The Maritime Port and Authority of Singapore (MPA) is committed to maintain its status as a quality flag. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our ship owners, managers, and crew for the unwavering support and resilience through those challenging times which had impacted global shipping tremendously, even as more countries moved forward into an endemic phase with the easing of restrictions after combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the start of 2022 till 30 November 2022, a total of 1625 SRS were inspected by PSC under the Tokyo MoU (TMoU) while 551 SRS were inspected by PSC under the Paris MoU (PMoU). Comparing to the same period in 2021, we see an increase in PSC activities by 12% and 9% in TMoU and PMoU respectively.
Thus far, 45 SRS were detained under Port State Control (PSC). Notably, 29 detentions under TMoU of which 18 of those detentions were concentrated in Australia. Under the PMoU, 8 SRS were detained. There were also 4 detentions by USCG.
Most of the detentions were due to common PSC deficiencies which could have been avoided with proper and timely planned maintenance. A breakdown below highlights the deficiency categories:
*Others includes categories such as alarms, cargo operations, water/weathertight conditions, propulsion and auxiliary machinery and radio communications.
Call to Action
SRS owners and managers are urged to monitor their ships performance and maintenance to ensure that they are in compliance with international rules and regulations. Any defects or non-conformities shall be promptly attended and rectified in accordance with the ISM Code. For defects which cannot be promptly rectified, the ship master shall duly report and apply dispensation from MPA (shipping@mpa.gov.sg) and the Classification Society. The Master shall also report the deficiency to the competent authority when the vessel is calling at a port.
MPA had sent out advisory emails to all SRS operators to draw attention to the increase in PSC detentions in Australia and shared the detainable deficiencies observed in Australia to allow early preventive actions to be taken by all Singapore-registered ships calling Australia. Ship owners and managers shall disseminate and share this information to key personnel in your office and on board your ships. The ship master is requested to share the information with all the crew on board.
The ship master should continue to use the “Pre-Arrival Checklist for SRS” prior calling to port and for calling ports in Australia, Belgium, Canada, or US, submit a written declaration to MPA (shipping@mpa.gov.sg). We seek your kind understanding, cooperation and urgent attention on the matter in order to achieve our common objectives in maintaining Singapore as a quality flag.