The EcoXplorer research vessel is now stationed in the territory of West Papua. It was officially launched following the ritual or ceremonial to ward off misfortune performed by the locals of the Moi tribe. The ritual was performed on board the EcoXplorer ship, which was docked in Sorong Regency’s Malaumkarta sea.
Ship Launching
An Organization that works on environmental issues in Eastern Indonesia, particularly the Papua and Maluku regions, the Sustainable Archipelago Ecosystem Foundation (EcoNusa), has launched a research ship.
On August 20, 2022, the ship was launched following a ritual carried out by members of the Moi tribe. The EcoXplore ship, docked in the Malaumkarta Sea, hosted the ceremony to ward off misfortune.
Malaumkarta was chosen as the location for the traditional blessing ritual for the EcoXplorer Ship because the people of Malaumkarta have been close to EcoNusa’s work for approximately two years. The people of this area have received various assistance and learning from EcoNusa.
The Course of the Ceremony
Three local traditional leaders lead the traditional ritual called Befie. They are Yustinus Magablo, Benyamin Magablo, and Beni Kalami.
Befie is a traditional ritual to ask for blessings from the ancestors or ancestral spirits who are believed to reside in their customary territory. The goal is that people who get this Befie are given convenience and fluency in carrying out activities in the local area.
In this Befie ritual, traditional leaders and women sing songs in the local language while circling the bow deck of the ship three times.
After that, a mat is laid out, and a noken containing areca nut, betel nut, lime, cigarettes, and soil is placed. Then the traditional leaders simultaneously summoned the spirits.
After going on for about three minutes, a character took the dirt spread out on the mat, smeared it on the ship’s mast, and rubbed it on the body of the EcoXplorer Boat Captain and the other guests.
Furthermore, several other objects, such as areca nut, betel nut, and lime, were tossed into the sea.
The Assistant for Development of the Regional Secretariat of Sorong Regency, Adi Bremantio, appreciated the choice of the ritual to bless the ship.
According to him, doing this shows respect for the area’s native inhabitants’ traditional knowledge. He expresses his sincere appreciation to the Econusa Foundation on behalf of the Regional Government of the Sorong Regency.
EcoXplorer Vessel Function and Features
This ship is projected to facilitate Papuan community activities, including research. This is why its features are made functional.
EcoXplorer Vessel Features
The EcoXplore ship features are:
- Nine bedrooms, of which six are guest rooms, three are crew rooms, and one is a navigation room.
- A life raft can fit 35 people, and the navigation is up to international standards.
- Moreover, this ship has 4 engines, including 1 main engine and 3 electric engines. For water production, the ship uses a watermark. As a result, the team never fills up with water again so that fresh water can be created while they are in the middle of the ocean.
EcoXplorer Vessel Functions
Here are some of the functions of this ship, such as:
- Carrying community commodities to encourage community economic independence.
- Spreading awareness about biodiversity and culture.
- Facilitating research in the Land of Papua and the Maluku Islands.
- Assisting the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation and its associates in conducting coral reef research since setting sail in June last year.
This Econusa ship will certainly have a very good impact on the people of Papua, especially in the Malaumkarta sea area. The hope is that many other activities will be held on board the ship, including discussion and training.
Hopefully, this information about the EcoXplorer research Vessel is useful.
