SERVICES
Vessel Registration Services: Pas Besar, Surat Laut & Tonnage Certificate
Nautinix handles vessel registration and every nationality document that comes with it — the tonnage certificate (Surat Ukur), Grosse Akta, Pas Kecil, Pas Besar and Surat Laut — from measurement to issuance, so your vessel has a valid legal identity under the Indonesian flag.
Understanding Vessel Registration
Vessel registration is the legal process that gives a ship its official identity as an Indonesian-flagged vessel. The ship is first measured to obtain a tonnage certificate (Surat Ukur), then registered to obtain a Grosse Akta (the registration deed, which also proves ownership), and finally granted a nationality certificate. Under Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping, the type of nationality certificate depends on gross tonnage (GT): Pas Kecil for vessels under GT 7, Pas Besar for GT 7 up to but not including GT 175, and Surat Laut for GT 175 and above.
Nationality documents are the foundation of a vessel’s legal status. Without a tonnage certificate and Grosse Akta, it is difficult to obtain business permits, safety certificates or port clearance (SPB). Nautinix, a ship document consultancy based in Central Jakarta, supports owners from across Indonesia at every step.
Documents & Permits Covered
- Vessel measurement and tonnage certificate — domestic method for vessels under 24 metres in length, international method for 24 metres and above
- Vessel registration and issuance of the Grosse Akta (registration deed)
- Pas Kecil for vessels under GT 7
- Pas Besar for vessels from GT 7 up to, but not including, GT 175
- Surat Laut (sea letter) for vessels of GT 175 and above
- Ownership transfer (balik nama) with updated nationality documents
- Registration of ship mortgages (hipotek) for vessel financing
- Re-measurement after structural modification, and replacement of a lost or damaged Grosse Akta or tonnage certificate
Vessel Registration Requirements
- The vessel is at least GT 7 and owned by an Indonesian citizen or an Indonesian legal entity (registration requirement)
- Proof of ownership: shipbuilding contract, deed of sale or bill of sale, or a handover record
- Owner identity: ID card (KTP) for individuals, or the deed of establishment and legal-entity approval decree for companies
- A valid tonnage certificate as the basis for registration and the Grosse Akta
- Technical data: principal dimensions, hull material, propulsion and vessel drawings where available
- Builder’s certificate from the shipyard for newly built vessels
- For vessels previously under a foreign flag: proof of deletion from the previous registry (deletion certificate)
Document Guides: Vessel Registration
Detailed requirements, steps and time estimates for each document we handle under this service.
- Pas Besar (Large Pass)Get a Pas Besar for ships from GT 7 to under GT 175: requirements, process, annual endorsement and replacement. Nautinix handles it until issued.View document details
- Surat Laut (Sea Letter)Get a Surat Laut for ships of GT 175 and above: requirements, process, annual endorsement, provisional letters and replacement. Handled by Nautinix.View document details
- Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate)Get a Surat Ukur, the Indonesian tonnage certificate, for ships of GT 7 and above: requirements, measurement, re-measurement and replacement.View document details
- Grosse Deed & Ownership TransferRegister a ship, get its grosse deed and transfer ownership after a sale: requirements, SPKE filing, the 3-month deadline and mortgage checks.View document details
- Ship Mortgage (Hipotek)Register a ship mortgage (hipotek) in Indonesia: requirements, steps, transfer and release (roya) under the Shipping Law. Nautinix helps owners and banks.View document details
Vessel Registration: Process and Timeline
- Consultation and audit of ownership documents and vessel data to map the documents required for its GT
- Measurement application and on-site measurement by a government tonnage surveyor (Ahli Ukur Kapal)
- Issuance of the domestic or international tonnage certificate
- Drawing up the registration deed, entry in the Indonesian Ship Register and issuance of the Grosse Akta by the ship registrar
- Issuance of the nationality certificate according to GT: Pas Kecil, Pas Besar or Surat Laut
- Handover of the original documents; key dates are recorded for ongoing monitoring
Estimated Time
Estimate: the registration deed is generally issued about 7 working days after requirements are complete, while measurement depends on the surveyor’s schedule and the vessel’s location. The full sequence to an issued Pas Besar or Surat Laut usually takes a matter of weeks, longer for remote locations, previously foreign-flagged vessels or incomplete ownership documents.
What Makes Up the Cost of Vessel Registration
The cost of vessel registration has two separate components. The first is non-tax state revenue (PNBP) for measurement, registration and issuance of nationality documents, paid to the state treasury at the official Ministry of Transportation rates. The second is the Nautinix service fee for document review, filing, coordination with the surveyor and registrar, and support until issuance. We set out both in our quote once we have reviewed your vessel’s details.
What Affects the Cost
- Vessel size (GT), which determines the nationality documents required
- Measurement method (domestic or international) and where the vessel is located
- How many documents are handled together, for example tonnage certificate, Grosse Akta and Pas Besar in one sequence
- The state of the ownership documents, for example a second-hand vessel, a previously foreign-flagged vessel or a lost Grosse Akta
- Urgency and your target timeline
Common Problems with Vessel Registration
- Vessel not registered, blocking all other document processing
- Lost or damaged Grosse Akta requiring official replacement
- Measurement Certificate needs updating after structural modifications
How Nautinix Helps
We accompany the measurement process, coordinate with Ditjen Hubla Surveyors, issue the Measurement Certificate, register ownership, issue the Grosse Akta, and the Nationality Certificate — until your vessel has a legally valid official identity.
Why Handle Vessel Registration with Nautinix?
- We identify the correct nationality document for your vessel’s GT — Pas Kecil, Pas Besar or Surat Laut — before anything is filed, so the application follows the right track.
- We coordinate the measurement schedule with the government surveyor at your vessel’s location, including vessels still at the shipyard.
- We also handle the harder cases: ownership transfer of second-hand vessels, previously foreign-flagged vessels, mortgage registration and replacement of a lost Grosse Akta.
- Once the documents are issued, our monitoring service can track your vessel’s key dates so the next filing is never late.
Vessel Registration FAQ
What is the difference between Pas Kecil, Pas Besar and Surat Laut?
All three are nationality certificates confirming that a vessel flies the Indonesian flag; the difference is vessel size. Under Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping, a Pas Kecil is issued for vessels under GT 7, a Pas Besar for vessels from GT 7 up to but not including GT 175, and a Surat Laut for vessels of GT 175 and above. Vessels operating only on rivers and lakes receive a river and lake pass.
Which vessels can be registered in Indonesia?
A vessel can be registered if it is at least GT 7 and owned by an Indonesian citizen or an Indonesian legal entity, including a joint venture in which Indonesian citizens hold the majority of shares. It must already have been measured and hold a tonnage certificate. A vessel still registered in another country can only be registered after it has been deleted from that registry.
How long do the tonnage certificate, Grosse Akta and Pas Besar take?
As an estimate, the registration deed is generally issued in about 7 working days once requirements are complete. Measurement is the most variable stage because it depends on the surveyor’s schedule and the vessel’s location. For a vessel with complete documents, the sequence from measurement to an issued Pas Besar or Surat Laut usually takes a matter of weeks.
My vessel’s Grosse Akta is lost. Can it be reissued?
Yes. A replacement for a lost or damaged Grosse Akta is requested from the ship registrar at the port where the vessel is registered. Because the Grosse Akta is proof of ownership, the process calls for stricter evidence, usually including a loss report and a court order. We help prepare the file and support you through every stage until the replacement deed is issued.
I bought a second-hand vessel. How do I transfer ownership?
Ownership transfer (balik nama) is done by recording the change of ownership with the ship registrar on the basis of the deed of sale, after which a Grosse Akta is issued in the new owner’s name. The vessel’s nationality documents then need to be updated with the new owner’s details. Before the purchase, it is wise to check the vessel’s status, including whether a mortgage is still registered against it.
Can Nautinix handle vessels located outside Jakarta?
Yes. Our office is in Central Jakarta, but we support owners at ports throughout Indonesia. Measurement is carried out by the surveyor wherever the vessel is, and registration is filed at the chosen port of registry. Document coordination can usually be handled over WhatsApp and email, so you do not need to visit our office.
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
- Minister of Transportation Regulation PM 39 of 2017 on Ship Registration and Nationality
- Minister of Transportation Regulation PM 45 of 2021 on Ship Measurement
- International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (TMS 1969, IMO)
Information is general. Actual document requirements depend on vessel type, GT, operating area, and current regulations.
Related Services
- 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.
- Fishing Vessel PermitsProcessing SIUP, SIPI, SIKPI, E-BKP, SKKP and SLO — the mandatory operating documents for fishing and fish carrier vessels under KKP jurisdiction.
- Safety & Pollution Prevention CertificationProcessing vessel safety certificates (construction, equipment, radio), Load Line Certificate, and pollution prevention certificates compliant with MARPOL.
- Document Monitoring & RenewalActive monitoring of all your vessel document validity periods and renewal processing before expiry.
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