Indonesian Boat To Compete In Yanagawa Solar Boat Festival 2015

Surabaya, E Java (Antara Bali) - A solar-powered boat made by the Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) students, named Batharasuraya Solar Boat ITS, will compete in Yanagawa Solar Boat Festival 2015 in Fukuoka, Japan in early August.

"ITS's solar boat is ready to compete. We plan to send Batharasuraya ship to Japan on July 10, 2015," Chairman of Batharasuraya team Muhammad Hapis said here on Monday.

A student from Maritime Transport of ITS explained that the competition with three categories namely Circular Course, Sprint, and Slalom will be participated by ITS.

"We are optimistic that the ship which has a length of 3.5 meters, width of 0.8 meters and height of 0.64 meters, will be able to glide swiftly on the water," he said.

With solar panel of 100 watt-peak, the vessel will be capable of traveling at a speed of 3 meter per second, or equivalent to 5 knots, Hapis added.

He described the boat is made of fiber and resin and additional carbon that makes it lighter than other regular ships.

"We only have one week to install the solar cells and steering, while the rest of the week we should have to test the boat in the water," one of supervisors of Batharasuraya Team Andhika Estiyono said.

In 2014, students of Marine ITS also participated in the Dong Energy Challenge 2014 in the Netherlands, with a solar-powered speed boats called Jalapatih. (WDY)