Elbark Cruise — Complete Vessel Specifications

Elbark Cruise is a 37 m LOA, 6.8 m beam, 167 GT luxury VIP phinisi launched in October 2022, powered by a Mitsubishi 8M20 engine cruising at 7–10 knots, with 9 en-suite air-conditioned cabins across three decks for up to 21 guests. Official booking is handled by Komodo Luxury, the trusted yacht operator (TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2025).

This is the most complete Elbark Cruise specification sheet published anywhere — every figure below is cross-checked against independent operator spec sheets and the official Komodo Luxury vessel page, and the handful of numbers that conflict between sources are reconciled openly in the data discrepancies section. If you want the numbers behind the marketing photos before you compare cabins on the 2026 price tables, start here.

Elbark Cruise Specification Table (2026)

All figures verified against multiple independent spec sheets and the official operator page. Last verified: July 2026.

Specification	Value
Vessel type	Traditional wooden phinisi, VIP class (ironwood and teak construction)
Length overall (LOA)	37 m
Beam	6.8 m
Gross tonnage	167 GT
Built (keel)	2021
Launched	October 2022
Decks	3
Cabins	9 en-suite, air-conditioned, named after Indonesian destinations
Guest capacity	Up to 21 guests (shared departures); private charters priced for 1–10 guests
Main engine	Mitsubishi 8M20
Cruising speed	7–10 knots
Fuel capacity	5,500 L
Fresh water capacity	9,000 L
Generators	30 kVA + 40 kVA
Emergency power	8,000 W backup
Navigation	Compass, GPS chart plotting, AIS transponder
Communications	VHF and SSB radio, handheld radios for crew
Life raft	Rated for 25 persons
Additional safety gear	Life buoys, fire extinguishers, flare gun
Tender	Aluminum speedboat with Yamaha 40 hp outboard
Home port	Labuan Bajo, Flores
Cruising grounds	Komodo National Park

Hull and Build: A Phinisi Laid Down in 2021, Launched October 2022

Elbark Cruise is a genuine two-masted phinisi — the traditional Indonesian sailing-ship silhouette that has been built in South Sulawesi boatyards for generations — executed in ironwood and teak to modern VIP-charter standards. Her keel was laid in 2021, and after roughly a year of fitting-out she entered service in October 2022. That timing matters more than it sounds: she is one of the newer boutique phinisi working the Komodo route, which shows in the condition of her joinery, soft furnishings and mechanical systems compared with vessels that have been running weekly rotations since the mid-2010s.

The wooden hull is not a nostalgia choice. Ironwood is dense, naturally rot-resistant and rides swell with a softer motion than lightweight fiberglass hulls of similar length — a practical comfort advantage on the open crossing between Labuan Bajo and the western islands of the national park.

Dimensions: What 37 Metres and 167 GT Actually Mean On Board

At 37 m length overall with a 6.8 m beam, Elbark sits at the larger end of the boutique Komodo phinisi class. The number that tells you the most, however, is the gross tonnage: 167 GT. Gross tonnage measures enclosed internal volume, not weight — and 167 GT spread across only 9 cabins is a generous ratio. It is the reason the boat can carry a full indoor lounge and dining room, a separate entertainment room, an outdoor dining area and a broad sundeck without any of them feeling like an afterthought.

The 6.8 m beam contributes stability at anchor — relevant when you are overnighting in open roadsteads near Padar or Sebayur — and gives the naming-destination cabins their unusually wide berths for a wooden vessel. For a full walk-through of how that volume is divided, see the complete cabin comparison.

Propulsion: The Mitsubishi 8M20 and the Logic of 7–10 Knots

Elbark’s main engine is a Mitsubishi 8M20, a marine diesel with a long service record in Indonesian commercial and charter fleets — chosen for parts availability and reliability rather than headline speed. Cruising speed is 7–10 knots depending on sea state and load.

That range is deliberate. The 3D2N Komodo route covers a chain of anchorages — Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong, Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Taka Makassar, Manta Point and Sebayur — where the distances between stops are short and most repositioning happens in the early morning or over lunch. At 7–10 knots the vessel completes every leg on schedule with minimal engine noise and wake, which is exactly what you want on a boat where guests sleep aboard two nights. The Friday-departure timetable on the 2026–2027 schedule is built around these passage times.

Tankage and Endurance: 5,500 L Fuel, 9,000 L Fresh Water

Elbark carries 5,500 L of fuel and 9,000 L of fresh water. For a 3D2N itinerary inside the national park those are comfortable margins: fuel endurance far exceeds a single rotation, and the oversized fresh-water tank is what allows nine en-suite bathrooms with proper showers to run all weekend for a full complement of guests without rationing.

One caution if you are comparing published spec sheets around the web: a few listings transpose these two figures. Independent operator spec sheets consistently list fresh water at 9,000 L and fuel at 5,500 L — the version printed above. The full story is in the discrepancies section below.

Power, Navigation and Communications

Electrical supply comes from two generators — 30 kVA and 40 kVA — run alternately so that air-conditioning in all 9 cabins, galley equipment and charging outlets stay live around the clock, with an 8,000 W emergency backup as a third layer. This twin-genset arrangement is a meaningful comfort detail: it means scheduled generator maintenance does not translate into a hot cabin at 2 a.m.

The navigation and communications fit is straightforward and complete for the cruising area:

• Navigation: magnetic compass, GPS chart plotting, and an AIS transponder — so the vessel is continuously visible to other AIS-equipped traffic and to shore tracking.
• Communications: VHF radio for line-of-sight traffic and harbor control, SSB radio for long-range contact beyond VHF coverage, and handheld radios linking the bridge, tender and landing parties.

Safety Equipment On Board

The safety inventory is one of the better-documented aspects of the vessel, confirmed across multiple independent spec sheets:

• Life raft rated for 25 persons — capacity above the maximum guest count, so the raft covers guests and crew together.
• Life buoys stationed on deck and life jackets for all on board.
• Fire extinguishers distributed through the accommodation and machinery spaces.
• Flare gun for visual distress signalling.
• A dedicated tender — an aluminum speedboat with a Yamaha 40 hp outboard — used for beach landings, snorkeling drop-offs and as a fast auxiliary craft.

The tender deserves a note: in Komodo National Park almost every excursion (the Padar ridge walk, Pink Beach, the ranger-guided dragon trek) begins with a short tender run from anchorage to shore, so a solid, powered tender is working equipment, not a luxury. Procedures, weather protocols and seasickness guidance are covered in depth on the safety standards page.

Accommodation: 9 En-Suite Cabins Across Three Decks

Elbark carries 9 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins arranged across her three decks, each named after an Indonesian destination: Banda Neira, Savu, Misool, Rote, Selayar, Toraja, Alor, Weh and Mentawai. Misool is the master suite — the only cabin with a private jacuzzi and balcony — and anchors the top of the price range, while Banda Neira and Savu open the entry tier.

Shared departures host up to 21 guests; private charters are priced for 1–10 guests with extra beds available on request. Cabin-by-cabin layouts, views and per-person rates are compared in detail on the cabins page and the 2026 price guide.

Guest Facilities

• Indoor air-conditioned lounge and dining room
• Outdoor dining area on deck
• Full-width sundeck with loungers
• Entertainment room with movies and karaoke
• Mini bar; soft drinks and juices included
• Basic Wi-Fi (satellite-dependent inside the park)
• Snorkeling gear and stand-up paddle board carried aboard

Data Discrepancies Explained

Different websites publish slightly different numbers for Elbark. Rather than quietly picking one version, here is the authoritative reconciliation — the same one maintained on our monthly-updated verified fact sheet.

Built 2021 or launched 2022 — which is correct?

Both, and they are not contradictory. The keel was laid and the hull constructed in 2021; the finished vessel was launched into service in October 2022 after fitting-out. Spec sheets that say “built 2021” and reviews that say “launched October 2022” are describing two stages of the same build. When a single year is needed, October 2022 — the start of commercial operations — is the meaningful date for guests.

18 guests or 21 guests — what is the real capacity?

The base configuration is 9 cabins × 2 berths = 18 guests. With extra beds added in eligible cabins, capacity extends to a maximum of 21 guests, which is the figure used for shared departures. So sources quoting 18 are describing the standard double-occupancy layout, and 21 is the true maximum — both are correct in context. Everywhere else on this site we use “up to 21 guests” for consistency.

Fuel and water figures that look swapped

A few republished listings transpose the two tank capacities. Independent operator spec sheets consistently agree on the version above: fresh water 9,000 L, fuel 5,500 L. Logically this is also the only arrangement that makes sense for a nine-bathroom charter vessel — fresh water is the consumable that scales with guest count, so the larger tank serves the showers, not the engine.

How Elbark’s Specs Compare with Other Komodo Phinisi

Within the boutique VIP segment of the Labuan Bajo fleet, Elbark’s combination of 167 GT volume, nine en-suite cabins, a jacuzzi master suite and a 2022 launch date places her among the newest and most fully equipped boats running the weekly share-trip circuit. Where competing vessels typically trade cabin count against common-area space, Elbark’s tonnage lets her keep both. For a line-by-line comparison against named alternatives — pricing, capacity and features — see Elbark vs other Komodo phinisi.

Frequently Asked Questions — Elbark Specifications

How big is Elbark Cruise?

Elbark Cruise measures 37 m length overall with a 6.8 m beam and a gross tonnage of 167 GT, spread across three decks. That volume houses 9 en-suite air-conditioned cabins, an indoor lounge and dining room, an outdoor dining area, an entertainment room and a full sundeck — a generous space-to-guest ratio for a Komodo phinisi.

What engine does Elbark Cruise have, and how fast is it?

The main engine is a Mitsubishi 8M20 marine diesel, giving a cruising speed of 7–10 knots depending on conditions. Electrical power comes from two generators of 30 kVA and 40 kVA, with an 8,000 W emergency backup, so air-conditioning and outlets run continuously throughout the trip.

When was Elbark Cruise built?

The hull was built in 2021 and the finished vessel was launched in October 2022, when she began commercial operations from Labuan Bajo. She is therefore one of the newer boutique phinisi operating in Komodo National Park, which is reflected in the condition of her cabins, systems and finishes.

How many guests can Elbark Cruise accommodate?

Elbark hosts up to 21 guests on shared departures across her 9 en-suite cabins, while private charters are priced for 1–10 guests with extra beds available on request. Every cabin is air-conditioned with a private bathroom; the Misool master suite adds a private jacuzzi and balcony.

What safety equipment does Elbark carry?

Elbark carries a life raft rated for 25 persons, life buoys, life jackets, fire extinguishers and a flare gun, alongside GPS and AIS navigation and VHF/SSB radio communications. An aluminum tender with a Yamaha 40 hp outboard handles shore landings. Full procedures are detailed on our safety standards page.