Tag: Singapore

Held two members of the crew hostage before escaping Four robbers armed with long knives boarded a Singapore-registered LPG tanker near Singapore early Monday morning to steal engine parts from the engine room.Anti-piracy agency ReCaap Focal Point Singapore said they also briefly held two members of the crew of Gas Batam hostage before escaping in a speed boat.The incident occurred at about 2am on the waters just east of Pulau Karimun Kechil.It lasted 10 minutes and crew members - including the two hostages, an oiler and a third engineer - are reported to be safe.The ship master has reported the incident to Singapore's Port Operation Control Centre (POCC).Source: Channel News Asia

Total trade volume between Singapore and Tianjin rose 65% Singapore and Tianjin City will cooperate on port and environmental services in the upcoming year. This was announced at the fourth Singapore-Tianjin Economic and Trade Council (STETC) on Tuesday.Tianjin Mayor Huang Xingguo and Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan co-chaired the meeting, his first since taking over the role from former Minister Mah Bow Tan.Tianjin is interested in Singapore's experience in grooming a skilled workforce to support its development as a regional port and logistics centre, said Mr Khaw.Tianjin's port, China's third largest, has been earmarked as North China's international shipping and logistics hub.Environmental services for Tianjin, such as waste and energy management, will also be a key area of cooperation.Ten urban development and logistics project agreements were signed at the meeting, held at the Shangri-La Hotel.Total trade volume between Singapore and Tianjin city for the first half of the year rose 65 per cent year-on-year to $1.68 billion.Source: Strait Times

Aims to reduce emission of pollutants from ships The Maritime Singapore Green Initiative aims to further reduce the environmental impact of shipping and related activities to promote clean and green shipping.According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Maritime Singapore Green Initiative consists of three programmes - 'Green Ship Programme', 'Green Port Programme' and 'Green Technology Programme".Singapore presents a commitment to address greenhouse gas emissions by shipping. Minister Lim said, "To encourage companies who are ready or thinking about undertaking environmentally-friendly shipping practices above and beyond what is IMO-mandated, the MPA will invest up to S$100 million over the next five years in the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative. This initiative highlights Singapore's commitment as a responsible flag, and port state to clean and green shipping."Under the Green Ship Programme targeted at Singapore-flagged ships, MPA will motivate ship owners who adopt energy efficient ship designs that reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.Singapore-flagged ships which go beyond the requirements of IMO's Energy Efficiency Design Index will enjoy a 50% reduction of Initial Registration Fees (IRF) and a 20% rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax (ATT) payable. Ship owners will also be recognised through certificates and a new "SRS Green Ship of ...

The first Asian country to ratify MLC 2006 Singapore has ratified the International Labour Organizations (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) with the full support of tripartite partners the seafarer unions and the National Trades Union Congress, as well as the maritime industry and the Singapore National Employers Federation.This was announced yesterday on 14 June, by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Education Mr Hawazi Daipi, at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, and the instrument of ratification was deposited earlier today.In submitting the instrument of ratification, Mr. LOH Khum Yean, Permanent Secretary of Singapores Ministry of Manpower, stated: Singapore is pleased to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 with the full support of our tripartite partners. This is a significant step for Singapore, as we commit to applying the Conventions provisions to Singapore-registered ships and ships that call at our ports, as well as to achieve decent working conditions for seafarers.As a responsible flag State, Singapore had actively participated in the discussions that led to the adoption of this important Convention, which consolidates and updates over 60 ILO Conventions and Recommendations. We look forward to it entering into force in due course.Mr LAM Yi Young, Chief Executive ...

There was no report of any injury or pollution A ferry ran aground north of Pulau Tekong Tuesday morning after experiencing engine trouble.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was informed at 11.25 am Tuesday that the Belize-registered passenger ferry, FB Falcon Princess, had beached north of Pulau Tekong about 1.8 km west-southwest of Johor's Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal.The incident occurred within the Singapore port limit.The passenger ferry was on a scheduled trip from Changi Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal.At the time of the incident, there were 24 passengers and 11 crew onboard.MPA said all passengers were safely transferred to Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal using another boat.There was no report of any injury or pollution.Vessel traffic remains unaffected.MPA said it has issued navigational broadcasts to inform ships in the vicinity of the incident and to keep clear.MPA said it is investigating the incident.Source: CNA

Vessels are recommended to display the night signals when crossing Singapore Strait The Republic of the Marshall Islands issued a Marine Safety Advisory No 69-11 refering to Regional Marine Safety Offices, Nautical Inspectors, Masters, Owners and Agents including new rules for night signals by Singapore MPA.Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has issued a circular (Port Marine Circular No. 02 of 2011, attached) advising owners, operators, and masters of a recent amendment to the rules for vessels navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.With effect from 1 July 2011, vessels crossing the traffic separation scheme (TSS) and precautionary areas in the Singapore Strait during hours of darkness are recommended to display the night signals consisting of three (3) all-round green lights in a vertical line.For further information, click here.Source: Republic of the Marshall Islands

Since May 27 after leaving Australian port for Singapore A merchant navy officer from Jammu and Kashmir has gone missing from his tanker vessel since May 27, three days after leaving an Australian port for Singapore, his family said Tuesday.Bikram Singh, 30, second officer in the Japanese merchant navy company M.T. Yayoi Express Product Tanker, left Fremantle port in Australia May 24 for Singapore.Captain V.K. Jha from the companys office in Mumbai called us on the morning of May 27 and told us that Bikram was missing, Bikram Singhs younger brother Paramjit Singh told IANS on telephone from his village Ramgarh, about 40 km south of Jammu.Bikram Singh, who hails from a village near Jammu, was on a ship carrying oil and chemicals.We were told that the ship had just covered about 280 km from Fremantle port and was still in Australian waters when it was found that Bikram was not traceable.The company said the Australian Coast Guards made frantic searches for over 50 hours, but they could not find anything, a worried Paramjit Singh said.He said the company told him that the ship was taken back to the port, where the Australian police conducted a thorough search, but no ...

Two shipyard workers have been killed An explosion at a shipyard in Singapore occurred on Thursday afternoon, killing at least two people, authorities said.The Civil Defense Force said it received a call about the incident at about 1:20 p.m. in the afternoon, adding that the incident involved a barge undergoing maintenance work at the shipyard.No further details were available at the moment.Local broadcaster Channel NewsAsia quoted witnesses as saying that glass panels were broken at her office across the road. It also caused a ceiling panel to collapse but no one was injured.The witness, who is identified only as Mandy, said the ground shook when the explosion occurred.Another eye witness, Adrian Lee, said he saw people running out after the blast caused a roof to collapse. Lee was at a meeting about four factories away from the explosion site.Source: Xinhua

Ongoing processes Indonesia and Singapore are working together to free the MV Gemini, a vessel operated by Singapore-based Glory Ship Management, which was seized by Somalian pirates on Saturday while on its way to Kenya from Malaysia.We are cooperating with the Singaporean government so our sailors will be treated well, given protection and freed soon, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters as quoted by news portal Detik.com.Marty refused to explain in detail how the two countries are cooperating.There are ongoing processes and it is not a simple matter, he said.Glory Ship Management said in a statement on Sunday that pirates were believed to have seized the Singapore-registered MT Gemini and its more than 28,000 tons of crude palm oil.The ship had 25 crew members on board, including of 13 Indonesians, five Chinese, four South Koreans and three Myanmar citizens.Source: Jakarda Globe

Procedures for testing of the Ship Security Alert System The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular providing guidance on procedures for testing of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) on Singapore-registered ships.To view the circular please click hereSource: MPA