: customs, bunkering, chandlery, repair yards | Repairs and systems for all types; steel and mixed work | Staging, surveys, BKI access, project logistics |
| Kendari (Southeast) | Fishing-fleet building and repair cluster | Timber and FRP fishing hulls 10–30 GT, utility craft | Workboat builds and fishing-class surveys |
| Bitung (North) | Deep-water industrial port and fisheries base | Fibreglass production, steel, barges, tugs | Industrial slipways and year-round survey access |
| Mandar coast (West) | Traditional building and repair beaches, sheltered bays | Timber workboats and small traders | Traditional timber work on the central-west corridor |
The heritage villages of the far south — the phinisi coast — are documented in the island register & boatyard directory.
Timber for the hull
Species roles as published on the timber & materials desk. Every sourcing engagement verifies SVLK legality from log to hull.
| Species | Used for | Why | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulin / ironwood | Keel, stem, sternpost, high-wear structure | Very dense, marine-borer resistant | SVLK papers; quoted per m³ on availability |
| Bitti | Frames, planking, keel in traditional practice | Proven structural timber of the heritage coast | Seasoning and moisture content before use |
| Teak / jati | Decks, deckhouse, interior joinery | Natural oils, dimensionally stable, weathers well | Plantation grade; clear vertical-grain deck stock |
How a build runs through the desk
- 01Operating profileRoute, guest count, class target and budget band — written down first.
- 02Technical brief & yard shortlistThe brief goes to yards that actually build this type of hull.
- 03Contract, milestones & escrowPayments staged against verifiable milestones, in USD.
- 04Timber sourcing (SVLK)Species, volumes and legality papers locked before lofting.
- 05Supervision & hold pointsIn-build inspections at keel, framing, planking and systems stages.
- 06Handover survey & delivery voyageSea trial, snag list, then the voyage to working waters.
From the building beach to working waters
Indicative passages from South Sulawesi, as published on the delivery routes desk. The Flores Sea rewards a May–October window.
| Destination | Distance (nm) | Typical days | Season window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo / Komodo grounds | ±300–350 | 3–4 | Best May–Oct |
| Bali (Benoa / Serangan) | ±500–600 | 5–7 | Best May–Oct |
| Raja Ampat (Sorong) | ±900–1,100 | 10–14 | Transitional months |
Sulawesi Boat Builder is a specialist maritime brand under Juara Holding Group. Construction, repair, refit and vessel-sale engagements are contracted through PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. Quotations in USD.
Owner questions, answered from the register
Where are phinisi boats built in Indonesia?
Phinisi-type hulls are overwhelmingly built on the South Sulawesi coast, in the shipbuilding communities of Bulukumba regency, whose Konjo-Bugis boatbuilding tradition was inscribed by UNESCO in 2017. Smaller numbers of timber hulls are also built in West and Southeast Sulawesi, but the phinisi heartland is South Sulawesi.
What timber species are typically used for phinisi hulls and decks in Sulawesi?
Keels and primary structure: ulin (ironwood) and bitti. Frames and planking: bitti, with teak or selected hardwoods for planking on higher-spec builds. Decks, deckhouse and joinery: teak. Meranti and similar secondary hardwoods appear only in non-critical parts.
How do I check that a timber supplier has valid SVLK certification?
Ask for the SVLK certificate itself, verify the issuing certification body and expiry date, and confirm the certificate holder matches the entity selling to you. Then check that transport documents accompanying each delivery state species, volume and origin consistent with the certificate. The desk performs this verification on every sourcing engagement.
How much does it cost to build a new phinisi liveaboard in Sulawesi?
Working bands in 2026: basic 20 m local-standard from roughly USD 150,000; mid-range 20–30 m charter USD 250,000–600,000; charter-grade 30 m USD 700,000–1.5M; luxury 30–40 m USD 1.8M–3M; 40 m+ flagship builds from USD 3M upward. Timelines run 12–30+ months.
Can a foreigner legally own a boat built in Indonesia and keep it under a foreign flag?
Yes — the vessel is exported after build and registered under the chosen foreign flag. It then cannot conduct domestic commercial charter in Indonesia (cabotage reserves that for Indonesian-flagged vessels), but it can be used privately or operated commercially elsewhere. For domestic charter business, the route is Indonesian flag via a PT PMA.
Which classification societies commonly class phinisi vessels built in Sulawesi?
BKI (Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia) is the standard choice — it is state-authorised for Indonesian-flagged vessels and has published rules for wooden hulls. Some export projects engage international societies for advisory or dual-standard builds, but for Indonesian-flagged charter vessels BKI is the operative classification society.
What is the typical price for a 25-30 meter used phinisi liveaboard?
In sound charter condition: roughly USD 300,000–600,000 for boats 5–15 years old, and USD 500,000–900,000 for younger, recently refitted, in-survey vessels. Luxury-spec 30 m+ boats trade higher; project boats needing structural work trade far lower, priced off their refit budget.
What are the usual sea routes and stopovers when sailing from South Sulawesi to Bali?
The standard route runs south to Selayar, across the Flores Sea to the north coast of Flores or Sumbawa, then west along Nusa Tenggara to Bali — roughly 500–600 nm and 5–7 days with stops at Selayar and one or two sheltered anchorages en route.
More on the full owner FAQ.
Put your project on the register
Tell the desk what you want to build, source or move — the reply comes with the relevant page of the register, not a sales script.