Maluku, November 15, 2021 - Pattimura University, Maluku, today received a pinisi ship grant named Kapal Motor Gurano Bintang (KM Gurano Bintang) from the WWF Indonesia Foundation which will become a fleet of maritime and marine centers to support the mobility of research activities, education and teaching, and health services on small islands in Maluku.

This ship grant is a form of support from WWF Indonesia Foundation to make a wider contribution to marine conservation and environmental education efforts, as well as support for the Indonesian government's work program, namely Campus Merdeka and Merdeka Belajar. This fleet is also expected to be a place of learning for students to uncover the natural potential of eastern Indonesia to support Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDGs 4), namely education for all.

The grant submission was carried out by Aditya Bayunanda, Acting. CEO of WWF Indonesia Foundation representing Alexander Rusli, Chairman of the Board of WWF Indonesia Foundation, to Prof. Dr. M.J. Saptenno, SH, M.HUM, Rector of Pattimura University. Also present at the handover ceremony was the Head of Maritime and Marine Center of Pattimura University, Gino V. Limmon.

"Pattimura University has been a partner of WWF Indonesia since the 1990s. We have worked very closely together for the conservation of marine ecosystems and fauna in various seascapes in eastern Indonesia, including the Aru Sea, Arafura Sea, East Seram and Kei Islands," said Aditya Bayunanda in his speech.

KM Gurano Bintang previously operated in West Papua, supporting the governments of Teluk Wondama, Nabire, and Tambraw regencies through education and health services, as well as supporting the management of Teluk Cenderawasih National Park in observation, research, and ecological surveys.

Prof. Dr. M.J. Saptenno, S.H., M.HUM said, "Pattimura University is grateful and very appreciative of the Gurano Bintang pinisi ship grant from the WWF Indonesia Foundation which will complement our marine fleet for the purposes of education, research, and health services in Indonesia's vast sea, so that a mutually supportive partnership is needed to be able to keep our food sources sustainable. We will make the best use of KM Gurano Bintang, and we hope that the collaboration with WWF Indonesia Foundation can continue."

The 2007-built diesel-engined pinisi boat measures 19.6 meters long, 5.25 meters wide, and has a deadweight of 34 GT. KM Gurano Bintang is operated by seven crew members, has complete navigation facilities, study rooms and libraries, ten beds, bathrooms and kitchens, making it suitable to function as a floating station for various activities.

The name Gurano Bintang was given when the ship started operating in the Papua region, taken from the Papuan nickname for the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). Previously, the ship served the East Flores, Lembata and Alor regencies, which are part of the Sawu Sea conservation area, under the name Kotekelema, the Lamalera community nickname for the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephallus). The ship has provided educational activities for thousands of elementary to high school students in East Nusa Tenggara and West Papua.

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