Indonesian Seafarers

Indonesia is one of the largest seafarer-supplying nations by volume, with approximately 80,000 Indonesian seafarers employed internationally at any given time — a number growing rapidly as major operators expand cadetship programmes in Southeast Asia. Indonesian seafarers are particularly well-represented in ratings, able-seaman, and crew positions on bulk carriers, fishing vessels, and offshore support vessels. A strong and growing officer corps is serving on Asian and Middle Eastern-operated tonnage, with increasing placement on European-managed ships.

Regulatory authority

Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST / Hubla) — operates under the Ministry of Transportation (Kementerian Perhubungan). DGST issues CoCs and CoPs under Indonesian law, which implements SOLAS and STCW. Website: hubla.dephub.go.id.

Ditkapel (Direktorat Perkapalan dan Kepelautan) — the sub-directorate within DGST responsible specifically for seafarer certification, training centre approval, and seamen's book issuance. All ANT/ATT certificates are issued under Ditkapel authority.

BP3MI (Badan Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia) — the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency, which handles overseas worker licensing, complaint intake, and enforcement against illegal recruitment and fee-charging practices. Formerly BNP2TKI.

Training institutions

STIP Jakarta (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran)
Indonesia's premier state maritime polytechnic; deck and engine programmes leading to ANT/ATT certificates; cadetship agreements with DGST-approved operators.
AKPELNI Semarang (Akademi Pelayaran Niaga Indonesia)
Central Java-based; strong track record placing officers with dry-bulk and general cargo operators.
PIP Makassar (Politeknik Ilmu Pelayaran Makassar)
Eastern Indonesia hub; particularly relevant for offshore and coastal shipping cadetship.
Politeknik Pelayaran Surabaya
East Java; deck and engine programmes; AMK (rating) training courses also offered.

In addition to state polytechnics, a large number of DGST-approved private maritime academies operate throughout the archipelago. AMK (Akademi Maritim Kelas) programmes provide the non-degree entry route to ratings certification and can be completed in 1–2 years.

CoC system — ANT and ATT

Indonesian CoCs use a tiered numbering system: ANT (Ahli Nautika Tingkat) for deck officers and ATT (Ahli Teknika Tingkat) for engineer officers. Levels run from V (lowest) to I (highest — unlimited Master or Chief Engineer), each requiring a combination of additional sea time and DGST state examinations.

ANT-V / ATT-VRating able to perform watchkeeping duties (Ratings Forming Part of Watch, RFPW)
Entry level; minimum sea time + DGST written exam.
ANT-IV / ATT-IVOOW (watch officer) on vessels ≤ 500 GT / ≤ 750 kW
One level above basic rating; permits sole watchkeeping on smaller vessels.
ANT-III / ATT-IIIOOW on vessels ≤ 3000 GT / ≤ 3000 kW
Equivalent to Mate/3rd Engineer on coastal/short-sea tonnage.
ANT-II / ATT-IIChief Mate / 2nd Engineer on vessels ≤ 3000 GT / ≤ 3000 kW, or OOW unlimited
Gateway to unlimited-tonnage watchkeeping on ocean-going vessels.
ANT-I / ATT-IMaster / Chief Engineer — unlimited
Highest DGST certificate; full STCW Chapter II/2 and III/2 equivalence.

Indonesia is on the IMO White List. Common flags of service: Singapore, Marshall Islands, Panama, Liberia, Malta, and Bahamas. An Endorsement Attesting Recognition (EAR) from the flag state is required before joining a foreign-flag vessel under Regulation I/10 of STCW.

Unions and wages

KPI (Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia) — the major Indonesian seafarers' union; ITF affiliate. KPI represents Indonesian seafarers in collective bargaining with operators and manning agents, and handles individual wage, repatriation, and welfare disputes. Manning agencies placing Indonesian seafarers must be licensed under both Kemenaker (Ministry of Manpower) and DGST; KPI monitors compliance. Wages for Indonesian seafarers on ITF-covered vessels follow IBF Framework rates; non-ITF rates vary significantly by operator and trade.

Manning agencies

Equinox Maritime Indonesia (tanker/LNG specialists)
GAC Indonesia (offshore and gas carriers)
BSM Indonesia (Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement)
ENM Indonesia (dry bulk, bulk carriers)
Wallem Indonesia (tankers, offshore)
Synergy Marine Indonesia

All agencies placing Indonesian seafarers on foreign-flag vessels must hold a valid DGST manning-agent licence and be registered with BP3MI. The DGST publishes an updated list of licensed agencies at hubla.dephub.go.id. Seafarers should verify their agency is on this list before signing any pre-employment documentation.

Welfare and social security

BPJS Ketenagakerjaan — Indonesia's mandatory employment social security programme (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja). Covers work accident insurance (JKK), death benefit (JKM), old-age savings (JHT), and — since 2020 — unemployment benefit (JKP). Indonesian seafarers employed overseas are eligible and should be enrolled by their manning agent or employer.

BPJS Kesehatan — national health insurance; Indonesian citizens residing overseas may maintain voluntary membership to protect family members registered in Indonesia.

Mission to Seafarers, Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) — welfare chaplaincy at Indonesia's busiest port; provides welfare visits, document assistance, and pastoral care.

ITF Inspectorate Jakarta — handles MLC/STCW compliance complaints for vessels in Indonesian ports.

Common issues

Taxation
Indonesian tax residents are liable for worldwide income; however, income earned by seafarers on foreign-flag vessels may qualify as NTKL (Negara Tujuan Kerja Luar Negeri) exempt under DGST and DJP (Direktorat Jenderal Pajak) guidance if the employment meets the criteria for work performed entirely abroad. Consult the Directorate General of Taxes (pajak.go.id) or a registered tax consultant (konsultan pajak) before filing. Incorrect tax treatment is a common issue for returning seafarers.
Family remittance
Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Money2Anywhere are widely used for USD-to-IDR transfers. BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia) and BNI TKI Remittance schemes provide low-fee channels specifically for overseas workers. Mandiri and BCA also accept SWIFT wires directly. Exchange rates and transfer fees vary; compare before committing to a monthly remittance schedule.
Visa and transit
The Indonesian passport consistently ranks below those of most OECD nations in visa-free access. Many major seafarer transit hubs — including UK, Schengen area, Australia, and Canada — require a transit visa or full entry visa from Indonesian nationals. Manning agents and ship managers must account for visa lead times (6–8 weeks for some Schengen applications) when planning crew changes. Port-state officers in some European ports have raised documentation issues with Indonesian ratings presenting at immigration without pre-arranged transit documentation.
Pre-departure and placement fees (illegal)
Charging pre-departure fees (biaya penempatan) to seafarers is prohibited under the 2017 Manpower Law (UU 18/2017), the Peraturan Menteri Ketenagakerjaan (Permenaker), and MLC Regulation 1.4. Despite this, complaints of illegal fee-charging remain common. The BP3MI (Badan Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia) complaint hotline exists specifically to report such violations. Seafarers who have paid unlawful fees may pursue recovery through the Pengadilan Hubungan Industrial (industrial relations court) or via KPI. If fees were charged by a licensed DGST agency, the agency risks licence revocation.

Helplines

KPI Jakarta: +62 21 4393 0001
Mission to Seafarers Jakarta: contact via missiontoseafarers.org
BP3MI complaint hotline: 1500-489 (Indonesia) — report illegal placement fees
ISWAN SeafarerHelp: +44 20 7323 2737 (24/7, free, multilingual)