Vessel Registration & Nationality Documents
Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate) Processing Services
Nautinix helps shipowners and shipyards obtain the Surat Ukur, from checking the ship’s particulars and ownership papers and scheduling the government measurement surveyor (Ahli Ukur Kapal) at the ship’s location to issuing a certificate ready for registration.
Understanding Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate)
The Surat Ukur is Indonesia’s tonnage certificate: the official record of a ship’s measurement, stating its main dimensions, gross tonnage (GT) and net tonnage (NT). Under Article 155 of Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping, every ship must be measured by an official authorised by the Minister before it operates, and a Surat Ukur is issued for ships of at least GT 7. The domestic method applies to ships under 24 metres long, the international method to ships of 24 metres or more, and a special method to ships transiting certain canals. The certificate is the basis for registration and the grosse deed.
Last reviewed: Prepared by Nautinix
Who Needs Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate)?
- Owners of newly built ships of GT 7 or more that will be registered and operated, including ships still at the yard once the hull, main deck and all superstructure are complete.
- Owners of ships that have been modified, for example lengthened or given extra superstructure, so the certificate data has changed and re-measurement is required, and owners of renamed ships.
- Buyers of formerly foreign-flagged ships that will be registered in Indonesia.
- Owners whose Surat Ukur has been lost or damaged.
- Owners of fishing vessels, passenger ships, tugs, barges or tourist boats who need an official GT figure for other documents and licences.
Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate) Requirements
- Measurement application from the owner, or a power of attorney if filed by a representative
- Proof of ownership: shipbuilding contract, deed of sale or bill of sale, or protocol of delivery
- Owner identity: ID card for individuals, or deed of establishment and legal-entity approval for companies
- Technical data and drawings where available, such as the general arrangement plan
- Builder’s certificate for newly built ships
- For re-measurement: the old Surat Ukur and details of the modification
- For formerly foreign-flagged ships: the TMS 1969 measurement data (tonnage computation or certificate) from the previous flag state, plus the deletion certificate needed both to approve that data and for registration
- For a replacement: a police loss report, or the damaged certificate
Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate): Step by Step
- Consultation and an initial review of the ship’s particulars to set the method: domestic for ships under 24 metres, international for 24 metres or more.
- Audit of ownership papers and owner identity so the ship’s name and owner details are consistent from the start, as they carry over to the grosse deed and nationality certificate.
- Filing the measurement application with the Directorate General of Sea Transportation’s local office for the ship’s location, such as the KSOP or UPP, and scheduling the surveyor’s visit.
- Physical measurement by the surveyor at the yard, quay or wherever the ship lies; we coordinate the ship’s readiness and access to all spaces with the owner.
- Calculation of GT and NT, then issuance of a domestic or international Surat Ukur once the PNBP (non-tax state revenue) is settled.
- The owner fits the tonnage mark (Tanda Selar) on the ship, as required by Article 156 of the Shipping Law and PM 45 of 2021.
- Handover of the original certificate, followed by registration (grosse deed) and the nationality certificate if needed.
Processing Time for Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate)
Estimate: the deciding factors are the surveyor’s schedule and the ship’s location. For an accessible ship with complete papers, the Surat Ukur can be issued fairly quickly after measurement. Remote locations, the international method or formerly foreign-flagged ships usually take longer. Together with the grosse deed and a Pas Besar or Surat Laut, the whole sequence usually takes a matter of weeks.
Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate) Costs: PNBP and Service Fees
The cost has two separate components. The first is the PNBP (non-tax state revenue) for measurement and issuing the Surat Ukur, paid to the state treasury at the official rates for Ministry of Transportation services. The second is the Nautinix service fee for the document audit, filing, scheduling with the surveyor and support until issuance. The fee depends on the measurement method, the ship’s size and complexity, where it lies, how complete the ownership papers are and your timeline. We quote both after reviewing the ship’s data.
Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected or Delayed
- Ownership papers are incomplete, or the owner’s name differs across the building contract, deed of sale and applicant ID.
- The ship is not ready when the surveyor arrives, for example enclosed spaces cannot be accessed or the ship is at sea.
- Drawings or technical data do not match the ship as built, so they must be rechecked.
- The ship has been modified but the change was never reported and the old certificate is still in use, although Article 157 requires prompt re-measurement.
- A formerly foreign-flagged ship has no deletion certificate from its previous flag state, so registration cannot proceed.
Surat Ukur (Tonnage Certificate): Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a domestic and an international Surat Ukur?
The difference is the measurement method, which depends on the ship’s length. Article 155 of Law No. 17 of 2008 applies domestic measurement to ships under 24 metres and international measurement to ships of 24 metres or more. The international method follows the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships 1969 (TMS 1969), so the result is recognised in foreign ports.
Is gross tonnage the same as the ship’s weight?
No. Gross tonnage (GT) is calculated from the volume of all enclosed spaces of the ship, not from its weight. Net tonnage (NT) reflects the space available for cargo. GT matters because it decides whether a ship can be registered, which nationality certificate it receives, and many other obligations and service rates tied to ship size.
Do ships below GT 7 need a Surat Ukur?
Every ship must be measured before it operates, but a Surat Ukur is only issued for ships of at least GT 7. Ships below GT 7 are not registered with a grosse deed and receive a Pas Kecil as their nationality certificate. Because the GT 7 threshold decides the document route, it is worth confirming the measured tonnage before applying for anything else.
Does a Surat Ukur need to be renewed?
A Surat Ukur is not renewed periodically. Under PM 45 of 2021 it stays valid as long as the ship’s dimensions, tonnage and name are unchanged, so a renamed ship also needs a new one. If a modification changes that data, Article 157 of the Shipping Law requires the owner, operator or master to report it in writing to the Minister promptly, and the ship must be re-measured without delay to obtain a new certificate.
What is the Tanda Selar?
The Tanda Selar is a mark fitted on the ship’s structure showing its gross tonnage, Surat Ukur number and the measurement code of the issuing port, for example "GT 123 No 45/Ba". Article 156 of the Shipping Law requires it on every ship that has been measured and issued a Surat Ukur, and it must stay properly fixed and legible. A missing or incorrect mark can be raised as a finding during a ship inspection.
Can Nautinix handle a Surat Ukur for ships outside Jakarta?
Yes. The surveyor measures the ship where it lies, so we coordinate the application, the schedule and the ship’s readiness at the local port or yard. Our office is in Central Jakarta, and documents are usually exchanged via WhatsApp and email.
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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