PTK expands green shipping initiative with solar panels on vessels

PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK), a subsidiary of PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), is expanding the implementation of the green shipping concept by installing solar panels on its fleet to improve energy efficiency and support the reduction of carbon emissions from company operations.

Fleet Director Dewi Susanti stated that the company has already installed solar panels on two vessels, KM Pari and Pipeboat, and plans to add them to one cargo ship in 2026. “We are planning to install solar panels on six more cargo ships in stages until 2029,” Dewi said after a PTK Coastal Education event at Tangkoko Beach, Bitung, North Sulawesi, on Saturday.

With this plan, the number of PTK vessels utilising solar energy is targeted to reach nine units by 2029. PTK is a maritime logistics and transportation service company with four business lines: support vessel provision, port services, shorebase management, and ship agency services.

Dewi explained that the solar panels are used to power electrical equipment on board, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption during operations. The company is also preparing to pilot a Battery Management System (BMS) starting in 2027 as part of its commitment to supporting the energy transition and reducing emissions.

She noted that installing solar panels on cargo ships is more complex than on support vessels due to stricter safety requirements. Therefore, PTK is conducting technical studies and coordinating with PT Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the installations meet safety and operational reliability standards. The installations will be carried out in stages, following each vessel’s docking schedule, to avoid disrupting operational activities.

Throughout 2025, PTK recorded a reduction of 66,721 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) through its Green Energy programme, energy efficiency initiatives, and sustainable operational optimisation. Beyond its fleet, the company is also exploring the use of solar energy at port facilities as part of a green port development concept to enhance energy efficiency across its operational environment.

These green shipping measures are part of PTK’s implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles to support the Pertamina Group’s decarbonisation targets while improving operational efficiency and sustainability.