How to Become a Seafarer in Indonesia: A Practical Guide

Eve Church
23 Sep, 2025
06 Mins read

An oil tanker flying the flag of Indonesia on its bow

Are you thinking about embarking on a seafaring career and are you from Indonesia? You’re drawing on a proud maritime tradition and a training system that produces crews for fleets worldwide.

Our guide explains the Indonesian-specific routes, courses, licenses, documents, and endorsements you’ll typically need to work on commercial vessels, whether they’re cargo and container ships, chemical and oil tankers, and even passenger ships - so that you can navigate a route from school to your first contract and beyond.

Which shipboard careers can you puruse?

Most Indonesian seafarers choose one of three areas:

Deck (Navigation/Operations): Bridge watchkeeping, passage planning, COLREGs, ECDIS/radar/ARPA, cargo ops, mooring, safety and environmental compliance.

Engine (Marine Engineering): Propulsion and power generation, fuel/lube systems, maintenance diagnostics, HVAC/refrigeration, planned maintenance, pollution prevention.

Electro-Technical (ETO): Electrical distribution, high-voltage safety, automation/PLC, controls and sensors, navigation/communications electronics.

You can start as a rating (i.e. Ordinary Seaman or Wiper) and upgrade later or enter directly on an officer/cadet track.

a young Indonesian man working in a Wiper job in a ship's engine room

What should you study at school in Indonesia if you want to be a seafarer?

For SMA/SMK (upper-secondary) students, build a foundation that helps with admissions and later license exams:

Mathematics & Physics: Essential for stability, navigation, thermodynamics, and machinery.

English & Maritime English (SMCP): Precision matters for radios, logbooks, and handovers.

ICT/Digital skills: Ships are highly digital (ECDIS, maintenance systems, e-reporting).

Useful extras: Technical drawing/CAD, basic electronics, geography/meteorology.

Some SMK programs offer maritime courses and you should definitely take them if available.

How does maritime officer training work in Indonesia?

Officer education and licensing follow STCW and are overseen by the Ministry of Transportation (Kementerian Perhubungan) via the Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST / Ditjen Hubla).

Many public maritime colleges are run by BPSDM Perhubungan (e.g., STIP Jakarta, PIP Semarang, PIP Makassar, various Politeknik Pelayaran), alongside accredited private academies.

Typical officer pathway (Deck/Engine):

Enroll in an approved maritime program
Deck: Nautical science / navigation.
Engine: Marine engineering / ship power-plant operation.

Choose a DGST-approved institution so your courses and sea time count toward licensing.

a young Indonesian woman working in a deck crew job on a container ship

Complete STCW Basic Training (BT) early

Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention/Firefighting, Elementary First Aid, Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities, plus Security Awareness (and Designated Security Duties if required).

Cadet sea phase with a Training Record Book

Sail as a deck/engine cadet under supervision; log watchkeeping, drills, and competencies signed by ship’s officers.

Stream-specific mandatory courses

Common examples: BRM/ERRM, Radar/ARPA, ECDIS (Deck), GMDSS (ROC/GOC for deck officers), High-Voltage safety (Engine/ETO), PSCRB, Advanced Firefighting, Medical First Aid/Medical Care as required.

Competency examination & licensing

Indonesia’s officer licenses are widely known by the ANT/ATT system:

ANT (Ahli Nautika Tingkat) for deck officers
ATT (Ahli Teknika Tingkat) for engineer officers

Levels generally run III → II → I for foreign-going (FG), with near-coastal (NCV) grades at IV/V. After required sea service, approved courses, and passing the national seafarer competency exam (UKP), you obtain your first officer CoC (e.g., ANT-III / ATT-III), then progress to ANT-II/ATT-II and ANT-I/ATT-I.

ETO route:

Candidates typically hold an EE/EEE/Electronics degree or diploma plus a DGST-approved ETO course, then complete trainee sea time and high-voltage/automation safety modules toward ETO competence.

a man working with electrical systems in a seafarer job

Prefer to start earning first? The rating pathway to Indonesian jobs at sea

Starting as a rating lets you earn while you learn and upgrade later.

Pre-sea + STCW Basic Training at an approved center.

Add RFPNW (Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch) or RFPEW (Engine Watch), taught at accredited maritime schools.

Join as OS (Ordinary Seaman), Wiper/Motorman, or catering rating; keep meticulous sea-service records.

After enough sea time and additional courses, upgrade to Able Seafarer (Deck/Engine), and later bridge to officer training if you meet entry and exam requirements.

This path suits hands-on learners and those balancing finances with study.

What documents and medicals will you need to work in a job at sea?

Most Indonesian seafarers prepare the following before deployment (your manning agency will specify exact needs):

Passport with ample validity.

Seafarer’s Book (Buku Pelaut / Seaman Book) issued nationally.

STCW certificates (Basic Training, plus any role-specific CoPs such as PSCRB, AFF, STSDSD).

National CoC/CoP matching your rank/role once qualified (e.g., ANT/ATT grades, Able Seafarer Deck/Engine).

Seafarer Identity Document (SID) where applicable and flag-state endorsements for foreign-flag ships.

Medical fitness certificate from a DGST-approved maritime doctor, compliant with STCW/MLC (deck roles also need color-vision standards).

Vaccinations/Yellow Card as routes require.

Visas for trading areas.

Employment contract arranged through a licensed crewing/manning agency.

Keep PDF scans in secure cloud storage (or in Martide!) and multiple paper copies. And watch your expiry dates!

an open laptop with Martide Seafarer Jobs on the screen

Which endorsements will boost employability for Indonesian seafarers?

If you’re looking for work at sea as an Indonesian seaman, pick endorsements aligned with your target fleet segment:

Tanker familiarization and advanced tanker (oil/chemical/LPG/LNG).

Passenger ship crowd & crisis management (ferries/cruise).

Ro-Ro operations for car carriers.

Dynamic Positioning (DP) for offshore support vessels (Nautical Institute scheme).

High-Voltage competence (engine/ETO).

Security: SSO / Designated Security Duties as applicable.

Five-year refreshers for BT, AFF, PSCRB, and others per STCW.

Many Indonesian maritime employers sponsor endorsements after you join; arriving with relevant ones can speed up placement.

How do assessments and licenses work for maritime jobs in Indonesia?

Licensing follows STCW under the DGST. In broad terms:

Train at DGST-approved centers (public BPSDM schools and accredited private academies).

Accumulate documented sea time (TRB entries, sea-service letters with vessel/IMO, GT/kW, dates, rank/duties, trading area).

Sit national competency exams (UKP) - written/oral/simulator as applicable - for your target certificate (ANT/ATT levels, ETO competence, Able Seafarer CoP).

Obtain flag endorsements when joining foreign-flag vessels (your company/agency helps).

Keep an eye on circulars and notices from authorities and your training provider; requirements do evolve.

a man in overalls studying in he crew mess on a ship

How do you secure your first berth as an Indonesian seaman or woman?

Most Indonesian seafarers sign via licensed crewing agencies that recruit for international owners. Typical steps:

Clear medicals with an approved maritime clinic.
Complete mandatory STCW and any pre-sea modules.
Assemble documents (passport, seaman’s book, certificates).
Pass company screening (Marlins/CES/technical interview; simulator for officer roles).
Visas and flag paperwork processed via your agency.
Join ship—carry originals plus certified copies and digital backups.

Tip: Verify an agency’s licensing and reputation before paying fees or committing. A reputable agency shouldn’t ask you for money. Keep your CV concise and your sea-service letters accurate and consistent.

How long will it take to find a job at sea for Indonesian seafarers?

Timelines vary with berths and course availability, but roughly:

Rating route: Weeks to a few months for pre-sea + BT → join as OS/Wiper/Motorman → upgrade with sea time.

Officer (Deck): Often 2–3+ years including academy terms and cadet sea phases before ANT-III (OIC-NW).

Officer (Engine): Similar timeline before ATT-III (OIC-EW).

ETO: Technical degree/diploma + approved ETO course → trainee sea time → ETO competence.

Expect refresher training every five years for several STCW modules and additional courses as you progress to higher licenses (ANT-II/ATT-II to ANT-I/ATT-I).

What soft skills matter most to Indonesian maritime employers?

Certificates get you onboard; soft skills help you thrive:

Clear English & SMCP for radio/bridge/engine communications.

Teamwork & safety culture - apply BRM/ERRM principles.

Digital comfort - ECDIS updates, PMS entries, email handovers.

Professionalism - punctuality, respect across multicultural crews, steady judgment.

Documentation discipline - impeccable records, tidy TRB, accurate sea-service letters.

a neatly dressed young woman holding a document folder in the waiting area of a manning agency office

A step-by-step Indonesian seafarer jobs checklist

Pick your stream: Deck, Engine, or ETO.
Choose your entry route: Officer (DGST-approved academy) or rating (pre-sea + BT).
Complete STCW Basic Training at an approved center.
Secure a maritime medical from an approved doctor (mind color-vision for deck).
Get your Seafarer’s Book and organize document scans/copies.
Land a cadetship or rating berth via a licensed crewing agency.
Finish sea phases and keep your Training Record Book pristine.
Take mandatory stream courses (ECDIS, Radar/ARPA, BRM/ERRM, PSCRB, AFF, GMDSS, HV).
Sit competency exams (UKP) for your ANT/ATT/ETO certificate.
Add endorsements (tanker, passenger, DP), keep refreshers current, and accumulate sea time toward higher licenses.

The bottom line for pursuing a maritime career in Indonesia

Indonesia’s seafaring pathway is structured, STCW-aligned, and well regarded internationally. Whether you start as a rating or as an officer cadet, your success rests on approved training, documented sea service, clean medicals, and disciplined record-keeping.

Choose a fleet segment early - tankers, bulkers, containers, cruise, offshore support vessels - and pursue the endorsements that match it. Keep certificates valid, store scans safely, and guard your Training Record Book with your life!

Good luck and if you’re looking for your next seafarer job, don’t forget to take a look at Martide’s maritime job vacancies!

a phone with a seafarer jobs app on the screen

Disclaimer: The information above is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing and is provided for informational purposes only as a starting guide. Requirements can change and may vary by authority, flag, company, and vessel type. We highly recommend checking the latest guidance from the *Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST/Ditjen Hubla), your chosen training centers/academies (public* BPSDM Perhubungan and accredited private institutions), and your crewing agency before making decisions.