SERVICES
Port Clearance (SPB) Processing Service
Nautinix handles the Surat Persetujuan Berlayar (SPB), Indonesia’s port clearance, for merchant ships through Inaportnet and for fishing vessels through the harbour master at the fishing port — checking vessel and crew documents first so departures are not delayed.
Understanding Port Clearance (SPB)
Port clearance, known in Indonesia as the SPB (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar), is a state document issued by the harbour master (Syahbandar) to a ship about to leave port, once it meets seaworthiness requirements and its other obligations. Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping requires every sailing ship to hold an SPB, and the SPB becomes invalid if the ship does not depart within 24 hours after clearance is granted. Procedures at general ports follow Minister of Transportation Regulation PM 28 of 2022.
Fishing vessels leaving a fishing port get their SPB from the fishing-port harbour master under the Fisheries Law, and vessels subject to the requirement must first obtain an operational fitness letter (SLO) from fisheries inspectors. Because an SPB is needed for every departure, a single expired vessel or crew document is enough to keep a ship in port.
Documents & Permits Covered
- Checking vessel documents before submission: nationality documents, safety and class certificates and any other certificates the ship must carry
- Checking crew documents: crew list (Sijil), seafarer’s books, certificates of competency (CoC) and seafarers’ employment agreements (PKL)
- Preparing the Master Sailing Declaration, crew list and cargo manifest or passenger list
- Submitting merchant-ship SPB applications through Inaportnet at ports where it is in use
- Submitting fishing-vessel SPB applications to the fishing-port harbour master through Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) service apps such as TemanSPB
- Coordinating the SLO from fisheries inspectors for fishing vessels that require one
Port Clearance (SPB) Requirements
- Valid nationality documents: tonnage certificate (Surat Ukur) and Pas Kecil, Pas Besar or Surat Laut according to the ship’s size
- Safety and other certificates matching the ship’s type, size and trading area, with no missed annual surveys
- A valid classification certificate for ships that must be classed
- Valid crew documents — crew list, seafarer’s books, certificates of competency and PKL — with a crew complement that meets manning rules
- Cargo manifest or passenger list, plus the Master Sailing Declaration
- Proof that the ship’s obligations on the harbour master’s checklist are met, for example paid port charges such as anchorage and berthing
- For fishing vessels: a valid fishing or fish-carrier licence (SIPI/SIKPI), an SLO from fisheries inspectors and, where required, an active vessel monitoring transmitter (SPKP/VMS)
Port Clearance (SPB): Process and Timeline
- You send the departure schedule, destination port and copies of vessel and crew documents by WhatsApp or email
- We check every document for completeness and validity, including surveys that are due, and report our findings before submission
- Missing or expired documents are sorted out first, for example endorsing a PKL or renewing a certificate
- We submit the SPB through the system used at the departure port: Inaportnet for merchant ships or the fishing-port service app for fishing vessels
- We support the harbour master’s document verification and, for fishing vessels, the fisheries inspection for the SLO
- The SPB is issued and the ship departs within the SPB’s validity window
Estimated Time
As an estimate, an SPB can be issued quickly when every vessel and crew document is complete and valid; exact timing depends on service hours and queues at the departure port. Most delays come from documents that must be fixed first, not from the application itself. Send your documents a few days before the planned departure, and remember that an SPB lapses if the ship does not leave within 24 hours of clearance.
What Makes Up the Cost of Port Clearance (SPB)
SPB costs have two separate parts. First, the official port charges — non-tax state revenue (PNBP) where levied for the service, and port tariffs such as anchorage and berthing — which follow official rates and are not set by Nautinix. Second, Nautinix’s fee for checking documents, submitting the application and following it through to issuance. We quote both after reviewing your schedule and documents.
What Affects the Cost
- Type of vessel and departure port: a general port using Inaportnet or a fishing port
- How often the ship departs: clearance per departure or ongoing support for ships that sail frequently
- The state of vessel and crew documents, including anything that must be renewed before submission
- Additional documents needed, such as an SLO for fishing vessels or PKL endorsement
- Urgency and the location of the departure port
Common Problems with Port Clearance (SPB)
- SPB rejected due to invalid vessel or crew documents
- Unfamiliarity with Inaportnet or TemanSPB systems
- Master Sailing Declaration and cargo manifest coordination difficulties
How Nautinix Helps
We handle SPB applications through the appropriate system — Inaportnet for commercial vessels, TemanSPB for fishing vessels at fishing ports — including checking that vessel and crew documents are complete before submission to minimise the risk of rejection.
Why Handle Port Clearance (SPB) with Nautinix?
- We check every vessel and crew document before submission, so problems are caught at our desk rather than during the harbour master’s verification.
- We handle both routes: merchant-ship clearance through Inaportnet and fishing-vessel clearance at fishing ports, including the SLO.
- If a document has expired, we can renew it through our certification, crew document or licensing services — no second provider needed.
- Once the SPB is issued, we record your document expiry dates so the next departure does not stall on the same document.
Port Clearance (SPB) FAQ
What is an SPB and who issues it?
The SPB (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar) is Indonesia’s port clearance, issued by the harbour master to a ship about to leave port once it meets seaworthiness requirements and its other obligations. At general ports it comes from the local port authority office, such as a KSOP or UPP; at fishing ports, from the fishing-port harbour master.
Why was my SPB refused or delayed?
Usually an expired or inconsistent vessel or crew document: a missed annual survey, a Surat Laut or Pas Besar without its annual endorsement, an unendorsed PKL, or a crew complement that does not meet manning rules. Unpaid port charges can also hold up an SPB. That is why we check every document before submission, not after a refusal.
How does SPB processing differ for merchant ships and fishing vessels?
Merchant ships leaving a general port apply to the harbour master under the Ministry of Transportation, at many ports through Inaportnet. Fishing vessels leaving a fishing port apply to the fishing-port harbour master through KKP service apps such as TemanSPB, and must first hold an SLO where required. The document requirements differ too.
How long is an SPB valid?
An SPB covers a specific departure. Under the Shipping Law it becomes invalid if the ship does not leave port within 24 hours after clearance is granted. If the departure slips, for example because of weather or cargo delays, the SPB must be applied for again, so the application should be timed to when the ship is genuinely ready to sail.
Does a fishing vessel need an SLO before the SPB?
Yes, if the vessel is subject to the requirement. The SLO (Surat Laik Operasi) is a letter from fisheries inspectors confirming that a fishing vessel meets the administrative and technical fitness requirements for fishing, and it is a prerequisite for an SPB at a fishing port. Small-scale fishers are exempt under current rules; we can confirm what applies to your vessel.
What happens if a ship sails without an SPB?
Sailing without an SPB is a criminal offence under the Shipping Law: a master who sails without port clearance can face imprisonment and a fine. The Fisheries Law likewise requires every fishing vessel leaving a fishing port to catch or carry fish to hold an SPB. Beyond the penalties, the ship risks detention and schedule disruption, so the SPB is never a mere formality.
What should I prepare before contacting Nautinix?
Send copies of the vessel documents (tonnage certificate, Pas or Surat Laut, safety and class certificates), crew documents (crew list, seafarer’s books, certificates of competency and PKL), the destination port and the departure schedule; for fishing vessels, add the SIPI or SIKPI. We then list what is missing and the fastest route to clearance.
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)
- Minister of Transportation Regulation PM 28 of 2022 on Procedures for Issuing Port Clearance (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar) and Approval of Ship Activities in Ports
- Government Regulation No. 31 of 2021 on the Administration of Shipping
- Law No. 31 of 2004 on Fisheries
- Law No. 45 of 2009 amending Law No. 31 of 2004 on Fisheries
- Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 23 of 2021 on Operational Fitness Standards and the Fishing Vessel Monitoring System
Information is general. Actual document requirements depend on vessel type, GT, operating area, and current regulations.
Related Services
- Safety & Pollution Prevention CertificationProcessing vessel safety certificates (construction, equipment, radio), Load Line Certificate, and pollution prevention certificates compliant with MARPOL.
- 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.
- Commercial Vessel PermitsProcessing SIUPAL (Shipping Company Business License) and shipping business permits via the OSS-RBA system — a primary requirement for any commercial shipping company.
- Document Monitoring & RenewalActive monitoring of all your vessel document validity periods and renewal processing before expiry.
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