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Cruise ship and foreign ship jobs from Indonesia: requirements, papers, costs and safety

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

To work on a cruise ship you need to be 18+, hold a Seafarer Book, STCW certificates, a sea employment agreement and a licensed manning agency.

Summary

  • Ship crew and fishing crew count as Indonesian migrant workers under Law 18/2017 Article 4.
  • Manning agencies placing merchant crew abroad must hold a SIP3MI from the Minister, under Government Regulation 22/2022 Article 8.
  • The Buku Pelaut is a seafarer identity book from the Ministry of Transportation and does not replace a passport.
  • Under MLC 2006, recruitment fees may not be borne by seafarers, except the medical certificate, seafarer's book and passport; visa costs are borne by the shipowner.
  • Seafarer competency (COC) and proficiency (COP) certificates can be verified on the Transportation Ministry's Directorate of Shipping and Seafarers portal.
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On this page
  1. Who may place seafarers on foreign ships?
  2. What do Indonesians need to work on a cruise ship, and is there an age limit?
  3. Which documents do migrant seafarers need?
  4. What is a sea employment agreement (PKL)?
  5. Which STCW certificates do seafarers need?
  6. Which costs may be charged to seafarers?
  7. How can you check a cruise ship vacancy?
  8. How can you check a manning agency and certificates?
  9. Where can you learn more about the seafarer career?
  10. Where can you get help if there is a problem on board?

Who may place seafarers on foreign ships?

Government Regulation 22/2022 names the placement executors for migrant merchant and fishing crew as BP2MI (now KP2MI/BP2MI), licensed P3MI agencies, and companies placing crew for their own business; crew may also work individually (Article 3). A P3MI placing merchant crew must hold a SIP3MI (Article 8) and an agency agreement with the employer or principal endorsed by the Indonesian mission (Article 10). Manning agencies that held a SIUPPAK from the Transportation Ministry had to convert to a SIP3MI within two years of the regulation's promulgation on 8 June 2022 (Article 43).

What do Indonesians need to work on a cruise ship, and is there an age limit?

Under Government Regulation 22/2022 Article 15, prospective migrant merchant crew must be at least 18, have the competence or education the employer or principal sets for the position, be physically and mentally healthy, be registered for social security and have complete documents. They then register with the district or city labour office or an LTSA PMI, online or in person (Article 16). The regulation sets a minimum age, while the competence or education for each position is set by the employer or principal, so check the study and age requirements in the official vacancy.

Which documents do migrant seafarers need?

For individual seafarers, Government Regulation 22/2022 Article 4 requires the departure plan to be reported to the district or city labour office or an LTSA PMI with a passport, Buku Pelaut, sea employment agreement (PKL), proof of social security, a health certificate from medical and psychological checks, a work visa, a seafarer identity document, and competency, seafarer competency and/or proficiency certificates. Arrival abroad is reported to the Indonesian mission through Portal Peduli WNI.

What is a sea employment agreement (PKL)?

A PKL is an individual employment agreement between the crew member and the party acting for the employer or principal, setting out both sides' rights and duties, and endorsed by the harbourmaster (syahbandar) (Government Regulation 22/2022 Article 1(8)). Migrant merchant crew must sign a PKL before working, and it must at least identify the crew member, the employer or principal, the P3MI and the vessel (Article 17). Do not depart without a PKL you have read and understood.

Which STCW certificates do seafarers need?

International training, certification and watchkeeping standards for seafarers follow the STCW Convention. The Transportation Ministry says that from 1 January 2017, competency (COC) and proficiency (COP) certificates not updated to the STCW Manila 2010 amendments are not valid. In the ministry's 2017 seafarer vocational training, for example, participants received Basic Safety Training (BST), Security Awareness Training and Advanced Fire Fighting certificates plus a Buku Pelaut. Certificates can be verified on the Directorate of Shipping and Seafarers portal.

Which costs may be charged to seafarers?

Law 18/2017 Article 30(1) says Indonesian migrant workers, including seafarers, may not be charged placement costs. Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025 makes the employer bear placement cost components, and workers may only be charged costs written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. For seafarers, MLC 2006, ratified by Indonesia through Law 15/2016, adds that recruitment and placement fees may not be borne by the seafarer except the mandatory medical certificate, seafarer's book and passport, while visa costs are borne by the shipowner. Any request for money beyond that, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.

How can you check a cruise ship vacancy?

For cruise ship vacancies, look up the manning agency on the SISKOP2MI list of P3MI agencies and make sure it is active and not on the administrative sanctions list. Ask for a PKL endorsed by the harbourmaster before departure. Be wary of offers asking for money for uniforms, training or a 'guarantee' outside official documents; this scam is covered on the fake cruise ship jobs page under Related guides.

How can you check a manning agency and certificates?

Search for the company on the SISKOP2MI list of P3MI agencies and make sure it is active. KP2MI also has a page listing SIUPPAK holders. For certificates, use the verification menu on the Transportation Ministry's seafarer portal, which also lists training providers and maritime schools. Do not hand your original passport or Buku Pelaut to a recruiter before you have a PKL.

Checklist before you board

  • The manning agency is listed as an active P3MI on SISKOP2MI.
  • You have read and signed a PKL endorsed by the harbourmaster.
  • Your Buku Pelaut, passport and COC or COP certificates are genuine and verified on the ministry's seafarer portal.
  • You are registered for social security.
  • Nobody asks for money beyond the medical certificate, seafarer's book and passport.
  • If you travel individually, your departure plan has been reported to the labour office or an LTSA PMI.

Where can you learn more about the seafarer career?

Duties, career steps, the seafarer's book (Buku Pelaut) and the certificates seafarers need are explained on the seafarer career page. Cruise job offers that ask for money outside the rules are covered on the cruise ship job scams page.

Where can you get help if there is a problem on board?

If you have problems during your placement, contact KP2MI and the Foreign Ministry's Peduli WNI service. Keep copies of your PKL, Buku Pelaut, passport and any payment records, because you will need them for a complaint.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Buku Pelaut, and can it replace a passport?

No. Government Regulation 22/2022 Article 1(6) says the Buku Pelaut is a seafarer identity book issued by the transport ministry, not a travel document, and it cannot replace a passport.

Can I work on a foreign ship without a manning agency?

Yes. Government Regulation 22/2022 Article 3 allows crew to work individually, provided they report their departure plan to the district or city labour office or an LTSA PMI one-stop service, and report arrival to the Indonesian mission through Portal Peduli WNI (Article 4).

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 22 Tahun 2022 tentang Penempatan dan Pelindungan Awak Kapal Niaga Migran dan Awak Kapal Perikanan Migran Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 22/2022 · accessed
  2. Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
  3. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed
  4. Undang-Undang Nomor 15 Tahun 2016 tentang Pengesahan Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 15/2016 · accessed
  5. C1.4.g. Can recruitment and placement services charge seafarers fees? (ILO MLC, 2006 FAQ) International Labour Organization · accessed
  6. 2017, Seluruh Pelaut Wajib Berstandar STCW Amandemen Manila 2010 (Kemenhub) Kementerian Perhubungan RI · accessed
  7. Kemenhub Adakan Diklat Vokasi Pelaut Bagi 1000 Orang di Maluku Kementerian Perhubungan RI · accessed
  8. Direktorat Perkapalan dan Kepelautan: verifikasi sertifikat pelaut Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Laut, Kementerian Perhubungan · accessed
  9. SISKOP2MI: Profil Lembaga P3MI, detail dan daftar sanksi administratif KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI) · accessed
  10. Perusahaan Pemegang Surat Izin Usaha Perekrutan dan Penempatan Awak Kapal (SIUPPAK) (KP2MI) Kementerian P2MI/BP2MI · accessed
  11. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 2 Tahun 2026 tentang Tata Cara Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia oleh Pelaksana Penempatan Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 2/2026 · accessed
  12. Portal Peduli WNI: pelayanan dan pelindungan WNI di luar negeri Kementerian Luar Negeri RI · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Cruise ship and foreign ship jobs from Indonesia: requirements, papers, costs and safety. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/seafarers-and-cruise-ships/

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