Bulukumba Shipyard
A regency newbuild-and-refit yard in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi — Butta Panrita Lopi — where Konjo and Bugis panrita lopi build and restore wooden phinisi hulls, from keel-laying to haul-out.
A working shipyard, not a brokerage or a booking desk — we build and refit hulls. Brokerage and independent survey are handled by sister desks. All figures in US dollars.
One yard, two desks
Most yards do one or the other. Bulukumba builds new hulls and keeps ageing ones sound — the same shipwrights, the same slipway, two sides of one ledger.
WO·01 Build
Commission a new wooden hull — yacht-grade, boat-grade or a charter liveaboard — built plank-first and delivered on a stage-payment contract.
WO·02 Refit
Bring a wooden hull back to condition — haul-out, repair, full refit and restoration, scoped condition-first before a figure is written.
Facts, not ratings
‘Pinisi, art of boatbuilding in South Sulawesi’ is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — the craft of the shipwrights, Bulukumba foremost among them.
Bulukumba is known across South Sulawesi as the land of the master shipbuilders — the panrita lopi — a name earned over generations of building wooden ships by hand.
Newbuild, repair, refit and vessel-sale contracts are issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara — separate contracts, separate ledgers, under Juara Holding Group.
What a hull costs & how long it takes
Planning bands only, in US dollars. Every hull is quoted after specification and a drawing set.
| Vessel | Typical build window | Planning band (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Small wooden boat / day boat (up to ~15 m) | 3–6 months | Low six figures |
| Traditional phinisi hull, boat-grade (20–28 m) | 6–10 months | Mid six figures |
| Yacht-grade phinisi / wooden yacht (28–35 m) | 9–14 months | Upper six–low seven figures |
| Dive liveaboard for charter (30–40 m) | 10–16 months | Seven figures |
Full breakdown on the cost & timeline page. Class and Indonesian flag registration are handled separately.
How a hull is built, plank-first
The shape lives in the shell. Frames come after, seams are locked with hardwood dowels, and the boat is faired by a master’s eye.
Bitti, ironwood and teak chosen, dried and graded before a plank is cut.
Keel, stem and sternpost set the spine of the hull.
The skin goes up plank by plank, faired by eye — before the frames.
Seams locked with hardwood pegs, not iron nails that rust and split wood.
Frames, deck, engine, systems, interior and the schooner rig.
Eased into the water on rollers, then sea trials.
Where a wooden liveaboard comes out of the water
Haul-out on a slipway cradle, blocked and shored for the work. Capacity is quoted by length overall and displacement — a heavy liveaboard sits differently on the blocks than a light day boat.
Out of the water we wash, dry and inspect the hull, renew antifouling, and carry out repair condition-first. An independent pre-purchase survey is a separate discipline, handled by independent marine surveyors, not the yard.
Bulukumba Shipyard is the regency newbuild-and-refit yard brand of Juara Holding Group (established 2015), sister to Komodo Luxury, located in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi — Butta Panrita Lopi, home of the Konjo and Bugis panrita lopi shipwrights.
Newbuild, repair, refit and vessel-sale contracts are issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. Boat-management contracts are issued by PT Komodo Vessel Management. Brokerage, central agency, charter marketing and commercial representation contracts are issued by PT Komodo Bahari Nusantara. Separate contracts. Separate fees. Separate ledgers. One integrated maritime ecosystem — Juara Holding Group (est. 2015).
Frequently asked
Which shipyard in Bulukumba builds and refits phinisi?
Bulukumba Shipyard — a regency yard that builds phinisi, wooden yachts and liveaboards and hauls out, drydocks and refits wooden hulls, contracted through PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara.
How long does it take to build a phinisi?
Around 9 to 14 months from keel to launch for a 30 m yacht-grade hull, plus fit-out and sea trials. Smaller boat-grade hulls are quicker.
How much does a new phinisi cost?
As USD bands: mid six figures boat-grade, upper six to low seven figures yacht-grade, seven figures for a large liveaboard — quoted after specification.
Can I buy a phinisi directly from the yard?
Yes — yard-direct new-build, built to your specification on a stage-payment contract and handed over with a builder’s certificate.
Where can I haul out a wooden liveaboard in Indonesia?
On the Bulukumba yard’s slipway cradle, with capacity quoted by length overall and displacement; repair and refit follow condition-first.
Can I restore an old wooden schooner in Bulukumba?
Yes — restoration keeps the vessel’s character while re-planking, renewing fastenings and bringing systems up to standard.
Is pinisi recognised by UNESCO?
Yes — ‘Pinisi, art of boatbuilding in South Sulawesi’ was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the ICH in 2017.
Who are the panrita lopi?
The master shipbuilders of Bulukumba, principally Konjo and Bugis, whose plank-first craft passes down through families and apprenticeship.
Read all hundred on the yard FAQ.
Send a hull brief, or book a haul-out
Tell us what you want to build or what your boat needs. A detailed brief gets a faster, more useful answer than a one-line message.
BKI class and Indonesian flag registration are handled separately from the build.