In Indonesia, there are 116 small islands and groups of small islands, Indonesia as an archipelagic country with 17,500 islands and a coastline of more than 81,000 kilometers, approximately 110 million people live in coastal areas.

Merchant marine: total: 965 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,409,198 GRT/5,825,591 DWT by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 522, chemical tanker 25, container 66, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 67, petroleum tanker 155, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 11, specialized tanker 8, vehicle carrier 4. Ports and terminals: Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok.

(Sources: www.indexmundi.com and www.globaloceans.org)

As maritime country which has larger sea territory, Indonesia must have sophisticated transportation facilities to connectively reach one island to another island throughout Indonesia.  Based on an archipelagic country, Indonesia must without doubt develop its shipping industry. In addition, the shipping facilities in Indonesia have to be improved in accordance with its urgent needs.
Indonesian shipping industry has a bright prospect at present and beyond. Based on the domestic sea transportation regulation no. 5/2005, nationally, all Indonesia’s ships are obliged to play their major role in shipping any goods. Moreover, this industry has also a good competitive edge in International shipping industries. The fact is that some foreign countries have high demand of Indonesian shipping.

(http://en.voi.co.id/voi-dignitorial/1637-the-prospect-of-indonesian-shipping-industry.html)