The Safety@Sea Singapore campaign was launched on 31 July 2014. Led by the MPA, the campaign is an industry-wide effort to increase awareness of safe practices and inculcate a safety-first culture at sea.
Launch of Safety@Sea Campaign
The logo of the Safety@Sea Singapore campaign was launched by Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, together with representatives from the Association of Regional Ferry Operators, Singapore Maritime Employers Federation, Singapore Sailing Federation, Singapore Shipping Association, Singapore Power Boat Association, and PSA Marine. Information kits containing posters, decals and guidebooks were also distributed to members of the harbour craft and shipping community.
Mr Andrew Tan, MPA Chief Executive, presenting the Safety Info-kit to a harbourcraft master
In addition to the distribution of information kits to promote a safety-first mindset at sea, MPA will conduct industry-wide briefing sessions to share safety best practices. MPA will continue enforcement efforts to ensure the compliance of rules and regulations, with a greater emphasis on navigational and ship board safety.
Safety awards will also be presented during the inaugural Safety Awareness Week slated to be held in November 2014 to recognise companies, vessels, and seafarers that display exemplary safety practices at sea.
Train-the-Trainer ECDIS Workshop
The MPA launched the inaugural Train-the-Trainer Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) workshop on 29 September 2014. The workshop is jointly-organised with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), under the Singapore-IMO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Third Country Training Programme.
The five-day workshop conducted by MPA Academy (the training arm of MPA), educated 18 participants from 11 countries in the effective use of ECDIS simulators as a training tool, and methods of training deck officers on ships on the proper and safe use of ECDIS.
ECDIS is an integrated navigational aid developed with the intention to reduce navigational accidents caused by human error. As ECDIS is relatively new equipment, there are wide variations in standards of training in various parts of the world. The intention of the workshop is to build capacity in the region and provide ECDIS trainers with the necessary skill-sets to enhance their training capabilities and ensure that seafarers in their respective countries are trained to high levels of proficiency in operating ECDIS.
Singapore Ships Participate in Search & Rescue (SAR) Operations
SAR operations in the Mediterranean Sea
A total of five SAR operations took place in the Mediterranean Sea between July and September 2014. They involved four of our Singapore-registered ships, Stjerneborg, Alpine Loyalty, Stride and APL Sentosa.
Stjerneborg was involved in two SAR missions within a short span of four weeks. The vessel rescued a total of 293 migrants from three distressed boats on 6 July and 10 August 2014 under the instruction of the Italian Coast Guard.
On 16 July 2014, Alpine Loyalty, under the instruction of the Italian Coast Guard, rescued a total of 106 immigrants off Malta Island from a distressed vessel craft. 12 women and 10 children were amongst those rescued, tended to with food and water, and subsequently safely sent to Genoa.
On 20 August 2014, APL Sentosa was appointed as the On Scene Coordinator to assist in the rescue operation of a disabled boat under the instructions of RCC Malta. The vessel stood by to ensure safety of the boat and personnel on board until the arrival of the Maltese Coast Guard vessel.
Following MRCC Rome’s instructions, Stride was diverted to rescue two dingy boats adrift on 16 September 2014. SAR operations 78 nautical miles North of Libya were successfully carried out, with a total of 184 survivors safely handed over to the Italian Coast Guard at Trapani, Italy.
We would like to congratulate the master and crew of Stjerneborg, Alpine Loyalty, Stride and APL Sentosa for their gallant efforts extended in rescuing the immigrants.
TORM AGNES safely disembarks 203 survivors at Pozzallo, Italy
On 19 July 2014, Singapore-registered ship Torm Agnes was requested by the Italian MRCC to participate in a SAR operation while en-route to Zawia, Libya. A total of 203 survivors were rescued from two boats. MPA would like to compliment the officers and crew of Torm Agnes for their prompt response in facilitating the safe landing of the survivors at Pozzallo, Italy.
JRCC Australia compliments HIGH PEARL for timely SAR in “keeping with the finest traditions of the sea”
On 12 August 2014, 905 nautical miles South of Sri Lanka, 10 survivors on board a fishing trawler FV GD WANG - which had caught fire - were successfully rescued by Singapore-flagged vessel High Pearl. Under the instructions of MRCC Cape Town, the survivors were then safely disembarked in South Africa before the vessel continued its voyage. MPA commends the master and crew of High Pearl for extending a helping hand during the survivors’ time of need.
Exercise Blue Dolphin 2014
The MPA held a full-day emergency preparedness exercise on 11 July 2014, codenamed “Exercise Blue Dolphin 2014” where evacuation of some 700 passengers and crew members onboard a passenger vessel was carried out. The exercise was carried out to test the readiness of various agencies to respond to passenger vessel incidents in the Port of Singapore.
Exercise Blue Dolphin 2014: Evacuation of passengers and crew members onboard a passenger vessel.
More than 1000 personnel from 21 agencies and companies participated in this exercise which consisted of a table-top drill at the Port Operations Control Centre at PSA Vista and deployment of resources to test the preparedness and response of mass evacuation and transfer of persons at sea. The exercise was conducted in the Eastern Holding Anchorage, approximately 4.5 km from Marina South Pier and at the landward locations in Marina South Pier and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.
Exercise Blue Dolphin 2014: Personnel tending to an injured passenger
MPA’s Chief Executive, Mr Andrew Tan said, “As a major hub port along a very busy waterway, Singapore takes the safety of vessels and passengers seriously. The exercise today gives us an excellent opportunity to test our inter-agency response to any major emergencies at sea involving real assets and people. We cannot take safety for granted and it involves everyone playing their part.”
2007 Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (WRC)
We would like to highlight to the shipping community that the WRC will enter into force on 14 April 2015. Singapore is currently reviewing the WRC, and considering accession to the Convention. Shipowners should note that under the WRC, they will need, amongst other obligations, to remove wrecks deemed to be hazards and to procure insurance to cover the costs of wreck removal, up to the liability limits as determined under the applicable national or international regime. Owners of Singapore-registered ships are invited to submit their comments and feedback on the WRC to MPA by 15 Nov 2014.
Any queries relating to the WRC should be directed to Ms Syamim Yahya at Tel: +65 6375 6273 or the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) at Tel: +65 6375 1932. Queries in writing can also be directed to the SRS’ dedicated email contact at: marine@mpa.gov.sg.
ABS and MPA Signed MOU to Collaborate on Maritime R&D
ABS, a leading provider of global marine and offshore classification services, and the MPA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 24 July 2014 to promote maritime research and development (R&D), and innovation.
Over the next five years, ABS and MPA will collaborate on maritime R&D in the areas of alternative/clean fuel and developing resilient, next generation port systems. Both parties will also commit to promoting and sharing maritime thought leadership on technology.
The ABS-MPA MOU covers the following areas:
Alternative/ clean fuel research and technology, such as in liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, covering both operational configuration studies, and risk assessment and safety.
R&D on resilient, next generation port systems relating to the safety and security of new port facilities, and where processes, such as traffic management, safe navigation, security measures, situational awareness, decision making, and consequence management measures, have to be continuously and effectively assessed and updated.
Promote maritime technology to the Singapore maritime community through thought leadership fora, such as workshops and dialogues.
This latest agreement builds upon the ABS-MPA Maritime Technology Professorship programme at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). The aim of the programme is to build up SUTD's capabilities in maritime education and R&D to further boost the growth of marine and offshore technology development in Singapore.