THE VESSEL
HAND-CRAFTED BOATBUILDING IN INDONESIA
Arua Phinisi is part of a beautiful, centuries-old maritime tradition of hand-crafted boatbuilding in Indonesia.
Built by the highly-skilled seafaring people of Tanah Beru in South Sulawesi using hand tools and traditional methods of construction, the design of these gaff-rigged ketches has been adapted and passed down from father to son for centuries.
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The term "phinisi" refers to the ship’s gaff-ketch rig type, oftentimes called a seven-sail schooner, for its Dutch-inspired design. In December 2017, phinisi received the recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) by UNESCO.
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Today, the centres of phinisi building are located at Tanah Beru, Ara, Bira and Batu Licin, where the majority of the population make a living through work related to boatbuilding and seamanship.
ABOUT ARUA
ARUA in Bugis language means "eight" (8). In many cultures, the number eight is believed to be a good number and brings luck. And just as the number eight is formed from a curved but endless line, we chose ARUA to be the name of the boat in the hope that we have continuous passion and fortune even though along the way problems and difficulties might arise.
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Arua Phinisi is a part of OAOA Initiative - a social enterprise establishing best-practice in sustainable tourism. This innovative venture was founded by a few travellers that are deeply committed to communities, culture and conservation.
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Traveling with Arua Phinisi is about connecting, sharing and conserving precious resources and communities. We operate in one of the most biodiverse and culturally unique locations in the world. Our specially-catered trips are designed to ensure that your travel has a positive impact, giving back to people, culture and the environment.
ARUA CONCEPT
Arua Phinisi is designed for the adventurer in you. Our facilities will bring you closer to nature. Have your lunch in our semi-outdoor dining area , and dinner on the beach, BBQ style. Enjoy the scenery along the journey while relaxing on the sundeck and feel the breeze on your face.
Maximize your experience with our various water sport facilities, such as snorkeling equipments, sea kayak, stand-up paddle, unicorn and pineapple floaties, and fishing equipments. Other facilities includes beach umbrella, ukulele, bean bags, lightings for beach dinner setup, and outdoor portable speaker.
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With only 4 guest cabins on board, Arua Phinisi is perfect for couples, friends, or families who prefer to travel in more intimate groups. This could be your once-in-a-lifetime trip, so everything has to be just right – especially your travelling companions! Each cabin is facilitated with individually-controlled AC and en-suite bathroom with hot/cold water, flush toilet, wash basin and shower. Blankets, bath towels, beach towels and soap are also available.
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We look forward to welcoming you to this remarkable part of the world and making sure you have a memorable, once in a lifetime experience.
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For more pictures and videos, click here.
SPECS & TECHNICAL DATA
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SHIP NAME: KLM ARUA
FLAG: INDONESIA
ANCHORAGE: Labuan Bajo
SHIPYARD: Haji Ully Boat, Tanah Beru, South Sulawesi
YEAR BUILT: 2019
LENGTH: 22.00 M
WIDTH: 4.50 M
MATERIAL: Iron wood and teak
GROSS TONNAGE: 44 GT
SAIL SYSTEM: 2-mast phinisi
FRESH WATER TANK: 5,000 L
DIESEL TANK: 3,000 L
MAIN ENGINE: Mitsubishi, 6 cylinder, 330 HP diesel
ELECTRICITY: Yanmar 15 KVA & 8 KVA
SPEED BOAT: 6M fiberglass with 25 HP engine
NAVIGATION: GPS, echo sounder, marine map
COMMUNICATION: AIS, VHF radio, SSB radio, walkie talkie
SAFETY: Life raft 25 person, life buoy, life jackets, fire extinguisher