How to become a seafarer in Indonesia after school
Official rules for school students and school leavers. Check every requirement with the maritime authority before you apply or pay.
Officer: maritime academy or college
- Deck officer programmes (D-IV Nautika) at the Ministry of Transportation's maritime polytechnics accept science-stream senior high school graduates or graduates of an approved maritime vocational school (SMK Pelayaran, Nautika).
- Marine engineering programmes (D-III Permesinan Kapal) accept science-stream senior high school graduates and graduates of approved maritime or ship engineering vocational schools.
- In the 2025 intake of the Ministry of Transportation's schools (Pola Pembibitan track), applicants had to be 16 to 23 years old on 1 September 2025.
- The minimum height was 160 cm for men and 155 cm for women.
- Applicants needed normal eyesight and no partial or total colour blindness.
- Applicants had to be unmarried and stay unmarried during selection and study.
Rating: rating course
- Under STCW II/4, a deck watch rating must be at least 16.
- A watch rating can qualify through special pre-sea or on-board training that includes at least 2 months of approved seagoing service.
Exams and certification
- Selection for the Ministry of Transportation's schools includes an administrative check and a basic competency test (SKD).
- Later stages include a health test, a psychological test, a physical fitness test and an interview.
Documents in order
- Complete Basic Safety Training (BST) first; the certificate is required for the Buku Pelaut.
- Get a health certificate from an approved hospital.
- Get a police certificate (SKCK).
- Prepare your identity card (KTP) and birth certificate.
- Submit the online application for the Buku Pelaut.
Cadet training at sea
- Cadets going to sea practice get a Buku Pelaut with a referral letter from their school.
- Under STCW II/1, an officer of the navigational watch must complete at least 12 months of approved seagoing service as part of an approved training programme.
- Under STCW III/1, an engineer officer of the watch needs at least 12 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service.
Approved training institutions
Only institutions from the official list of the maritime authority. The list changes: check that the institution is still approved before you pay.
State maritime polytechnics of the Ministry of Transportation listed in the official 2025/2026 admission announcement (Pola Pembibitan track), with the seafaring programmes offered in that intake. This is not a full list of approved maritime training institutions: the official Ditjen Hubla list was not reachable for verification.
Jawa Tengah
- Politeknik Ilmu Pelayaran (PIP) Semarang, SemarangCourses: D-IV Nautika
Sulawesi Selatan
- Politeknik Ilmu Pelayaran (PIP) Makassar, MakassarCourses: D-IV Nautika
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Barombong, BarombongCourses: D-III Permesinan Kapal
Jawa Timur
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Surabaya, SurabayaCourses: D-III Elektro Pelayaran
Aceh
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Malahayati Aceh, AcehCourses: D-III Sistem Kelistrikan Kapal
Banten
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Banten, BantenCourses: D-III Permesinan Kapal
Papua Barat Daya
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Sorong, SorongCourses: D-III Permesinan Kapal
Sulawesi Utara
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Sulawesi Utara, Sulawesi UtaraCourses: D-III Studi Nautika
Sumatera Barat
- Politeknik Pelayaran (POLTEKPEL) Sumatera Barat, Sumatera BaratCourses: D-III Studi Nautika
First job: starter vacancies
Live vacancies on Krew Guru for starter positions. Vacancies without any sea experience are rare, so we do not promise a job without it.
No open starter vacancies right now. Upload your CV and we will send you matching vacancies.
Krew Guru numbers
89% of open vacancies on Krew Guru accept citizens of Indonesia.
Seafarer profiles from Indonesia on Krew Guru: 10,000+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Directorate General of Sea Transportation (Ditjen Perhubungan Laut), Ministry of Transportation