Quick answer: Bulukumba Boat Builders, part of Juara Holding Group, arranges full-service phinisi newbuilds in South Sulawesi for liveaboard operators, dive-charter companies, and private investors entering the Indonesian charter market. We coordinate shipyard selection in Tana Beru and Bira, naval architecture, traditional hull construction, interior fit-out, and the delivery voyage to Labuan Bajo, Komodo, or Bali. As of 2026, berthing and fleet management once your phinisi reaches Bali run through our ecosystem partner Kura Kura Marina, so the boat has a home port from day one.
This page is written for operators and investors planning to commission a purpose-built phinisi for commercial charter — not for travelers booking a trip. If you are chartering rather than building, our guide on how to choose a safe boat operator for Komodo National Park is the better starting point.
Why Commission a New Phinisi Instead of Buying a Used One?
A newbuild lets you specify the vessel around your charter model rather than retrofitting someone else’s compromises. Cabin layout, dive deck size, generator and air-conditioning capacity, tank capacity for multi-day itineraries, and guest-facing finish level can all be set at the design stage instead of negotiated around an existing hull. You also get full visibility into construction quality — timber selection, joinery, engine installation, and systems work — rather than inheriting an unknown maintenance history that matters later when the vessel needs to be insured, classed, or resold into the charter market.
Demand for liveaboard cruising around Komodo National Park and further east toward Raja Ampat has kept a steady flow of operators expanding or renewing their fleets. We do not publish specific occupancy or yield figures here — legitimate ROI modeling depends on your itinerary, cabin pricing, and season mix — but we are glad to talk through realistic scenarios on a call rather than quote a generic number that may not fit your route.
What a Bulukumba Phinisi Newbuild Includes
- Shipyard vetting and selection in Tana Beru and Bira, the traditional centers of phinisi construction recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
- Naval architecture and specification sign-off before any timber is cut, covering hull dimensions, engine choice, and cabin layout.
- Traditional hull construction using ironwood and teak, built plank-first in the Bugis-Makassar method before the frames are fitted.
- Engine, electrical, and plumbing integration so the finished hull runs as a modern commercial vessel, not just a traditional sailing shell.
- Charter-grade interior fit-out — guest cabins with en-suite bathrooms, saloon, galley, dive deck, air-conditioning, and generator capacity sized to guest count.
- Safety and navigation equipment appropriate for the vessel’s intended commercial use.
- Sea trials and handover before the delivery voyage.
- Delivery voyage coordination to Labuan Bajo, Komodo, or Bali, with berthing arranged in Bali through Kura Kura Marina’s berth booking.
How the Build Process Works, Step by Step
- Brief and budget: we take your charter concept — guest capacity, route, price point — and translate it into a hull size and spec range.
- Design and sign-off: naval architect drawings are reviewed and approved before construction begins, with a fixed specification both sides agree to in writing.
- Keel laying: the start of construction, traditionally marked with a small local ceremony in Tana Beru or Bira — a genuine part of the craft’s living heritage.
- Hull planking: shipwrights build the hull outward from the keel using dowelled timber joinery passed down through generations of local builders.
- Engine and systems install: mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems go in once the hull is closed up.
- Interior fit-out: cabins, saloon, galley, and dive deck are finished to the agreed charter specification.
- Sea trials: engine, steering, and systems checks before you take delivery.
- Delivery voyage and handover: the finished phinisi is sailed or towed to its operating base, with berthing and fleet-management handover coordinated in Bali via our marina partner.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Phinisi for Charter Use?
There is no fixed published price list for custom phinisi construction — every build is quoted against a specific naval architect drawing, timber choice, and interior finish level. The table below is an indicative range for early budgeting only, based on typical size and finish tiers we see requested for charter and liveaboard projects as of 2026. It is not a quotation.
| Vessel tier | Typical length | Indicative budget range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level day-charter or small liveaboard | 18–22 m | 150,000–350,000 |
| Mid-range multi-day liveaboard | 24–30 m | 350,000–800,000 |
| Premium charter yacht, full luxury fit-out | 30 m+ | 800,000–2,000,000+ |
Final price is driven by hull length, timber grade, engine and generator specification, cabin count and finish quality, and any custom equipment such as dive compressors or watersports gear. A typical build takes roughly 10 to 18 months from keel laying to sea trials, depending on size and how much interior work runs in parallel with the hull. Payment is normally staged against construction milestones rather than paid upfront; we set out a milestone schedule as part of the written specification before work begins. Indonesian flagging, commercial vessel classification, and import/export requirements apply to charter vessels and are subject to change — confirm current rules with a naval architect, classification society, and your own legal or customs advisor before finalizing a budget. We do not make commitments on duty treatment or multi-year regulatory outcomes.
Delivery and Berthing to Komodo, Labuan Bajo, and Bali
Once your phinisi is complete, we coordinate the delivery voyage from Bulukumba to your operating base — most commonly Labuan Bajo for Komodo National Park operations, or Bali for a broader charter and refit hub. For operators basing their fleet in Bali, our sister site Kura Kura Marina handles berth booking and yacht agency and fleet-management services, so your new vessel has a berth and local agency arranged before it even arrives. Both sites are operated by Juara Holding Group as part of the same marine ecosystem.
How long does it take to build a custom phinisi in Bulukumba?
Most charter-grade builds run 10 to 18 months from keel laying to sea trials, depending on hull size and interior scope. We give a firmer schedule once your specification is signed off.
Can you deliver the finished phinisi to Labuan Bajo, Komodo, or Bali?
Yes. Delivery voyages to these destinations are a standard part of the service, and berthing in Bali can be arranged directly through our marina partner Kura Kura Marina.
Do you help with crewing and fleet management after delivery?
We can introduce you to fleet-management and yacht-agency support through Kura Kura Marina’s yacht agency service in Bali. Crewing is discussed case by case since requirements vary by route and guest capacity.
Do you handle flagging, classification, and import documentation?
We help coordinate introductions to naval architects, surveyors, and classification contacts, but flagging, classification, and customs requirements for commercial vessels are set by Indonesian authorities and classification societies, and can change. Get independent legal and customs advice before committing to a budget or timeline — we will not promise a specific regulatory or duty outcome.
Bulukumba Boat Builders is part of Juara Holding Group, operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015. To discuss a charter-fleet newbuild, get an indicative quote, or ask about berthing your finished phinisi through Kura Kura Marina, message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com.