ITS Surabaya Designs Landing Craft Utility Ship for the Indonesian Army, Capable of Carrying Up to 2,500 Tons of Defense Equipment

The Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya participated in designing a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) ship for the Indonesian Army. The transport ship is named ADRI LIII.

Prof Dr Ir Agoes Santoso MSc MPhil CEng FIMarEST MRINA during a functional test review of the ADRI LIII ship that he designed with the ITS team.

The 102-meter-long and 18-meter-wide ship was officially handed over to the Indonesian Army on July 14, 2025. ADRI LIII is designed to be capable of transporting various types of primary weapons systems (alutsista) with a capacity of up to 2,500 tons deadweight tonnage (DWT).

Agoes Santoso, Head of the Postgraduate Study Program (Prodi) in the Department of Marine Engineering (DTSP) at ITS, revealed that the ship's construction process will take two years, from 2023 to 2025.

The ship's design was carried out by the ITS DTSP team, which involved collaboration between lecturers, students, and alumni, including the Surabaya State Polytechnic of Shipbuilding (PPNS).

To support the design process, the ITS DTSP team developed a special spreadsheet and database.

"However, the construction process requires careful implementation of class regulations and standards from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense," Santoso said in an official ITS statement on Tuesday (July 29).

Santoso explained that the crucial stage in ship design is the creation of key plan drawings, which must meet standards to ensure the ship's strength, comfort, safety, and operational life.

The ITS DTSP team handled the entire design process, from the exterior and construction to the outfitting, machinery, electrical system, and interior of the ship. "ITS was also involved in assisting and evaluating the physical construction, including the ship's functional testing," said Agoes.

After the ship's design and construction were completed, a series of tests were conducted to ensure all systems and facilities were operating as planned.

During the tests, all defense equipment designed for the ship, from tactical vehicles, vehicles, tanks, and other combat equipment, had to be successfully loaded and arranged according to capacity.

"Furthermore, the ship's performance was also tested to ensure the comfort of those on board," said Agoes.

Agoes stated that the facilities built by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense could be optimally utilized in the ship's planning.

"Hopefully, this will open up more opportunities for military vessel development in Indonesia and advance scientific knowledge at ITS," Agoes said.