UPNVJ Public Relations - Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ) has successfully qualified three teams for the 2026 Indonesian Ship Contest (KKI) Proposal Selection held by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. Based on the announcement letter Number 2211/DST/B2/DT.01.02/2026 dated June 20, 2026, three UPNVJ teams were declared eligible to proceed to the next stage in the category of making and demonstrating the performance of Coast Guard ship prototypes. This achievement is evidence of the increasing competitiveness of UPNVJ students in the fields of maritime technology innovation, robotics, and ship engineering at the national level.
The three UPNVJ teams that passed the 2026 KKI proposal selection are Varuna Mahavega in the Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) category, Vikrama Mahavega in the Fuel Engine Remote Control (FERC) category, and Arnava Mahavega in the Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) category. These three categories are part of the Coast Guard ship prototype building and performance competition, requiring participants to design, develop, and test ships with technical capabilities according to the competition's characteristics.
In the ASV category, the Varuna Mahavega Team from UPNVJ was among 32 teams from various universities in Indonesia that passed the proposal selection. This category focuses on the development of autonomous surface vessels capable of maneuvering and carrying out specific missions with the support of control systems and navigation technology.
Meanwhile, in the FERC category, the Vikrama Mahavega Team from UPNVJ also made it to the shortlist of successful participants. This category focuses on remotely controlled vessels powered by fuel engines, requiring skills in mechanical system design, vessel maneuverability, performance stability, and engine efficiency.
The Arnava Mahavega UPNVJ team competed in the ROV category. This category challenged participants to develop a remotely controlled underwater vehicle. This success demonstrated the UPNVJ students' ability to integrate engineering knowledge, control systems, electronics, and maritime innovation into a single prototype.
The achievements of three UPNVJ teams in the 2026 KKI reinforce the university's commitment to encouraging students to actively innovate, compete, and produce work relevant to the nation's needs, particularly in the marine technology and maritime security sectors. Participation in this national event also provides a crucial learning opportunity for students to hone their applied research skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technology-based problem-solving.
UPNVJ Rector, Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA, Comm., views this success as part of strengthening a productive and impactful academic culture. According to him, student achievements in national competitions are not only a source of pride for the institution but also reflect UPNVJ's policy direction in building a campus ecosystem that supports innovation, the development of young talent, and real contributions to Indonesia's progress as a maritime nation.