The Ombak Putih was built alongside a muddy river. On a deserted piece of land the keel was laid on 11 May 1996. Finding suitable timber for the keel is not easy. Ideally, the keel consists of only one piece. Ours measures 23m by 40cm by 40cm.
Construction then starts with adding the bow and stern pieces of the keel .
The position and length of these three pieces, kee l, stern and stem , decides the shape of the hull. The ship builders place the first skin planks from the keel upwards. No moulds are erected before the skin planking reaches at least 1,5m above the keel. Planking is a tedious job. Using a chain saw, a plank is sawn out of a piece of timber.