SERVICES
SIUPAL Services: Sea Transport Company Business License
Nautinix handles SIUPAL — the mandatory business license for sea transport companies in Indonesia — through the OSS-RBA system, from checking your company’s legal documents and meeting vessel and personnel requirements to issuance and ongoing reporting.
Understanding SIUPAL
SIUPAL (Surat Izin Usaha Perusahaan Angkutan Laut) is the business license a company must hold to operate sea transport in Indonesia, meaning the carriage of passengers and/or cargo by ship, domestically or internationally. The obligation comes from Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping and Government Regulation No. 31 of 2021, and applications are now filed through the risk-based business licensing system (OSS-RBA). SIUPAL remains valid for as long as the company continues its business, subject to periodic reporting.
SIUPAL is different from SIUPKK, the ship agency license, and from a stevedoring (PBM) license. Domestic sea transport is subject to the cabotage principle: vessels must fly the Indonesian flag and be crewed by Indonesian nationals. Nautinix, based in Central Jakarta, supports shipping companies from across Indonesia.
Documents & Permits Covered
- Company legality review: deed, legal-entity approval decree, NIB and sea transport business classification (KBLI)
- SIUPAL application via OSS-RBA and follow-up until the requirements are verified
- Meeting the requirement for a seaworthy Indonesian-flagged vessel, including vessel registration if documents are incomplete
- Meeting the maritime commerce personnel requirement
- Updating license data when the company or fleet changes
- Support with periodic business activity reporting
- Documents for tourist vessels operated commercially
SIUPAL Requirements
- An Indonesian legal entity (usually a PT) with a deed of establishment and approval decree
- An active NIB with the sea transport KBLI that matches your planned activity
- At least one seaworthy Indonesian-flagged vessel, evidenced by its Grosse Akta, tonnage certificate, nationality document and valid safety certificates
- Qualified maritime commerce personnel (nautical, engineering or management) as required
- Details of the company’s directors and responsible officers
- Capital and other requirements under the current business licensing rules
Document Guides: SIUPAL
Detailed requirements, steps and time estimates for each document we handle under this service.
SIUPAL: Process and Timeline
- Consultation and review of company legality, KBLI, and vessel and personnel readiness
- Preparing and correcting documents, including any incomplete vessel documents
- Filing the SIUPAL application via OSS-RBA
- Verification by the competent transport authority (usually the Directorate General of Sea Transportation) and follow-up on any corrections
- SIUPAL issued; reporting and data-update dates are recorded for monitoring
Estimated Time
Estimate: generally a few weeks once all requirements are complete, depending on verification in OSS-RBA and by the competent transport authority, usually the Directorate General of Sea Transportation. Preparation is often the longest stage — for example completing vessel documents or securing qualified personnel — so a thorough initial review helps speed up the whole process.
What Makes Up the Cost of SIUPAL
The cost of obtaining a SIUPAL should be split between official state charges — where they apply, at the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) rates set by regulation — and the Nautinix service fee for the legality review, document preparation, OSS-RBA filing and verification support. For many companies, most of the work lies in meeting the supporting requirements, such as vessel documents and personnel. We give a detailed quote once we have reviewed your company’s position.
What Affects the Cost
- Readiness of company documents: deed, approval decree, NIB and KBLI
- Completeness of the vessel documents required, including vessels not yet registered or needing an ownership transfer
- Meeting the maritime commerce personnel requirement
- Investment status (domestic PMDN or foreign PMA) and any company data changes needed
- Urgency and target timeline
Common Problems with SIUPAL
- Complex capital and document requirements for SIUPAL
- Periodic SIUPAL reporting and ongoing licence requirements missed because nobody is tracking them
- Unfamiliarity with the frequently changing OSS-RBA process
How Nautinix Helps
We help prepare all SIUPAL requirements — from NIB, company documents, to capital and expert personnel requirements — then process the application through OSS-RBA until the license is issued.
Why Handle SIUPAL with Nautinix?
- We check company, vessel and personnel readiness together before filing, so the OSS-RBA application is not repeatedly sent back.
- If your vessel is not yet registered or its documents are incomplete, we can handle vessel registration under the same coordination.
- We confirm that SIUPAL is the license you actually need — rather than a people’s shipping, ship agency (SIUPKK) or stevedoring license — so you file on the right track.
- After issuance, we track reporting and data-update obligations so your SIUPAL stays active and clear of sanctions.
SIUPAL FAQ
What is SIUPAL and who needs one?
SIUPAL is the sea transport company business license, required for any business entity that carries passengers and/or cargo by ship, domestically or internationally. Shipping companies that operate commercial vessels must hold one. Supporting activities such as ship agency or stevedoring require their own separate business licenses.
What is the difference between SIUPAL and SIUPKK?
SIUPAL is the sea transport business license for companies that operate vessels to carry cargo or passengers. SIUPKK is the ship agency business license, for service companies that look after the interests of shipping companies’ vessels, including foreign vessels, while they are in Indonesia. Cargo handling is not part of SIUPKK; stevedoring requires a separate PBM business license.
What are the main requirements for SIUPAL?
The core requirements are an Indonesian legal entity with an NIB and a sea transport KBLI, ownership of at least one seaworthy Indonesian-flagged vessel, and qualified maritime commerce personnel. Details can vary with the type of business and investment status, so we check them first before the application is filed through OSS-RBA.
How long is a SIUPAL valid?
A SIUPAL remains valid for as long as the company continues its business. Even so, the company must meet its reporting obligations and update its data when something changes, such as directors, address or fleet. Neglected obligations can lead to administrative sanctions, so we help you keep track of deadlines and paperwork after issuance.
What is the cabotage principle and how does it affect SIUPAL?
Under Law No. 17 of 2008, the cabotage principle requires domestic sea transport to be carried out by national shipping companies using Indonesian-flagged vessels crewed by Indonesian nationals. A SIUPAL for domestic transport can therefore only be put to use once the company’s fleet is registered as Indonesian vessels with valid nationality documents.
Does people’s shipping (pelayaran rakyat) need a SIUPAL?
No. People’s shipping has its own business license, which can be held by individual Indonesian citizens as well as business entities, while SIUPAL is for sea transport companies. The vessel and operating-area rules differ between the two, so the right license should be decided from your fleet and business plan before applying.
How long does the SIUPAL process take?
As an estimate, a SIUPAL is generally issued within a few weeks once all requirements are complete, depending on verification in OSS-RBA and by the competent transport authority, usually the Directorate General of Sea Transportation. The least predictable part is usually preparation, for example when vessel documents or personnel are not ready, which is why we start with a thorough completeness check.
Legal Basis
The main regulations this service refers to. Check the official legal databases (JDIH) for the latest amendments.
- Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping (as last amended by Law No. 66 of 2024)
- Government Regulation No. 31 of 2021 on the Implementation of the Shipping Sector
- Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 on Risk-Based Business Licensing (replacing Government Regulation No. 5 of 2021)
- Minister of Transportation Regulation PM 93 of 2013 on the Organisation and Operation of Sea Transport (amended by PM 74 of 2016 and PM 23 of 2022)
Information is general. Actual document requirements depend on vessel type, GT, operating area, and current regulations.
Related Services
- Vessel Registration & Nationality DocumentsVessel measurement and Surat Ukur (tonnage certificate), registration and Grosse Akta, ownership transfer (balik nama), and the nationality document — Pas Kecil, Pas Besar or Surat Laut depending on GT — that establish your vessel’s legal identity.
- Safety & Pollution Prevention CertificationProcessing vessel safety certificates (construction, equipment, radio), Load Line Certificate, and pollution prevention certificates compliant with MARPOL.
- SPB & Departure DocumentsProcessing Surat Persetujuan Berlayar (SPB/Port Clearance) via the Inaportnet system for commercial vessels and TemanSPB for fishing vessels — required each time a vessel departs.
- Crew Document ManagementProcessing seafarer documents for commercial and fishing vessel crew — Seafarer’s Book, Certificate of Competency (CoC), Certificate of Proficiency (CoP), employment agreement (PKL), crew list and medical certificate.
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