Ready for Wider Application, ITS Hands Over iStow to KNKT

Surabaya (mediakorannusantara.com) – After taking part on an international scale since it was first coined in 2006, iStow made by the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), which is the only stowage planning software created by Indonesia, has the opportunity to be applied more broadly in Indonesia. This step was inaugurated through the handover of the iStow innovation results to the Chairperson of the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) at the ITS Rectorate Building, Friday (24/2).

The Head of the KNKT Dr. Ir Soerjanto Tjahjono warmly welcomed the mandate given by ITS. According to Soerjanto, in the maritime sector in Indonesia, iStow, which is software for planning ship loading, can later be applied to all ships in Indonesia that will sail. “The main problem in cases of sinking ships today is the problem of stability, this is where the role of iStow is needed,” he explained.

As one of iStow’s main supporters, the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP) represented by the Head of the Agam Scholarship Cooperation and Development Division Bayu Suryanto SE MBA stressed his intention to continue supporting iStow and NTSC. “LPDP is proud to have contributed to the successful development of iStow so far, we will be open to research opportunities and potential for further developments,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head Researcher of iStow ITS Dr Ing Ir Setyo Nugroho explained, currently iStow has pocketed various international certificates with high credibility. This is what he believes is that the implementation of iStow has been recognized as safe globally. “iStow uses ship stability and strength calculations in accordance with the safety criteria of the International Maritime Organization (IMO),” said the Head of the ITS Marine Transportation Engineering Department.

This bespectacled man explained more deeply that currently the condition of ships in Indonesia is that there are still many that have not used standardized cargo calculation standards. Namely, starting from being prone to human error to calculating accuracy that does not meet standards. This also triggers many maritime accidents that still occur.

Continuing this statement, the Head of the KNKT acknowledged that currently the stowage plan is still being made manually with a high error rate. iStow’s role will be a new opportunity as well as a prospective challenge for the maritime sector in Indonesia. “iStow has been assisted with digital transformation, so the loading planning process is very fast,” he explained.

Deputy Chancellor IV for Research, Innovation, Cooperation and Alumni ITS, Bambang Pramujati, ST MSc Eng Ph.D., said that during the process of developing iStow for approximately 17 years, LPDP has provided a lot of support which can be utilized very well. “This also triggers the optimization of iStow development to be achieved,” he said.

Alluding to iStow’s future prospects, Bambang stated that ITS needed the support of more industrial partners so that the hopes of this innovation to improve maritime security could be achieved. “This is where ITS believes that the KNKT can utilize iSTow more progressively and comprehensively,” he said optimistically. (jacks)