The Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Unit () is an agency of Government of Indonesia which main function is to ensure the safety of shipping inside the Indonesian Maritime Zone. KPLP has the task of formulating and execute policies, standards, norms, guidelines, criteria and procedures, as well as technical guidance, evaluation and reporting on patrol and security, safety monitoring and Civil Service Investigator (PPNS), order of shipping, water, facilities and infrastructure of coastal and marine guarding. KPLP is under the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation. Therefore, KPLP reports directly to the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia. KPLP is not associated or part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. KPLP, however often conduct joint-exercise and joint-operations with the Indonesian Navy.
During the Dutch colonial era, an agency under the colonial government called the Sea and Coast Guard Service () was formed to protect the sea and coast of the Dutch East Indies. After the recognition of the independence of Indonesia by the Dutch, the agency was handed to the new Indonesian government and was renamed to Marine and Coast Guard Service (). The agency then changed its name several times resulting in its present name.
KPLP is not associated with the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (). While the former is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, the latter is under the jurisdiction of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. Both agencies however have similar roles and functions and often conduct joint operations and joint maneuvers and simulation exercises together.
History
During the Dutch colonial era, two agency of the colonial government called the Governments's Navy () and the Shipping Agency () was formed to protect the sea and coast of the Dutch East Indies. The two organisation was briefly dissolved in 1942 during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in World War II. After the Surrender of Japan, the two organization was recreated to continue their main function. In 1947, at the midst of the Indonesian National Revolution, the two agency was merged becoming the Sea and Coast Guard Service (). In parallel to the Dutch agency, the Indonesian government who was then waging war against the Dutch formed their own organisation which has the same role as the Dutch Sea and Coast Guard called the Shipping Service of the Republic of Indonesia ().
After the Dutch recognition of Indonesia, the Dutch handed the Sea and Coast Guard to the new Government of Indonesia. The Indonesian government then merged the Sea and Coast Guard and the Shipping Service of the Republic of Indonesia into the Marine and Coast Guard Service (). The agency was immediately placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation. During the turbulence period in the 1950s as well as the rising of secessionist groups around the country, the government decided to transfer the MCGS into the Indonesian Navy on 31 January 1950 as a paramilitary branch. In 1952, the agency was again separated from the Indonesian Navy and was again placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation. The agency however still worked together with the Navy and Police to put down secessionist groups around the country until the early 1960s.
In 1962, the agency was renamed to Operasi Polisionil di Laut ( OPDIL ) and was placed under the Directorate of Sea Operations of the Ministry of Transportation. In 1965, OPDIL was renamed again to Assistant Special Operations of Government Transport (AOKAP) based on SK.Menhubla Number Kab.4 / 9/16/1965. Based on SK. Minister of Transport No.M.14 / 3/14 Phb dated June 20, 1966, the agency changed its name to the Bureau of Shipping Safety (BKP) with the task of organizing the Special Police in the Sea and SAR. Based on SK. Maritime Minister: No. Kab.4 / 3/14 dated December 13, 1966 BKP was incorporated into the Operations Unit Command (KASOTOP) which later became the Directorate of Shipping while maintaining Police duties at sea. With the change of the Maritime Department into the Department of Transportation, based on SK. Minister of Transportation M.b./14/7 Phb dated August 24, 1968, the Special Duties of the SAR was incorporated into the Directorate of Navigation, and by the Minister of Transportation was renamed back to the Marine and Coast Guard with the task of organizing the Maritime Security and Port Special Security units within national territories.