Behind every resort, pearl farm, construction project and conservation program in Raja Ampat is a working boat moving people, fuel and freight. We build crew boats and utility workboats for Papua operations — cargo decks, passenger safety, multi-role patrol layouts — supervised at Indonesian partner yards and delivered ready to work.
Working boats for a working archipelago
Raja Ampat’s economy floats. Staff rotate between Sorong and island workplaces; drums of fuel, sacks of cement, generators and provisions all move by sea because there is no other way. The boats doing this work are usually the least glamorous and most essential vessels an operation owns — and the ones most often bought as an afterthought. A properly specified workboat pays for itself in avoided charters, avoided delays and avoided accidents. Typical briefs land in the 8–15 m range: crew boats carrying 10–30 staff, cargo workboats rated for one to five tonnes of deck load, and multi-role hulls that flex between duties week by week. The 12 m dual-role end of our tender size range overlaps the light end of this class.
Crew transfer boats: staff runs, safety gear, weather protection
A crew boat’s job description is simple and unforgiving: move working people on schedule, in most weather, safely. That means seating laid out for real capacity — not brochure capacity — with weight and trim calculated for a full load of adults; lifejacket stowage at every seat block; handholds along boarding paths; navigation and communication equipment appropriate for scheduled open-water runs; and weather protection that keeps staff dry through a squall so they arrive able to work. Freeboard and gates are planned for the docks and beaches actually in use. Where operations run at dawn or after dark, lighting and radar reflectors are specified accordingly.
Cargo and supply workboats: deck loads, cranes and davits, fuel transfer
Cargo workboats are designed around the load path: how freight gets aboard, where it sits, and how it gets off at a beach with no jetty. We specify reinforced cargo soles with rated tie-down points, bulwarks and rails that tolerate slung loads, and where the brief justifies it, a marine crane or davit for self-loading at remote sites. Fuel logistics deserve special care — many Raja Ampat workboats double as fuel carriers, and doing that safely means proper drum securing, segregated stowage, spill containment and transfer pumps installed to marine practice rather than improvised. Bow-ramp, landing-craft-style configurations put palletised or wheeled cargo directly onto unprepared shores; the shallow-water hull details are covered in our reef draft design guide.
Multi-role layouts: cargo, patrol and emergency response in one hull
Most operators cannot justify three boats, so we design one hull to do three jobs credibly. The pattern that works: a strong open deck with modular fittings — bolt-down seating for crew days, tie-down rails for cargo days, and equipment mounts for patrol or response duty. Marine protected area programs use this class for ranger patrols; villages and resorts use the same hulls for logistics and emergencies. The discipline is in the details: conversions must take minutes with hand tools, and nothing safety-critical may depend on a configuration that might not be fitted on the day it is needed. Instrumented and endurance-focused variants for science and conservation programs are covered on the survey and NGO support craft page.
Ambulance and medevac-capable configurations
In an archipelago where the nearest hospital is in Sorong, a medevac-capable boat is community infrastructure. We configure workboats for this duty with a sheltered stretcher position with securing points, seating for an accompanying medic, stowage for oxygen and first-response equipment, reliable night-capable navigation and communication, and where the brief calls for it, a compact air-conditioned cabin space for patient stabilisation on long runs. These configurations can live inside a multi-role hull — the boat that carries cargo on Monday can be the boat that saves a life on Friday, provided the conversion is designed, practised and fast.
Brief your workboat
Tell the desk what the boat must move — people, tonnes, drums, patients — over which routes and how often, and we will translate that into hull size, deck layout and engine package with indicative USD figures from the cost guide. Builds are contracted through PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara at the partner yard best suited to the type, supervised through the commissioning process, and delivered to your base. Message WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you coordinate building a tender that doubles as a supply and logistics boat?
Yes, many operators combine guest tender duties with supply runs, so the design may need removable seating, cargo-friendly deck space, and robust fendering. We help you define these dual roles clearly and ensure the yard’s structural and layout decisions support both passenger comfort and heavy-use logistics in your Raja Ampat operations.
Can I get a custom-built emergency/medevac-capable boat for Raja Ampat?
You can design a boat with a clear stretcher area, easy access, good shade, and reliable speed for emergency runs toward Sorong, while still using it day to day for normal operations. We help integrate those emergency-use features into the layout and systems without compromising its role as a regular tender or support craft.
Can I have a small air-conditioned cabin on a Raja Ampat support boat?
Yes, a compact cabin with AC is feasible, but it adds complexity in terms of power generation, insulation, and weight. We help you find the right balance between comfort and simplicity, then coordinate with the yard on structure, ventilation, and systems to keep the cabin usable in tropical conditions.
What’s the process to customise an existing hull design for Raja Ampat diving?
Customising an existing hull usually involves keeping the underwater shape while adjusting deck layout, seating, storage, and sometimes superstructure. We help you choose a proven base model, then refine the deck plan with the yard and designer so it suits your diver flow, safety procedures, and specific Raja Ampat use case.
Raja Ampat Boat Builder Desk — a specialist maritime brand under Juara Holding Group. Construction contracts issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 · sales@komodoluxury.com