Hundreds of maritime leaders, experts and pilots will gather in Bali to advance safety, innovation, sustainability and international cooperation while showcasing Indonesia’s maritime ambitions to the world
Indonesia is preparing to put its maritime ambitions in the international spotlight as hundreds of maritime pilots, officials and industry leaders gather in Bali for the 27th International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) Congress from Aug. 23-28.
Hosted by the Indonesia Maritime Pilots’ Association (INAMPA), the six-day event at The Apurva Kempinski Bali is expected to bring together about 500 participants, including maritime delegates from 16 countries spanning five continents.
The congress will be opened by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, alongside International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, INAMPA President Pasoroan Herman Harianja and IMPA President Capt. Simon Pelletier.
Senior Indonesian officials set to attend the gathering include the minister and deputy minister of transportation, the director general of sea transportation, the head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA), the chief of naval staff and executives from state port operator Pelindo.
For Indonesia, the congress is more than a professional gathering. INAMPA sees the event as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s position in the global maritime community while drawing international attention to the role of safety, security and sustainability in the world’s busiest sea lanes.
“This congress represents INAMPA’s concerted effort to advance Indonesia’s maritime sector, particularly in the areas of maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and sustainability,” Herman said.
A global meeting in a maritime nation
As an archipelagic country made up of thousands of islands and positioned along major international shipping routes, Indonesia has a natural stake in the future of maritime navigation.
The congress will provide a forum for maritime professionals to exchange knowledge and operational experience, while examining how emerging technologies are changing the profession.
Key discussions will cover pilotage best practices, maritime technology, artificial intelligence, service innovation, human-resource development and maritime health.
For individual participants, the event is intended to support career development and strengthen pilot competency. For organizations, it offers an opportunity to improve professionalism, expand international networks and reinforce institutional credibility.
At the national and regional level, INAMPA expects the gathering to contribute to investment, economic activity and Indonesia’s international reputation. The congress could also generate broader social, cultural, tourism and security benefits by bringing international visitors into contact with Bali and the country’s maritime sector.
Beyond the conference room
The organizers are seeking to make the congress as much a showcase of Indonesia as a professional meeting.
Alongside technical sessions, the program will feature a maritime exhibition, welcome and gala dinners, social and cultural activities and visits to 12 tourist destinations across Bali.
The combination is designed to give international delegates an introduction not only to Indonesia’s maritime capabilities but also to its cultural heritage and tourism appeal.
For INAMPA, that broader exposure is part of the congress’s strategic value.
“We hope this congress serves as a platform for maritime diplomacy and promoting Indonesia to the world. Our maritime sector must increasingly go global and deliver added value to the nation,” Herman said.
With speakers and participants arriving from across five continents, the gathering offers Indonesia an opportunity to position its maritime professionals within a wider international network.
It also comes as shipping and port industries confront rapid technological change, growing demands for environmental protection and the need to maintain safe navigation amid increasingly complex maritime operations.
The congress is therefore expected to serve as both a meeting point for established maritime expertise and a platform for discussions about the industry’s future.
Set against Bali’s beaches, cultural landmarks and tourism infrastructure, the 27th IMPA Congress will combine technical exchange with opportunities for international networking and cultural engagement, giving participants a professional forum while presenting Indonesia as an increasingly outward-looking maritime nation.
