Pertamina shipping arm eyes global expansion with Columbia Shipmanagement tie-up

Pertamina International Shipping is seeking to expand its global maritime footprint with additional international collaborations as the energy group's shipping arm signed a nondisclosure agreement with Columbia Shipmanagement at Posidonia 2026.

PIS President Director Surya Tri Harto said June 5 in Athens, that the company is now entering a new phase focused on global shipping, offshore opportunities, maritime logistics and green operations, after generating about $3.3 billion in revenue last year and nearly tripling in size over the past five to six years.

"We are ready to grow in the next chapter," Harto said at an Indonesia maritime outreach session.

Harto and Columbia Shipmanagement CEO Andreas Hadjipetrou signed the agreement, highlighting that it would open the way for the two companies to identify wider opportunities.

Hadjipetrou noted Columbia Shipmanagement had already been working with Pertamina for two to three years, after being appointed to manage two ships under Pertamina's joint venture with Turkish company BGN.

The signing comes as Indonesia is pitching its maritime sector more actively to Greece-based shipowners and service providers, with Jakarta seeking inbound investment into domestic maritime infrastructure and outbound expansion by Indonesian companies.

Offshore opportunities

PIS now owns 40 large ships, including VLCCs, VLGCs and general-purpose ships, Harto said. Pertamina has more than 100 large ships and charters almost 300 ships for internal purposes, he added.

The group manages more than 160 million kiloliters/year of products in the domestic market, Harto said, highlighting the scale of Indonesia's internal energy logistics demand as PIS seeks to use its domestic base as a foundation for overseas expansion.

Harto said PIS's strategy is focused on strengthening its core oil and gas transportation business, expanding into broader maritime logistics, pursuing offshore opportunities such as FSO and FLNG projects, and aligning its operations with the energy transition.

Jakarta pitch

Indonesia's ambassador to Greece, Dr. Bebeb A.K.N. Djundjunan, said Indonesia's maritime investment opportunities include port infrastructure, container terminals, liquid and dry bulk terminals, shipyards, storage, supply chains, coastal tourism, green shipping, bunkering and ship efficiency.

Djundjunan said Indonesia had shifted from "a negative investment list" to "a positive investment list", while deregulation and the establishment of the sovereign wealth fund Danantara could support investment.

He added that Indonesia would maintain its cabotage principle for domestic shipping, where foreign companies seeking to collaborate in the country would need local partners.

Besides inbound investment, Indonesia is also looking for outbound maritime expansion through corporate partnerships, ship purchases, international routes, joint ventures and maritime services offices, he said.

Djundjunan noted Greece as a potential gateway for Indonesian and Association of Southeast Asian Nations goods into Southeast Europe, the Balkans, Central Europe and the wider European market.

He said Indonesia is exploring an integrated Indonesia-Europe sea-land-rail connectivity strategy that would combine maritime routes, port-to-port links, inland logistics networks, rail-based distribution corridors and regional supply chain integration.

Current trade flows from Indonesia to European markets can take more than two months, including stops in Singapore and South Asia, he said, adding that the proposed model could shorten the timeline to about one month.

"There is the strategic role for Greece ... as an important gateway for Indonesian and ASEAN products entering Greece, Southeast Europe, the Balkan region and Central Europe," said Djundjunan, adding that Indonesia is ready to work with the Greek partners to build the trading corridors and expand market access.