Regulation of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries No. 4 of 2026 concerning the Governance of Fishing Vessel Manning, Education and Training, and Examinations and Certification of Fishing Vessel Crew

This Ministerial Regulation establishes the regulatory framework governing fishing vessel manning management, education and training, examination, and certification for fishing vessel personnel in Indonesia. Issued to implement Article 180 of Government Regulation No. 27 of 2021 and align national policies with the STCW-F 1995 Convention, this instrument revokes previous manning provisions under Ministerial Regulation No. 33 of 2021. Its primary objectives are to ensure navigation safety for fishing vessels, elevate the skill and competence standards of fishing personnel, and establish statutory protections regarding labor conditions and employment relations.
The Regulation defines the scope of fishing vessel personnel and sets out mandatory requirements for working onboard, including a minimum age of 18, medical fitness, standard competencies, social security enrollment, Sea Work Agreements (PKL), and registration in the official Seaman's Book (Buku Pelaut Perikanan) and Musters (Buku Sijil). Qualification standards and rank structures across deck and engine departments are classified based on vessel length, gross tonnage (GT), engine power output (kW/HP), and operational areas. Ranks are categorized into management, operational, and support levels, detailing specific staffing compositions for vessels ranging from under 5 GT to over 300 GT, and engine capacities up to and exceeding 750 kW.
Personnel competencies are categorized into Certificates of Competency (CoC/Sertifikat Keahlian) and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP/Sertifikat Keterampilan). The Human Resources Education and Development Agency (Badan) oversees training, standards, revalidation, and issuance of CoCs and CoPs, while the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (Direktorat Jenderal) manages endorsement certificates (Sertifikat Pengukuhan), Seaman's Books, and manning oversight. Provisions detail required qualifications for Deck Officers, Engineer Officers, Fishing Masters, Quality Control Officers, Ratings, and Small-Scale Fishermen. Operational standards for education programs, simulator use, technical guidance, revalidation intervals (every 5 years), and recognition of foreign certificates under international conventions are explicitly defined.
The instrument regulates labor and operational aspects through mandatory Sea Work Agreements (PKL) and Collective Bargaining Agreements (KPB). It establishes rules regarding maximum work hours, minimum rest periods, paid leave, and repatriation obligations for cadets on sea trials (Praktik Laut) and vessel crews. Furthermore, the decree outlines wage mechanisms—encompassing time-based wages tied to statutory minimum wage thresholds, overtime calculations, and profit-sharing schemes (bagi hasil)—detailing allowed deductions and costs strictly borne by vessel owners.