MPA Singapore issued a marine circular providing information about the procedures needed to be done when a vessel manoeuvres into its ports, effective from 08 April 2019.
Specifically, concerning the VHF radiotelephone reporting procedures for vessels manoeuvring in port shall apply to:
- vessels of 300 GT and above;
- tugs engaged in towing or pushing if the combined GT of the tug and tow or vessel(s) being pushed is 300 GT and above;
- all passenger vessels;
- vessels of 30m or more in length;
- vessels of 30m or more in height;
- all vessels navigating through the port
The reporting sector are:
East Johor Strait, Keppel Harbour, Cruise Bay, Sinki, Pasir Panjang, West Jurong, West Johor Strait, Eastern and Western Sectors are designated as reporting sectors.
Vessel intending to enter, move within or leave a reporting sector shall first call on the appropriate control station and obtain permission to conduct the manoeuvre.
Concerning the control stations: For the purpose of VHF radiotelephone reporting by vessels manoeuvring in port, the port water is divided into 9 sectors. Each sector has a control station operating on a designated VHF Channel. The designated VHF Channels for the sectors are listed in the table below
Types of Reports
There are 4 types of reports, namely:
- Channel Information Report;
- Arrival Report;
- Underway Report;
- West Johor Strait Sector Report.
Depending on the sector in which a vessel is in, every report shall be made to the appropriate control station.
Channel Information Report:
This report shall be made by an arriving vessel prior to entering the port or a vessel intending to move within or leave the port. The report shall be made to the appropriate control station on the designated VHF Channel.
The report shall contain the following information:
- name or call
- sign of vessel
- vessel’s draft
- present location, i.e position when entering port limit
- destination, i.e. new location in port or bound for sea
- height
- remarks, if any
For a vessel intending to enter, move within or leave a reporting sector, it shall obtain permission from the control station before conducting the manoeuvre.
Before proceeding to or departing from a terminal, a vessel shall comply with the guidelines in Appendix 2.
Arrival Report:
This report shall be made by a vessel when it has arrived at the destination in port. The vessel shall report to the appropriate control station on the designated VHF Channel.
For a vessel arriving at a terminal, the report shall contain the following information:
- name or callsign of vessel
- arrival date and time
- name of the berth and
- terminal
For a vessel arriving at an anchorage, the report shall contain the following information:
- name or callsign of vessel
- arrival date and time
- name of the anchorage
- bearing and distance of the vessel from one of the position reference points.
Underway Report
This report shall be made by a vessel when it is underway in a channel after leaving an anchorage or a berth, as well as when it passes abeam of the points listed.
The vessel shall report to the appropriate control station on the designated VHF Channel.
The underway report shall contain the following information:
- name or callsign of vessel
- present location e.g. abeam of NE Corridor Buoy
Every vessel when underway shall maintain a continuous listening watch on the VHF Channel that is designated for the sector the vessel is in.
Vessels are advised to keep additional listening watch on VHF Channel 16.
West Johor Strait Sector Report
This report shall be made by a vessel prior to entering and leaving the West Johor Strait reporting sector.
The report shall contain the following information:
- name or callsign of vessel
- vessel’s draft
- present location, i.e. position when entering port limit
- destination, i.e. new location in port or bound for sea
- height
- remarks, if any
Guidelines for vessels proceeding to or departing from a terminal in a reporting sector
Before proceeding to a terminal and prior to entering the reporting sector, the master of the vessel shall ensure that:
- the berth at the terminal or shipyard is clear from obstructions and that adequate personnel are available to assist the vessel during the berthing;
- the tug(s) where applicable are in position to assist the vessel;
- the VHF working channel for berthing has been agreed and tested;
- the vessel’s navigational equipment/steering gear including the ship’s whistle are tested;
- any other precautions deemed necessary for the safe navigation and berthing of the vessel are observed.
Before unberthing at a terminal within a reporting sector, the master of the vessel shall ensure that:
- it is in a state of readiness to proceed out;
- the tugs (s) are made fast to the vessel;
- the vessel’s navigational equipment /steering gear including the ship’s whistle is tested;
- the VHF equipment is in good working condition;
- for inter-terminal or inter-shipyard movement, the other berth is safe and ready to receive the vessel; and
- any other precautions deemed necessary for the safe unberthing and navigation of the vessel are observed.
Masters of vessels navigating within a reporting sector are reminded of the following:
- to keep a proper look-out for other vessels that may also be manoeuvring within the area;
- to keep as near to the outer limit of the fairway which lies on her starboard side where it is safe and practicable;
- to proceed at a safe speed at all times;
- to comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 as amended;
- that anchoring is prohibited except in the case of emergency to avoid immediate danger.
For more information, you may click on the PDF herebelow
