Becoming a seafarer in Indonesia as a career change
Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.
Age limits
- The Ministry of Transportation's 2025 school intake (Pola Pembibitan track) accepted applicants only up to age 23.
- Under STCW, a deck or engine watch rating must be at least 16.
Entry through your shore profession
| Your profession on shore | Role at sea | Course | Where and on what terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical or electronics vocational graduate (SMK) | Ship electrical officer | D-III Elektro Pelayaran | The D-III Elektro Pelayaran programme accepts graduates of maritime engineering and of electrical, electronics and mechatronics vocational majors. |
| Electrician | Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) | Approved ETO training (STCW III/6) | Under STCW III/6, an ETO candidate needs at least 12 months of combined workshop skills training and seagoing service, of which at least 6 months at sea. |
| Cook | Ship's cook | Approved ship's cook training | Under the MLC 2006, ship's cooks must be trained, qualified and found competent. No seafarer under 18 may work as a ship's cook. |
Minimum set of documents
- A Basic Safety Training (BST) certificate.
- A health certificate from an approved hospital.
- A Buku Pelaut (seafarer's book).
- Your first contract through a recruitment agency licensed by the Ministry of Transportation.
Costs and timing: official fees only
- The government fee for a Buku Pelaut is Rp 100.000 per book.
- Issuing a Buku Pelaut takes 4 working days.
- Registration and selection fees for the Ministry of Transportation's schools are not refunded for any reason.
- The registration fee at PIP Semarang was Rp 135.000.
How to avoid scams
- Only recruitment agencies licensed by the Ministry of Transportation may recruit and place seafarers.
- The seafarer documents portal publishes the list of licensed crew agencies (SIUKAK) with their status; check an agency there before any payment.
- Under the MLC 2006, recruitment fees must not be charged to seafarers.
- Applicants to the Ministry's schools are disqualified if they use forged identity or documents.
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