Govt drafting national shipping roadmap to drive growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Industry Ministry is preparing a comprehensive national shipping industry roadmap to boost sector competitiveness, expand domestic manufacturing capacities, and increase its overall contribution to the economy, officials said Tuesday.

The long-term framework will serve as a structured foundation to guide maritime industrial development and align production with evolving national fleet requirements.

"In line with industrial dynamics and the needs of the national fleet, the Industry Ministry is currently preparing a National Shipping Industry Roadmap," Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji said during an industry event in Jakarta.

Beyond expanding physical shipyard capacity, Sarmuji noted that the initiative focuses on workforce training, advanced technology adoption, green shipping practices, and higher local content integration across the supply chain.

For the 2026–2030 period, the government aims to expand shipyard infrastructure outside Java and Batam to build vessels up to 30,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) and tankers up to 60,000 DWT. Priorities also include producing passenger ships capable of carrying 2,000 people and specialized vessels for the defense and offshore energy sectors.

To advance sustainability, the ministry is encouraging the use of liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and electric propulsion technologies while setting a target of 40 percent domestic content in ship construction.

Indonesia currently hosts 342 shipbuilding enterprises and 127 component manufacturers across 29 provinces. Despite exporting US$4.53 billion in ships and floating structures between 2022 and mid-2026, imports totaled US$5.30 billion, underscoring substantial potential for local yards to capture domestic demand.

Industry leaders welcomed the strategy, committing to align private sector operations with the plan. "Industry players are committed to optimizing this potential through technological transformation, digitalization, and operational efficiency," said newly inaugurated IPERINDO General Chairperson Anita Puji Utami.

Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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