Phinisi shipyard · Tana Beru & Bira
Custom new builds, refits and BKI class support for charter owners — supervised at the yards of South Sulawesi, operated in Komodo and Raja Ampat.
Why owners build with us
We pair the Konjo shell-first tradition with modern naval architecture, BKI class and owner-side supervision — so the boat the yard builds is the boat the surveyor signs off.
2015
Operating since
Komodo Luxury has run phinisi charters in Indonesian waters since 2015.
12–18
Months, keel to handover
Around 18–24 months until the vessel is licensed and earning.
24–45m
Build packages
From compact charter boats to superyacht-class flagships.
250
Point checklist
Every milestone inspected and photo-reported to the owner.
Indicative figures, reconfirmed at quotation.
The craft
Hulls rise on open beaches, planked by master builders working from experience. We wrap engineering, machinery and class around that craft — never replacing it.
The yards
The heartland of pinisi construction is Bulukumba, South Sulawesi. Yard choice decides the labour pool, access to seasoned timber and how easily a class surveyor can attend.
Tana Beru
Largest open-beach yard
Bira
Build & finishing yard
2017
UNESCO pinisi inscription
Labuan Bajo
Operations base, Komodo
Location
View larger
Our build programme
A beautiful hull is not enough — it has to pass class, carry guests and earn. Four disciplines run through every project.
Lines plan, scantlings, hydrostatics and a stability booklet before the keel is laid.
Ulin ironwood keel and lower planking, bitti frames and teak decks.
Each release is signed off against photos and an inspection report.
Class attendance, tonnage measurement and the certificate file, planned from day one.
Built for the fleet we charter every week — operated by Komodo Luxury since 2015.
Owner rep & supervisionHow the money moves
A phinisi build is a coordination job as much as a construction job. Here is where a typical budget goes — and when it is released.
Build packages
Phinisi operating in Komodo and Raja Ampat range from 20 to 50 m. Most charter businesses land between 28 and 35 m.
24–26 m
USD 250k–600k
Entry into the charter market
29–31 m
USD 600k–1.2M
The Komodo charter sweet spot
34–36 m
USD 1.2M–2.2M
Dive deck and larger cabins
40–45 m
USD 1.8M–4M+
Flagship scale and finish
Photos show phinisi in the Komodo Luxury charter fleet. Budget bands are indicative for 2027 delivery.
Gallery
Phinisi at work across eastern Indonesia — the conditions every boat we build is engineered for.
Build timeline
Indicative schedule for a ~30 m phinisi. Timber seasoning overlaps design — which is why the yard slot has to be held early.
Monsoon weather from December to March slows open-beach work. A planning estimate, not a guarantee.
What we do
New builds, refits and conversions; the engineering and class a vessel needs; and the operation that follows launch.
From keel laying to a renewed hull.
The paperwork that lets a boat earn.
Crew, bookings and upkeep after launch.
FAQ
Straight answers on ownership, materials and price — before you commit to a yard slot.
Indonesia applies cabotage, so domestic sea transport uses Indonesian-flagged vessels. Foreign investors normally own and operate through an Indonesian company; we introduce maritime counsel for the structure.
Traditionally the master builder works shell-first from experience. For a classed commercial vessel we overlay a modern drawing and calculation package, so yard and surveyor describe the same boat.
Ulin (Borneo ironwood) for the keel and lower planking, bitti for frames, teak for decks and interior, and lighter hardwoods above the waterline to control weight.
Yes. Owners typically visit at keel laying, mid-planking and pre-launch, with weekly photo and video reports in between.
Operating vessels cluster around 20–50 m LOA with 4–9 cabins. Most charter businesses land between 28 and 35 m.
Firm once the general arrangement, specification and equipment list are frozen. Before that, any number is a band.
Start your project
Send your intended itinerary, guest count and target launch season. We come back with a scope, a yard slot and an indicative budget band.
