MPA Singapore publishes second edition of guides on IMO 2020

The two guides for Singapore-registered ships and Ships calling at the Port of Singapore respectively are an addition to the first two editions that were launched in November 2018.

Both guidelines consist of details on Singapore's implementation plan for the IMO 2020 global sulphur limit as well as the outcome of the recent IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee 74th meeting (MEPC 74).

Firstly, the Guide on Singapore-registered ships presents the IMO guidelines, Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and Unified Interpretations, the Ship Implementation Plan, Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report (FONAR) Form, Disposal of Non-Compliant Fuel Oil, Fuel Oil Safety, Scrubber Residue and Washwater Discharge, and Enforcement Measure.

SRS operators with ships installed with openloop scrubbers are advised to take note of ports which have prohibited the discharge of washwater from open-loop scrubbers.

MPA will inspect Singapore-registered ships (SRS) as well as foreign-registered ships in the Port of Singapore in accordance with the Flag State and Port State Control regimes respectively. Ships that fail to use an approved abatement technology, alternative fuel oil or compliant fuel oil will be considered as non-compliant with the IMO 2020 regulations, and punitive actions will be taken

 Secondly the Guide on Ships calling at the Port of Singapore provide an insight into the flow diagram of a ship calling a Singapore port and the steps that have to be taken.

When arriving in a Singaporean port, vessels firstly use the electronic pre-arrival notification (EPAN) and electronic notification of arrival (ENOA). Then, the guidelines present the situations of what to do when a vessel uses compliant fuel, uses scrubbers or uses non-compliant fuel. In the possibility of using scrubbers the guides provide information on open-loop scrubbers, closed-loop ones, and hybrid.

As a Party to the Convention, Singapore will provide reception facilities to receive the residues generated from the operation of hybrid/closed-loop scrubber.

The report highlights that the discharge of washwater from open-loop scrubbers is prohibited in the Port of Singapore. This is to maintain the standard of Singapore’s marine water quality.