Vessels Arriving in Singapore

All Single Hulled Tankers (SHTs) must submit the pre-arrival declaration form to the Port Master at least 24 hours before arrival to Singapore.

Compliance with Acts and Regulations

These reporting procedures apply to all Single Hulled Tankers (SHTs). They are requirements given according to Section 10 and 44 of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act (CAP 170A) and Regulations 3 of the MPA of Singapore (Port) Regulations 1997.

Reporting schedule before arrival to Singapore

The owner, agent, master or person-in-charge of any SHTs weighing 5000 deadweight tons (DWT) and above must submit a declaration to the Port Master:

• at least 24 hours before arrival; or
• immediately on departure from a nearby port with less than 24 hours steaming time to Singapore

Submission of Pre-arrival Declaration form

The owner, agent, master or person-in-charge must send the completed Pre-arrival Declaration form to the Port Master by fax or telex:

Fax: (65) 6224 5776

Telex: RS 34970

Any vessel that does not comply with the applicable provisions of the MARPOL Convention on SHTs may be denied entry into the Singapore port, or detained if the ship is already in the port.

Contact information of Port Master’s Office

You may direct any queries concerning the pre-arrival declaration for SHTs to the Port Master’s Office at:

Tel: (65) 6325 2369

Fax: (65) 6325 2454

Vessels need to comply with the notification and reporting procedures before and when they arrive in Singapore

Definitions of terms

The following are definitions of some terms used:

• Notification of arrival (NOA) – The advance notice sent from a vessel to the Port Master stating the vessel's intention to enter Singapore.
• Confirmation of arrival –The VHF radiotelephone report sent through a Vessel Traffic Information Service (VTIS) to the Port Master when a vessel is within the VTIS operational area.
• Passenger vessel – A vessel carrying more than 12 passengers.
• Height – The height declared by the vessel that measures vertically from the water-line to the highest point of the vessel. The cargo, equipment, structure or any extendible structures onboard can make up the highest point. The appropriate plans or documents must contain the height information and be carried onboard the vessel.

Notification procedures for arriving vessels

These notification procedures apply to passenger vessels or vessels of 300 GT or more. The owner, agent, master or person-in-charge of these vessels must notify the Port Master:

• at least 12 hours prior to the vessels’ arrival in Singapore;
• once the vessel departs if they come from a nearby port with less than 12 hours steaming time to Singapore; or
• at least 24 hours in advance if they carry hazardous and noxious substances in bulk. The notification must contain the details of such cargoes according to the Port Marine Circular No. 15 of 1998 .

The owner, agent, master or person-in-charge must send the Notification of Arrival report in the defined reporting format.

Vessels arriving with residues or mixtures containing oil or noxious liquid substance must declare to the Port Master the quantity and content of such residues or mixtures on board the ship. Vessels that will be or likely to discharge these substances within the port must provide the following information in item 11 – Slop/Sludge Indicator – of the Notification of Arrival report:

Quantity and content (including water) of such residues or mixtures to be discharged within the port (if any); and

Details of the arrangement made with the approved reception facility in the port for the discharge of such residues or mixtures.

Some examples on the Notification of Arrival reports:

• Notification of Arrival from a master of a vessel "Grace" arriving from the east
• Notification of Arrival from a master of a vessel "Noble" arriving from the west with slop/sludge on board and defective steering

Send the report to the Port Master by one of these means:

mailto:noa@mpa.gov.sg

Fax: (65) 6224 5776

Telex: RS 34970 (Answer Back PORTPM 34970)

Confirmation procedures for arriving vessels

The confirmation procedures apply to the following categories of vessels that intend to call at Singapore:

• Vessels of 300 GT or more;
• Tug engaged in towing or pushing vessels with a combined GT of 300 or more; and
• Any passenger vessels

These vessels must report the Confirmation of Arrival together with the vessel's particulars to the VTIS by VHF radiotelephone

Reporting points for Confirmation of Arrival

Make the Confirmation of Arrival report to the respective VTIS when the vessel is at any of the points shown below: View sectors 7 to 9 of the STRAITREP operational area

• Reporting to VTIS East on VHF CH 10 - (Sector 9 of STRAITREP)
• Approaching from the East (South China Sea) when Horsburgh lighthouse (01° 19.814'N 104°24.337'E) is abeam
• Approaching from the South via Selat Riau when Karang Galang Lt (01 ° 09.577'N104° 11.365'E) is abeam.
• Approaching from the East Johor Strait when Eastern Buoy (01° 17.865'N 104° 05.894'E) is abeam.

Reporting to VTIS Central on VHF CH 14 - (Sector 8 of STRAITREP)This applies to vessels joining the traffic lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait between Longitudes 103° 44.6'E and 104° 02.1'E. Vessels must report after departing from the port or anchorages north or south of the TSS.

Reporting to VTIS West on VHF CH 73 - (Sector 7 of STRAITREP)

• Approaching from the South via Selat Durian when Pulau Jangkat Beacon (00° 57.895'N 103°42.619'E) is abeam.
• Approaching from the West (Malacca Strait) when Pulau lyu Kechil (01° 11.479'N 103° 21.140'E) is abeam.
• Vessels coming from directions other than those specified above must call the appropriate East, West or Central VTIS operator as they reach the VTIS operational area. They should provide the vessel's position by bearing and distance from one of the following reference points:
  • Pu lyu Kechil (01°11.466'N 103° 21.141'E)
  • Sultan Shoal Lt (01°14.377'N 103° 38.884'E)
  • Raffles Lt (01°09.606'N 103° 44.450'E)
  • Sakijang Lt Bn (01°13.305'N 103° 51.275'E)
  • Bedok Lt (01°18.544'N 103° 55.965'E)
  • TgSetapa Lt (01°20.574'N 104° 08.135'E)
  • Horsburgh Lt (01°19.814'N 104° 24.337'E)

The VHF Confirmation of Arrival report must contain the following information:

• Vessel's name;
• Call sign;
• Present location (with reference to any one of the designated reporting points, e.g.when Horsburgh Lt is abeam);
• Number of passengers and crew (applicable only for passenger vessels calling at Singapore);
• Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) at the first destination in the Port or the name of the pilot boarding ground for a vessel engaging the service of a pilot; and
• Height of the vessel (applicable if height differs from that provided in the notification of arrival report)

Contact information of Port Master’s Office

You may direct any queries to the Port Master's Office at

Tel: 6325 2453 or 6325 2369

Fax: 6325 2454

General Declaration Requirements on Arrival

An owner, agent or master must make a declaration within 24 hours of a vessel's arrival in Singapore to the Marine Licensing and Permits department (MLP) via digitalPORT@SG^TM. 

Information Required

The Arrival General Declaration requires the submission of the following information: 

Vessel Details

• Vessel Name
• IMO number
• Call Sign
• Gross Tonnage (when a vessel has dual registered tonnages, the higher tonnage should be declared)
• Port of Registry
• Nationality of Registry (i.e. Flag)
• Vessel Type
• Official Number
• Name of Vessel Owner
• Charterer's Nationality

Purpose of Call

• Loading / Discharging of Cargo 
• Embarking/ Disembarking Passengers
• Taking Bunkers (to indicate grade and quantity)
• Taking Ship's Supplies
• Changing Members of Crew
• Repair/ Docking/ Outfitting at Shipyard (to indicate shipyard details)
• Offshore Support Vessel Without Cargo Operations
• Other Afloat Activities (to indicate accordingly)

Arrival Details

• Arrival Date and Time
• Last Port of Call
• Location on Arrival
• Grid Reference
• Name of Master
• Number of Crew (including Master)
• Number of Passengers
• Total Cargo on board on arrival

Creation of Vessel Record

For vessels calling Singapore for the first time, an "Application of Vessel Record Creation" is to be submitted and approved via digitalPORT@SG^TM prior to the submission of the General Declaration. For this application, the Certificate of Registry and International Tonnage Certificate (if available) is required.

Change of Vessel Particulars

For vessels renamed since their last visit, an "Application for Change of Vessel Particulars" is to be submitted and approved via digitalPORT@SG^TM prior to the submission of the General Declaration. For this application, the Certificate of Registry and International Tonnage Certificate (if available) is required. 

Further Enquiries

Should you have further enquiries pertaining to the procedures, please contact Marine Licensing and Permits (MLP) department:

For technical issues regarding digitalPORT@SG^TM (e.g. I can't log in despite multiple attempts, I can load the module etc.), please contact:

Vessels must use appropriate VHF channels when reporting to the relevant shore stations.

The communication channels listed here are for:
MPA and other agencies.
Pilotage, tug and water boat services.
Oil terminals.  

All vessels should use the appropriate VHF channels when reporting to the relevant shore stations.

Communication channels for MPA and other agencies

VHF Channels for navigational reporting

VHF channels for safety and emergencies

VHF channels for immigration/port health clearance

Communication channels for pilotage, towage and waterboats services

VHF channels for pilotage, tug and waterboats services

VHF channels for oil terminals