Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world consisting of 17,508 islands and covering a land area of 1,9 sq.km as well as the waters area of 7,9 sq. km. The population of Indonesia amounts to 200 million people, 93% of which occupying 5 main lands, namely 60% in Java 20% in Sumatra, 7% in Sulawesi, 5% in Kalimantan, 1% in Irian Jaya. Geographically Indonesia lies in a strategic position, at the cross-road shipping routes from East to West and from North to South.

　

Consequently sea transportation plays vital roles in the nation-wide development. It serves as a means of transport both for mobility of people and cargo and of connecting among islands, as a means to promote regional economic life, as a means to support other sectors, to increase and equalize people prosperity, to increase national product competitiveness, and to strengthen national integration and unity.

　

　

　

Indonesian sea transportation is a system consisting of three sub-systems. Shipping includes merchant shipping operation and development including domestic shipping, international shipping, special shipping, shipping supporting business, and national merchant fleet development. Ports includes port planning, design, development and operation. Maritime Safety includes the operation and development of marine safety and seafarers, navigation, pilotage and tugging, dredging of access channel and port basin, salvage and under water works, assistance on Search and rescue and response on sea pollution, and law enforcement in port areas and at sea.

　

　

In 1999 there were 1,609 shipping companies, 979 stevedoring companies, 1,113 sea freight forwarding companies, 1,288 freight forwarding companies and 162 loading/unloading workers co-operatives.

　

In 1988 Indonesian cargo fleet serving domestic shipping amounted to 9,088 units. In the same year there were 31 units (381,767 DWT) Indonesian flag vessels serving international routes, while the number of Indonesian passenger fleet was 496 units.

　

In 1999 the total domestic sea-borne cargo was 117.66 million tons/annum, 47.4% of which was transported by Indonesian flag vessel and the rest or 52.6% by Foreign flag vessels. The total export-import cargo in 1999 was 253.45 mil. Tons/an., 3.5% of which was carried by Indonesian flag vessels, and the rest or 96.5% by foreign flag vessels. In 1998 there were 9.69 million passengers transported domestically. In 1988 there were 37 pioneer shipping fleet (Govt. Subsidized vessels) serving remote and less developed area carried 0.35 mil. Passengers from and to 277 ports of call.

　

　

Indonesian ports are classified into two categories, public ports and special (industrial ports). Public ports are to serve public/common users while special ports are to support and for the self interest of industries, such as forestry, fishery, and mining, and so on. Public ports are administered by the Govt. and the operation could be transferred to State owned enterprises, namely Indonesian Port Corporations (PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I-IV). In this way Public ports are classified into Non Commercial Public Ports and Commercial Public Ports. The first kind are managed by Govt. and the latter are managed by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I-TV for profit making.

　

There are 656 public ports, 122 of which are commercial ones while the other 544 are non commercial. Indonesia has 1,414 special ports. In total there are 2.070 ports, 136 of which are open for international trade which consists of 74 commercial public ports, 31 non commercial ports, and 31 special ports.

　

There are 25 public ports which is called strategic ports at which 70% of total general cargo (excluding oil and gas) and most containers are handled. These ports are considered strategic based on the volume of cargo handling, location and their role to the region and are prioritized to be developed. Based on their facilities public ports are classified into full container terminal (9), multipurpose/semi-container (4), Conventional (7) Break bulk facilities (22), dry liquid bulk facilities (9), passenger terminal (17), small and pioneer (136).

　

In 1988 the total cargo handled at indonesian ports was 416.90 mil. tons, consisting of 172.05 mil. tons domestic cargo and 153.74 mil tons export-import cargo. Total passengers boarding and alighting were 17.49 mil. people.

　

In 1998 the average productivity of port facilities in strategic ports : for conventional berth the productivity was 1,700 ton/m/year with Berth Ocuupancy Ratio (BOR) of 60%-65%; in bulk terminal was 22,500 ton/m/year with BOR of 60%; in full container port was 900 TEU's/m/year while crane productivity was 20 boxes/crane/hour with BOR of more than 70%; in semi container port was 350 TEUs/m/year while crane productivity was 12 boxes/crane/hour with BOR of 70%. In other smaller ports was 1,200 ton/m/year with BOR of 60%.

　

Port investment during FY 1994/1995 -1998/1999 was US $ 1,431 million. Source of investment was expected from national budget (30%), foreign loan (35%) and Indonesia Port Corporation and private sector participation. However due to limited government budget the share of private sector was increased from 35% to 64%. In the future more investment to come private sectors especially from foreign private investors.

　

　

Based on data of ship's accident in last 5 years, there has been decreasing trend of frequency of ships' accidents in Indonesian waters. In 1995/1996 the total number of accident was 131 casualties causing 601 loss of human life and 43 thousand tons of cargo. While in 1999/2000 the number of accidents was 82 causing 534 loss of human life and 36.4 thousand of cargo. Most frequent types of accidents or disasters were sunken vessels. Other types of accident happened during the period were collision, stranded, on fire and others. It was evaluated that the main cause of these accidents was human factor.

　

To maintain the marine safety, Indonesia has 337 units of inspection boats, 338 marine inspectors (A and B), 626 harbour masters (A and B). To maintain the marine safety there are facilities of marine aids to navigation consisting of 244 units of light houses 1,504 units of light beacons, 609 units of light buoys with adequacy ratio of 46.60%and the realibility ratio of 97.10%. In order to maintain the reliability of the said marine aids to navigation there are 85 units of navigational maintenance vessels located at District of Navigation Offices. In addition there are maritime telecommunication facilities consisting of 217 units of Coastal Radio Station, 31 of which are equipped with GMDSS equipment.

　

Indonesia has also designated 3 Archipelagic Sea Lanes and Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) at one location in Malacca − Singapore Straits.

　

　

　

Directorate General of Sea Communication (DGSC) which is one of the Directorate Generals under Ministry of Communication (MOC) is the responsible government organization on the operation and development of sea transportation sector.

　

The organization of DGSC consists of two main parts, namely, organization units in headquarters/head office (Jakarta and organization units in the regions. Organization units in head office consist of Secretariat of DGSC and 5 (five) Directorates. The total employee of the DGSC is 8,725 persons.

　

Secretariat of DGSC is responsible for serving technical and administrative support to all units in DGSC which consists of 5 (five) divisions, namely: Planning Division, Personnel Division, Finance Division, Legal Division, and General Affairs and Logistics Division with total employee of 403 persons.

　

Directorate of Sea Transport Traffic is responsible to prepare policy foromulatioon and set up, giving guidance and co-ordination on merchant shipping operation and development including domestic shipping, international shipping, special shipping, shipping support business, and national merchant fleet development, with total emplooyee of 130 persons.

　

Directorate of Port and Dredging is responsible for preparation of policy formulation and set up, giving guidance and co-ordination on port planning, port engineering design, dredging and reclamation works, ship's pilotage and tugging, and port service and operational activities with total employee of 166 persons.

　

Directorate of Marine Safety and Seafarers is responsible for the preparation of policy formulation and set up, giving guidance and co-ordination on ship's worthiness , measurement ship's registry and nationality/flag, nautical, mechanical and radio, pollution prevention safety management, and seafarers with total employee of 143 persons.

　

Directorate of Navigation is responsible for preparation of policy formulation and set up, giving guidance and co-ordination on marine aids to navigation, maritime telecommunication sea surveillance, nayigational vessels, and navigational base facilities, with total employee of 129 persons.

　

Directorate of Guard and Rescue is responsible for preparation of policy formulation and set up, giving guidance and co-ordination on security, patrol and disaster response, port and coastal law and order enforcement, salvage and underwater works with total employee of 108 persons.

　

There are 4 (four) Port Administrator Offices, located in the main ports of Belawan Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, and Makassar which are directly under the auspices of DGSC primarily on the aspect of maritime safety with total employee of 1,619 persons.

　

There are also working units under the control of DGSC, namely:

　

Maritime Health Office with total employee of 37 persons, Guard and Rescue Fleet in 5(five) bases with total employee of 603, Maritime Safety Technology Office with total employee of 231 persons, and Distict Navigation Offices in 24 locations with total employee of 5,156 persons.