Indonesia: More Regulation Changes to Affect Visiting Yachts
A regulation that requires all vessels such as recreational yachts to use a shipping agent for clearance processes into and out of Indonesia is now being enforced according to information received from tourism officials.
Published 2 years ago
- Sunset over Serangan on the east coast of Bali.
Yacht agent, Hellen de Lima, who was recently appointed by the Minister of Tourism as Head of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association, has advised Noonsite that all foreign yachts must now use a ship agency to organize clearance in or out of Indonesia at an official Port of Entry.
“I am sure many sailors will be disappointed with this regulation, so I would like to ask all sailors to kindly give me their opinions, which I will submit to the Directorate of Sea Transportation,” Hellen told Noonsite.
“I need to make it easy for all sailors to visit Indonesia.”
Regulations Now Being Enforced
Raymond Lesmana, who has been advocating for many years on behalf of yachts cruising in Indonesia, said that the “new” regulations have in actual fact been around for years, but not for Non-Commercial Vessels/ Yachts.
“The regulations are now being enforced for yachts,” he said. “This means that the entry costs for visiting yachts will now be more expensive, but I just don’t know how this is going to affect yachts coming to Indonesia at the moment.”
According to Raymond, there are two kinds of agencies in Indonesia which can provide clearance services:
- Those with national coverage
- Those in local ports only
He explains: “Besides these Agencies, someone who is an Organizer, Tour Operator or an Individual can also be acting as an Agent,” he said. “So in general, I don’t see anything different than what is happening at the moment.
“For example, if I want to be an agent for visiting yachts then I must have the License – which is expensive and has to be done as a company. But if I say that I am an Organizer, then I don’t need the License. I think there are many loopholes around Government regulations.
“What needs to be created is a separate category such as an “Agent For Visiting Yachts” and this is not started yet. I wish I could provoke the Government to make a clear difference between a Commercial and Non-Commercial Vessel.
“Then Indonesia can have Tourism Vessel Agent and Commercial Agent and it would be much easier and less expensive. I will do my best for visiting yachts.”
Ayu Saraswati who works with Warwick Alliston in Sorong also confirmed that (the regulation) is not a new regulation saying “if you see on the old regulation (PM 171 Tahun 2015) the content of regulation is the same but they put additional information for the ship guarantor.
“According to that regulation, a ship guarantor can be a ship agent, ship operator and skipper/captain, so the captain can directly be a ship guarantor for their own yacht if they don’t want to use an agent even though check in will easier when using an agent.”
AIS Mandatory
In addition, the regulations also re-confirm that “All Tourist Boats (Yachts) Foreign entering the waters of Indonesia must be equipped with radio communication equipment and an automatic identification system (AIS) in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulation.”
Sailing Approval Letter
The regulation document also refers to a “Sailing Approval Letter” for Foreign Yachts to be issued by the Harbor Master, which seems to be inline with recent reports from cruisers who have been required to have a “Cruising Permit/Port Clearance” when sailing to other Indonesia ports after leaving their Port of Entry. The regulations state:
- Syahbandar (Harbor Master) issues Sailing Approval Letter to foreign yachts.
- Sailing Approval Letter as referred to in paragraph (1) is given to:
- Tourist Boat (Yacht) Foreign departure from the Port / Terminal Entry to the place (0f) tourist destinations in Indonesian waters; and
- Tourist Boats (Yachts) that depart from the Port/Exit Terminal heading to a foreign port.
Have your Say
Any cruisers currently in Indonesia who wish to comment on their experience should contact Hellen de Lima via email: hellen_ambon@yahoo.com
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Related Links:
Minister of Transport Republic of Indonesia – Foreigners in Indonesia Waters
Related to following destinations: Indonesia
The Jokowi Governments VDS system reform was a wonderful breathe of fresh air – The system was administered by Customs (Bea Cukai) who did a very good job. The system was hated by agents and departments like the Port Authorities (KSOP) who saw the opportunity for “fees” evaporate for most small yachts. The back pedalling is terrible for Indonesia the rquirement for sailing approval letters creeping into a requirement (not necessarily lawful) for port to port documentation reverses the whole reality of cruising which is to wander about having entered a country. The behaviour by some agents is appalling where they act as a conduit for non existent “facilitation charges”. I am not criticising the general principle of agencies – they are very useful for large yachts (over 24 meters) with complex needs power bunker professional crews with seamen”s books visas etc – but for say a 12 metre catamaran sailed by the owner they are simply a nuisance. There is no sensible reason for their compulsory employment other than to return to the bad old days. Before engaging an agent don’t do so unless they give you a clearly all up quotation for formalities that includes government charges. Try and talk to other cruisers and get a personal recommendation as to the honesty and costs of an agency. You have to understand what motivates the bad behaviour. Yachts are worth large sums of money that are unobtainable for almost all Indonesians. That a yacht be the retirement dream of a couple down sizing just does not register – the widely but not always held view is that yachters are spoiled rich foreigners there for the fleecing – so beware – get a personal recommendation from a trused source when getting an agent. To all you good agents reading this post I apologise but you know fully well how badly some of your compeitors behave,