Pertamina opens seafarers' scholarship to support energy fleet operations
Not only does it provide access to education, but it also opens a clear career path for scholarship recipients to be directly involved in energy fleet operations. Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Pertamina Patra Niaga is opening the Seafarer Candidate Scholarship Programme as part of efforts to prepare maritime talent ready to support energy ship fleet operations. “We have designed this programme as a pipeline for operational-ready seafarer human resources. It not only provides access to education but also opens a clear career path for scholarship recipients to be directly involved in fleet operations,” said Director of Logistics Fleet at PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Arif Yunianto, in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday. The programme will select 23 scholarship recipients who, upon graduation, will be directly projected to work as ship crew at Pertamina Patra Niaga. Pertamina Patra Niaga views the strengthening of seafarer talent as an important part of the sustainability of energy distribution operations. The Ministry of Transportation records that there are around 1.4 million Indonesian seafarers working in various countries, positioning Indonesia as one of the five largest seafarer-supplying countries in the world. Commitment to strengthening national seafarers is also reflected in the composition of crew in the Pertamina Group fleet. Of the total 4,368 seafarer crew, 4,090 crew or about 94 percent are Indonesian citizens. This data, said Arif, confirms that national maritime talent is an important part of maintaining the sustainability of energy fleet operations. The role of seafarers in the downstream supply chain is also increasingly strategic, given that the sea fleet connects supply points, refineries, terminals, to energy distribution areas. In the context of Pertamina Patra Niaga, the ship fleet plays a role in transporting crude oil, refinery products, fuel oil, and LPG to meet domestic energy needs. Meanwhile, President Director of Pertamina Foundation, Agus Mashud S. Asngari, explained that Pertamina Foundation plays a role in ensuring the programme’s implementation runs in a structured and sustainable manner. “We ensure that the entire programme process, from selection, mentoring, to monitoring of scholarship recipients, is carried out comprehensively. Educational institutions, majors, and the number of recipients have been mapped from the start to align with the company’s needs,” said Agus. He added that the selection process is carried out in stages to ensure that selected participants not only meet academic criteria but also have readiness to pursue a career as seafarers. The Seafarer Candidate Scholarship Programme 2026 series begins with socialisation on 28–29 April 2026, followed by registration opening from 30 April to 22 May 2026. The selection process will run until the end of June, with the announcement of scholarship recipients scheduled for 30 June 2026, and inauguration on 3 July 2026.