MAKASSAR (ISL News) - PT Pelindo Jasa Maritim (PJM) participated in the 27th International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA) Congress 2026, which took place on August 24–28, 2026 at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, Nusa Dua.
The biennial congress serves as an international forum for pilots to share knowledge, experiences, and the latest developments in pilotage safety, technology, regulations, the environment, and the development of the piloting profession. This year's congress' theme is "Navigating Maritime Safety Towards Global Sustainability."
The activity was also attended by the leadership of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), including Pelindo President Director Achmad Muchtasyar, Pelindo Director of Institutional Relations Hendri Ginting, Pelindo Operations Director Prasetyadi, Pelindo Regional 3 Executive Director Wahyu Widodo, and PT Pelindo Jasa Maritim President Director Arief Hermawan.
PJM also included 10 guides in the congress as part of their competency development and international insight. This participation provided an opportunity for PJM guides to exchange experiences, expand their professional networks, and learn about developments in guiding practices from various countries.
President Director of PT Pelindo Jasa Maritim Arief Hermawan said technological developments in the maritime industry must be accompanied by increased pilot competency and strengthened safety aspects.
"Pilots remain a crucial part of ensuring the safety of ship navigation. Technological developments are not intended to eliminate the role of pilots, but rather to serve as a tool to strengthen their competence, improve the quality of information, and support pilots in making more informed decisions," said Arief.
Technological developments were a major focus at this year's IMPA Congress. The agenda included discussions on remote pilotage, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in safety-critical maritime and pilotage activities, and human resource capacity development in pilotage.
This aligns with Pelindo Operations Director Prasetyadi's presentation on the transformation toward smart pilotage. Pilotage technology development is focused on utilizing real-time maritime data, AIS, VTS, e-Navigation, AI-enabled decision support, predictive analytics, and digital operational monitoring to support safer, faster, more predictable, and more sustainable services.
Amidst these developments, piloting competency remains a key foundation. Skills such as ship handling, navigation, local knowledge, and risk assessment need to be continuously strengthened with new competencies in digital navigation, data interpretation, and the use of technology to support decision-making.
"Technology and human competence must evolve together. The more advanced the system, the higher the competence required for a guide. Therefore, training, simulations, certification, knowledge exchange, and exposure in international forums are crucial for us," explained Arief.
One emerging transformation is e-pilotage, which utilizes digital technology to support ship pilotage. According to Arief, its implementation must still consider the characteristics of the waters and the level of risk in each operational area.
"In high-risk areas or waterways, safety remains a primary consideration. Technology must be implemented in a measured manner, based on the characteristics of the waters and the results of risk assessments. In certain circumstances, the presence of a pilot on board the vessel is still necessary to ensure safe navigation," said Arief.
In addition to technological developments, the IMPA Congress serves as a space to strengthen international collaboration, exchange knowledge, and develop pilot competencies in facing changes in the maritime industry.
"We want the knowledge and experience gained from international forums like IMPA to be brought back to the workplace and add value to our services. The ultimate goal remains the same: to ensure that every pilotage service is carried out with safety, reliability, and professionalism as the top priority," Arief concluded.
Through its participation in the 27th IMPA Congress, PJM affirmed its commitment to continuously strengthen pilot competency, adopt measurable technological developments, and improve safety standards and the quality of piloting services as part of its efforts to create a world-class piloting ecosystem.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Corcom PJM).
