Vessel Registration & Nationality Documents
Ship Mortgage (Hipotek) Registration Services
Nautinix helps ship owners, banks and finance companies with Indonesian ship mortgages: status checks in the master register, filing with the ship registrar, transfers, and release (roya) after repayment.
Understanding Ship Mortgage (Hipotek)
A ship mortgage (hipotek kapal) is a security right over a ship entered in the Indonesian Ship Register, used to secure repayment of a debt under Article 60 of Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping. It is created by a mortgage deed drawn up by the ship registrar (Pejabat Pendaftar dan Pencatat Balik Nama Kapal) at the port of registry and recorded in the master register. Each deed produces one Grosse Akta Hipotek for the mortgagee, which has the same enforceability as a final and binding court judgment. A ship may carry more than one mortgage, ranked by the date and serial number of each deed.
Last reviewed: Prepared by Nautinix
Who Needs Ship Mortgage (Hipotek)?
- Owners of registered ships of GT 7 and above pledging them for a loan or refinancing.
- Banks and finance companies funding the purchase or construction of a ship that need officially recorded security.
- Buyers of loan-financed second-hand ships, where the transfer and the mortgage must follow the right order.
- Lenders assigning their receivable who need the mortgage transfer recorded.
- Owners who have repaid their loan and need a release (roya), for example before a sale or refinancing.
- Buyers or investors confirming a ship is unmortgaged before a deal.
Ship Mortgage (Hipotek) Requirements
- Original registration deed (Grosse Akta Pendaftaran) or ownership transfer deed (Grosse Akta Balik Nama) in the name of the current owner
- The loan agreement secured by the ship mortgage
- Identity of the owner (mortgagor) and the mortgagee: ID card for individuals; articles of association, amendments and approval decree for companies
- A notarial power of attorney from the owner if the mortgagee files alone on the owner’s behalf (PM 39 of 2017, Article 29), and powers of attorney for any representatives
- Corporate approval where the owner’s articles of association require it for pledging assets
- Copies of the tonnage certificate (Surat Ukur) and nationality document to match the ship’s particulars
- For a transfer: the new mortgagee’s application with the original assignment evidence, Grosse Akta Hipotek and registration deed. For a release: the mortgagee’s application, or the mortgagor’s with the mortgagee’s written consent, plus the original Grosse Akta Hipotek and registration deed; or a District Court order or final judgment
Ship Mortgage (Hipotek): Step by Step
- Initial consultation and status check: the owner named in the deed, the port of registry, and any mortgage or arrest already recorded.
- Coordination with the lender on the secured amount, ranking and draft loan agreement so the ship details match the deed.
- Preparation of the file and power of attorney, then submission to the ship registrar at the port of registry.
- Completeness review by the registry; if anything is missing, the file is completed and resubmitted.
- Signing of the mortgage deed by the owner and the mortgagee, or their attorneys, before the registrar, and payment of the state fee (PNBP).
- Recording of the mortgage in the master register on the same date as signing, and delivery of the Grosse Akta Hipotek to the mortgagee together with the registration or transfer deed.
- Once the loan is repaid, filing for release (roya) so the mortgage is struck from the master register and the ship is free of it.
Processing Time for Ship Mortgage (Hipotek)
Estimate: when the registration deed is in the current owner’s name and the loan agreement is final, creating the mortgage is relatively quick once the file is complete. Overall time depends more on earlier steps: a pending ownership transfer, reconciling ship particulars, lender approvals and scheduling the signing. A release is usually simpler once the lender’s release application or written consent is ready.
Ship Mortgage (Hipotek) Costs: PNBP and Service Fees
There are two separate costs. First, the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) for the mortgage deed, transfer or release, paid to the state treasury at official government rates. Second, the Nautinix service fee for the status check, file preparation, coordination and support at signing, which depends on the number of ships, the port of registry, the state of the documents and your deadline. We quote after reviewing the documents.
Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected or Delayed
- The ship is not in the Indonesian Ship Register (for example under GT 7 or not yet registered), so it cannot be mortgaged.
- The registration deed is still in the previous owner’s name because the ownership transfer has not been done.
- The ship or owner details in the loan agreement differ from the registration deed and Surat Ukur.
- The application was not filed with the registrar at the ship’s port of registry.
- Signing authority is incomplete, for example an inadequate power of attorney or missing corporate approval.
- For a release: the basis for deletion is incomplete, for example the owner applies without the mortgagee’s written consent and there is no court order or judgment.
Ship Mortgage (Hipotek): Frequently Asked Questions
Which ships can be mortgaged?
Only ships entered in the Indonesian Ship Register, meaning ships that already hold a registration deed (Grosse Akta Pendaftaran). Because registration applies to ships of at least GT 7, smaller vessels cannot carry a ship mortgage and are usually financed with other forms of security. A ship whose registration is still in progress must complete it first.
Who draws up the mortgage deed? Is a notary needed?
The ship mortgage deed is drawn up by the ship registrar at the port of registry, not by a notary, and recorded in the master register. The underlying loan agreement is separate and may be notarised. The mortgage deed is signed by the owner, the mortgagee and the competent registry officials. A notary is still needed for the owner’s power of attorney if the mortgagee files alone on the owner’s behalf.
What does the Grosse Akta Hipotek do for the lender?
The Grosse Akta Hipotek is given to the mortgagee as evidence that the ship is mortgaged. Under Law No. 17 of 2008 it has the same enforceability as a final and binding court judgment, which allows the lender to enforce the security if the borrower defaults. If it is lost, a replacement can be issued on the basis of a court order.
Can one ship carry more than one mortgage?
Yes. Law No. 17 of 2008 allows a ship to carry more than one mortgage, for example to secure several credit facilities. Each mortgage ranks according to the date and serial number of its deed, so the one recorded first has priority. Lenders therefore check the master register before approving new financing.
How is a mortgage released once the loan is repaid?
Under Law No. 17 of 2008 and PM 39 of 2017, the registrar deletes a mortgage (roya) on application by the mortgagee, on application by the mortgagor enclosing the mortgagee’s written consent, or on the basis of a court order or judgment. The original mortgage and registration deeds are enclosed. Once recorded in the master register, the ship is free of that mortgage and the deeds return to the owner.
Can a mortgaged ship be transferred to a new owner?
Under PM 39 of 2017 an ownership transfer deed can only be made if the master register shows the ship free of mortgages and arrest. Selling a mortgaged ship is therefore usually done by repaying the loan and releasing the mortgage first. We check the status and plan the sequence.
The information on this page is general and educational. Requirements, procedures and processing times can differ by vessel type, GT, operating area, issuing office and current regulations. Nautinix is an independent ship document service company and does not replace the authority of the relevant government agencies.
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