Dossier · National Central Agency
Indonesia Yacht Broker
The national brokerage desk for yacht sales across the archipelago.
We represent owners selling motor yachts, sailing yachts, catamarans and liveaboards — and buyers acquiring them. One side per transaction, disclosed in writing before any vessel is shown. Written mandate, evidenced valuation, escrowed funds, independent survey, and a registered transfer of title. Every figure in USD.
Four mandates the desk takes
Most vessels in Indonesia change hands through introductions rather than through a market. A brokerage desk replaces that improvisation with a process — read what a national yacht broker actually does.
Seller representation
A written listing agreement, an evidenced valuation range, a photographic and document pack, and marketing aimed at the buyer pool that actually purchases your hull type.
Sell your yacht →Buyer representation
We shortlist against your brief, verify the paperwork before you travel, appoint an independent surveyor on your instruction, and negotiate on your side of the table.
Yachts for sale →Valuation & appraisal
A written opinion of market value for a sale, insurance renewal, financing or estate matter — built from comparable evidence and vessel condition, not an owner's hopes.
Valuation service →Transaction coordination
Escrow structure, notarial deed, fiscal clearance, flag transfer or deletion, and delivery — the part most private deals skip, and where they go wrong.
The six stages →Commission by value band — agreed in writing, paid at closing
One commission per sale, paid by the seller out of escrowed proceeds. Co-brokerage splits with foreign brokers come out of the same commission — never added to the buyer's price. Full detail in the fees & commission guide.
| Vessel value band | How the commission behaves |
|---|---|
| < USD 100,000 | Top of the band — small fast boats and tenders carry the same transaction workload as larger hulls, so the percentage is highest here, with a written minimum fee agreed per mandate. |
| USD 100,000 – 500,000 | The mid band — most liveaboards, catamarans and mid-range motor yachts. National marketing, escrow and registry coordination are included in the mandate. |
| USD 500,000 – 1,500,000 | Lower band — negotiated per vessel; co-brokerage splits with foreign brokers are common in this bracket and come out of the single commission. |
| > USD 1,500,000 | Case-by-case — structure, flag and tax work usually dominate the transaction, and the fee reflects the actual scope in writing. |
No fee is valid unless it is written into the mandate before marketing begins. Exact percentages are quoted per vessel and put in the listing agreement — not advertised as a blanket number.
Importing a yacht: the three cost layers
Import into Indonesia carries three layers on the customs (CIF) value: duty by HS code 8903, PPN at the 12% effective luxury rate under PMK 131/2024, and PPnBM at 75% unless a tourism-business exemption applies. Modelled in full in the import duty & tax cost guide.
| Layer | Basis | Adds (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty (bea masuk) | HS 8903; rate varies by trade agreement — 5% flat assumed here | 50,000 |
| PPN | 12% on duty-inclusive base of USD 1,050,000 (PMK 131/2024) | 126,000 |
| PPnBM | 75% if no exemption applies; waived for a qualifying licensed tourism business | 787,500 |
| Landed tax cost | Duty + PPN + PPnBM on the same vessel | ≈ 963,500 |
The PPnBM exemption is a conditional facility, not a private-owner loophole — it applies where a licensed tourism business genuinely operates the vessel commercially. Temporary import for foreign-flagged yachts runs up to roughly three years. Exact rates depend on HS classification and current PMK schedules: treat every number as a modelling frame, not an assessment, and verify with a licensed customs consultant.
Which paper your boat carries
An Indonesian-registered vessel carries one of three papers, issued by the harbourmaster and DJPL — never by an agent. The full registration walkthrough is in Indonesian flag registration.
Grosse Akta Kapal
The notarised ownership deed — the title-equivalent of a registered Indonesian vessel. The document a buyer's money should never move without.
Pas Besar
The nationality certificate carried by larger sea-going vessels, recording name, tonnage, ownership and port of registry.
Pas Kecil
The simplified certificate for small craft below the gross-tonnage cutoff (commonly cited around 7 GT) — tenders, speedboats and harbour craft.
Tonnage measurement by an authorised surveyor sets the paper class and the fee schedule. Government fees are charged in IDR at published rates; our coordination fee is quoted separately in USD.
Foreign buyers, flag and cabotage
The questions every non-Indonesian buyer asks first — answered in depth in foreign ownership & cabotage.
Q.Can a foreigner own an Indonesian-flagged yacht?
Indonesian flag generally requires Indonesian ownership — in practice foreign buyers hold Indonesian-flagged vessels through an Indonesian legal entity such as a PT PMA, with the structure verified before money moves.
Q.Can I keep my yacht foreign-flagged in Indonesia?
Yes — a foreign-flagged yacht can be owned outright, but it operates under entry permits and time limits, and temporary import status decides what happens at resale.
Q.What does cabotage restrict?
Commercial carriage between Indonesian ports is reserved for Indonesian-flagged vessels — the rule that decides whether an ex-charter hull can keep earning under its current flag after the sale.
The transaction services behind every mandate
Each service is a fixed, written scope inside the sale — not an upsell after the offer.
Escrow & payment security
Deposit and balance held so that neither side controls the funds alone; released only against the recorded transfer.
Escrow service →Pre-purchase survey & sea trial
An independent surveyor appointed on the buyer's instruction — never by the broker — before any balance moves.
Survey scope →Flag, registry & deed
Grosse Akta, Pas Besar, deletion certificates and reflagging — customs settlement first, then the registry.
Flag & registration →Jual beli phinisi (ID)
Proses jual-beli kapal phinisi lewat broker nasional — mandat tertulis, escrow, balik nama — dalam Bahasa Indonesia.
Phinisi brokerage →Frequently asked questions
More on tax, flag, escrow and survey in the full FAQ.
Do you charge buyers a fee?
In a standard sale the commission is paid by the seller out of the proceeds, at the percentage agreed in the listing agreement before marketing began. Where a foreign co-broker introduces the buyer, that commission is shared internally between the brokers rather than added to the buyer's price. Buyer-side retainers exist only for dedicated search mandates and are agreed in writing first.
Can you sell a yacht that is currently on charter?
Yes. Ex-charter and in-service tonnage is a large part of the Indonesian market. The complications are contractual rather than technical: forward bookings, crew agreements and any management mandate all have to be assigned or unwound at closing, and the survey window has to be negotiated around the operating schedule.
How long does an Indonesian yacht sale usually take?
From signed listing to funds released, an unencumbered vessel with complete documentation commonly runs a matter of months rather than weeks. The variable is almost never the buyer — it is document completeness, fiscal clearance, and the registration office workload for the ownership change.
Do you handle phinisi sales?
Traditional phinisi listings sit with dedicated desks inside our ecosystem rather than with this brokerage, which focuses on motor yachts, sailing yachts, catamarans and expedition or liveaboard tonnage. If you approach us with a phinisi we will route the enquiry to the correct desk rather than take a mandate we are not the right house for.
Open a file with the desk
Tell us which side of the table you are on — selling, buying, or valuing — and the vessel type and length. We reply in working hours with the next document, not a sales pitch.