This is a step by step Guide to Clearing out of Indonesia based on our process at Tanjung Pandan, Belitung. I Imagine this process would be at least similar in other Ports of Indonesia.
It requires no Agent and cost only USD 4.7 and whatever fee you will be able to negotiate for transportation.
At the end I have also added comments on anchorage, transport, diesel and water.
I hope this helps other Sailors who, like us, like to be independent and are sailing on a small budget.
Clearing out at Tanjung Pandan, Belitung
The Process is made up of 5 steps, which are as follows:
- Custom Check Onboard
- Visit to Immigration Office
- Visit to Custom Office
- Visit to Quarantine Office
- Visit to Harbour Master
The entire process took about 5-6 hours including a lunch break and driving from Office to Office.
It was fairly easy.
1) Custom check onboard
Under normal circumstances, a visit to the customs office might be required beforehand, but I would highly recommend just scheduling the onboard check on the phone to save the long trip to town.
As custom was already coming out to check another vessel, they agreed to do ours simultaneously.
The Officials will need a pick up and drop off at the beach.
They will check your documents (they did not take any hardcopies only pictures off them) and your AIS.
Documents we showed
- Boat Registration
- Passports
- Crew list
- Port Clearance Into Indonesia
- Vessel Declaration
- AIS MMSI number
The check took about 1/2 hour.
2) Immigration Office – Kantor Imigrasi
Documents we provided
- Passport + Copies
- Vessel Registration
- Crew List
- Visa Documents
It is best to have hardcopies of everything, but if you should happen to be missing something, you can send it in an email, and they will print it.
You might have to explain if you want to leave the next morning as you still have to visit the other offices.
Documents we were given at the end
- Crew list with Immigration stamp on it (this you will later have to show to the Harbour Master)
- Stamps in Passports
3) Custom Office – Kantor Pabean
Documents we provided
Again we provided the documents the Officials had looked at earlier when onboard. This time they scanned them and made their own copies.
Inform them if you have already had Official onboard.
- Passports with Visa Stamps
- Vessel Declaration
- Vessel Registration
- Port Clearance into Indonesia
Documents we were given at the end
- New Vessel Declaration Document (2 pages in folder)
4) Quarantine Office – Kantor Kesehatan Pelabuhan Tanjung
Documents we provided
- Green Book
- Vessel registration
- Covid Vaccine Certificate (2 shots)
Other documents we were asked for (but did not have)
- Valid/renewed medical certificate
- Ships Sanitation Certificate
We explained that these documents were out of date because we had already been in Indonesia for 11 months. It was no problem.
Documents to fill out at Office
- Maritime Declaration of Health
Documents given to us at the end
- Port Health Quarantine Clearance (Fee: RP 20.000)
- Certificate of Pratique (Fee: RP 50.000)
These documents were added to our Green Book.
(These were the only fees asked by any Officials)
Harbour Master Office – Kantor keSyahbandaran
Documents we provided
- Green Book
- Crew list with stamp from Immigration
- Port Clearance from entering Indonesia
Documents to fill out at the office
- Form: Departure Condition Report (Laporan Kondisi Keberangkatan)
Documents given to us at the end
- Port Clearance – Also called Sailing approval (Surat Persetijuan Berlayar)
- Departure Condition Report (Laporan Kondisi Keberangkatan)
These were added to our Green Book
This Process took about 1/2 hour excluding a break for lunch in the middle.
tRANSPORT
The prices of transportation varies and a little bargaining might be necessary in order to get a fair price. We heard of people being asked as much as RP 1.000.000 for the day. We found a driver (not a guy who usually drives sailor’s around) who was willing to take us for the day for RP 300.000.
It is important to bargain to help keep the prices competitive and fair.
You can also rent scooters quite cheaply. But we also needed to stock up and get diesel.
Comment on Anchorage at tANJUNG kELAYANg
It seems that the most popular anchorage in the SE Monsoon season is the one on the east of Tanjung Kelayang Beach. However, in our experience this is not a great anchorage as regular Easterlies will kick up a sea and make the anchorage very uncomfortable with a lee shore.
It was actually when we came back from clearing out in Tanjung Pandan, that the weather was at its worst, and it was impossible to set off in our dinghy from the beach as the waves were too big.
I would therefore highly recommend to have a look at the anchorage on the western side, also mentioned in Andy Scott’s Cruising Guide and marked on Navionics. The water there, was flat calm while the boat was bucking like a horse on the other side. There is also a good dinghy landing on that side.
Whichever anchorage you use, be aware if bommies. Satellite images or great visibility is a must!
dIESEL
It is apparently quite difficult to get your hands on Solar here, at least at this time.
The best price on Dexlite was at the pump in Tanjung Pandan.
You can also get diesel delivered to Mystery Van at the Jetty for a fee. Ask for Eddie.
Water
We managed to buy water from one of the bigger Warungs (restaurants) on the beach. They have a truck coming every day dropping off ‘Gallon bottles’ They were happy for us to buy 5 at the normal price of RP 5.000 per bottle (19L) and said we could come back the next day for more.
Well water is also, ask around.
Recommendations
Meggi Rhomadona
For anyone interested in learning about Belitung’s natural world from coral fossils to newly discovered frogs and traditional honey harvesting I have to recommend Meggi Rhomadona.
Meggi is a local Expedition Guide and Coral coring Technician who has helped many scientists on their research on both land and in the sea. His knowledge of Belitung is nothing short of incredible, and he is also extremely interested in learning how to sail.
Whatsapp: +6281949497802
