Shipping and Technology Divisions' Visit to Jack-up Rig “Maersk Convincer”

The Shipping and Technology Divisions visited the jack-up rig, Maersk Convincer, on 3 June 2016 at Keppel FELS Crescent Yard. The tour was hosted by Mr Andy Hague, OIM Maersk Convincer, and Mr Varun Ramdas, Environment & Energy Manager at Maersk Drilling.

The Maersk Convincer is owned by Maersk Drilling Holdings Singapore Pte Ltd and is registered with the Singapore Registry. A Baker Pacific Class 375-design, she was constructed by Jurong Shipyard Pte. Ltd. in 2008. She is capable of drilling in water depths of up to 375 ft in benign areas and has a rated drilling depth of 30,000 ft.

The Maersk Convincer distinguishes herself from conventional jack-ups in several areas. In particular, the highly mechanised equipment on the drill floor (which is capable of dual pipe handling) ensures increased safety for the crew and maximised drilling efficiency and uptime, due to off-line activities. Sophisticated drilling equipment also makes the rig qualified for drilling deep and difficult wells such as high temperature or high pressure wells. She is capable of operating in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Latin America and West Africa while carrying a crew of up to 118 persons.

On behalf of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Shipping and Technology Divisions, we would like to thank the Environment & Energy manager and OIM of the Maersk Convincer for graciously inviting us onboard the Maersk Convincer. It was definitely an interesting and learning experience for the MPA officers. We would like to wish her fair winds and following seas!

Tokyo MOU Expert Mission on MLC for Thailand

Upon the request of the Secretariat of the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (Tokyo MOU), two officers from the Ship Regulations and Port State Control Department of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) successfully completed an Expert Mission on the topic of “Maritime Labour Convention 2006” (MLC 2006) for Thailand from 21 to 24 June 2016. The Expert Mission is a training initiative administered by the Tokyo MOU Secretariat under the Tokyo MOU Integrated Strategic Plan for the training and exchange of port State Control officers.

Singapore was the first Asian country to ratify the MLC 2006 and we have upheld our reputation as a responsible and quality flag that looks after the welfare and interests of seafarers. In providing technical assistance and training to member authorities of the Tokyo MOU, we have strived to further enhance our effort in ensuring that requirements of the MLC 2006 are implemented uniformly so as to maintain an equal playing field for ships trading in the Asia Pacific region.

A total of 47 participants attended the training hosted by the Marine Department (Ministry of Transport, Thailand). At the end of the Expert Mission, lead trainer Mr. Mark Lim Yew Guan (Deputy Director – Shipping Division of MPA) presented the Certificate of Attendance to the participants.

Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI)

In 2011, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) pledged to invest S$100 million over the course of 5 years in the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI). The MSGI seeks to reduce the environmental impact of shipping and related activities while promoting clean and green shipping in Singapore. The flagship programmes under MSGI include the Green Ship Programme, the Green Port Programme and the Green Technology Programme. Created in 2014, the MPA Sustainability Office further drives other initiatives to encourage maritime companies towards sustainable shipping.

Given the strong support from the maritime industry, MSGI was enhanced and extended to 31 December 2016 after its expiration in June 2016. The initiative’s extension is MPA’s demonstration of our commitment towards an environmentally friendly and sustainable global hub port.

As part of Singapore’s longer term efforts to encourage Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a sustainable alternative fuel source, incentives under the Green Ship Programme and Green Port Programme will be expanded to include ships using LNG starting 1 July 2016. In addition to this, ships calling at our port that wish to enjoy a flat concession rate of 25% in port dues for the entirety of their stay will have to reduce their use of low sulphur fuels, as the sulphur oxides limit under the Green Port Programme will be reduced further to 0.5%.

Apart from these enhancements to the existing Programmes, two new programmes under the MSGI – the Green Awareness Programme and the Green Energy Programme – have also been launched.

The Green Awareness Programme focuses on creating awareness on possible avenues for sustainable shipping. Other than the Maritime Singapore Green Pledge and regular sustainability workshops and forums, MPA will also be awarding the first SEC-MPA Singapore Environmental Achievement Award (Maritime) this year. In addition to this, MPA will co-fund the consultancy fees paid by listed shipping companies who wish to produce their S/I Reports ahead of the mandatory requirement in 2018. This will assist companies in preparation for the Sustainability/Integrated (S/I) reporting.

On the other hand, the Green Energy Programme aims to promote the adoption of alternate or cleaner marine fuels as well as a wider adoption of energy-efficient operational measures. These efforts would come through support in asset and infrastructural development, as well as provision of various platforms for the industry to gain knowledge on these alternate fuels.

SEC MPA Maritime Sector Award

Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports and a leading international maritime centre. As the agency responsible for regulating and promoting the maritime sector, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) takes the lead in promoting good practices within the maritime community.

Having won the Singapore Environment Achievement Award (SEAA) last year, MPA is honoured to be the category sponsor for the inaugural Maritime Sector award this year. MPA’s sponsorship is a reflection of our commitment in promoting a clean and green Maritime Singapore. The inaugural SEC-MPA Singapore Environmental Achievement Award (Maritime) serves to recognise maritime companies that are at the forefront of sustainability efforts.

This year, Wallenius Wilhemsen Logistics (WWL) won the SEC-MPA SEAA (Maritime) while the China Navigation Company (CNCo) was recognised as the merit winner. WWL won for establishing measures to reduce their atmospheric and marine pollutant emissions, such as limiting sulphur at berth to less than 0.1 per cent for all vessels in all ports globally. It is also one of the founding members of Trident Alliance, an international coalition of more than 35 ship owners and operators from 12 countries. Launched in July 2014, the Trident Alliance aims to raise awareness on the enforcement of sulphur regulations.

In addition to winning the SEC-MPA SEAA (Maritime), WWL won the CDL Outstanding SEAA which is an overarching award that recognises one top performer amongst all the SEAA categories.

MPA aims to build a Future Ready Maritime Singapore that is as competitive as it is sustainable.

ASEAN Corporate Sustainability Summit and Awards 2016

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is honoured to be recognised as the winner of the Sustainability Strategy category and runner up for the Sustainability Report category at the ASEAN Corporate Sustainability Summit and Awards 2016 (ACSSA 2016).

The ACSSA 2016, organised by Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), aims to achieve the following:

(i) Commend the efforts for successful demonstration of companies’ commitment to sustainable operations;
(ii) Provide a platform to showcase sustainable practices and create an avenue for benchmarking; and
(iii) Establish an opportunity to promote maturity in sustainable practices through healthy competition among industry peers.

This year the ACSSA 2016 summit, themed “Empowering Sustainable Convergence”, focused on an in-depth discussion on Sustainable Development Goals to motivate public and private stakeholders to “understand”, “realign” and “converge” sustainability strategies into their value creation models. Mr. Bryan McClelland, founder of Bambike Revolutionary Cycles, and Mr. Mark Lozano, Co-Founder of one Million Lights Philippines, shared insights on their unique business models centring corporate social responsibility & community development and innovative sustainability products and processes.

In his thank you remarks at the awards dinner, Mr. Wong Kai Cheong, MPA’s Deputy Director of Shipping, said that “MPA views sustainability goals as aligned to our needs to be ready for the future. Sustainability is absolutely relevant for MPA to fulfil its roles as a regulator, planner and champion for Singapore to become a premium hub-port and an International Maritime Centre. Winning the Sustainability Strategy category at the ACSSA 2016 will spur us on to continue to work harder with the wider international community for Sustainable Shipping and contribute to the responsible growth of the world community.“

Familiarisation Workshop on Marinet Online Services

In line with The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) efforts to continually improve its services for the shipping community, a suite of Marinet online services was rolled out on 1 July 2016. Amongst them are the Application for Civil Liability Oil Pollution (CLC) 92 Certificate, the Declaration of Company, the Declaration of Designated Person Ashore and the Declaration of Company Security Officer. This new set of services is an expansion to the existing list of services provided by the Singapore Registry Ships (SRS). Prior to 1 July 2016, applications like Transcript of Register and Civil Liability Bunker Oil Pollution (BCC) Certificate were already available in the Marinet. The enhancement is aimed at providing timely issuance of certificates and declarations to the vessel.

In order for its customers to learn and become familiar with the new services, SRS conducted a half-day workshop for them. The workshop, which ran for two days, also aimed at encouraging the use of online services. The response was overwhelming and the turnout was a full house on both days. The workshop also created an information sharing platform as customers shared and contributed feedback on how the online services could be better enhanced.

MPA supports the IMO in conducting Regional Training Courses for Auditors under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme

Since 1998, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been providing training to the international maritime community under the Singapore-IMO Third Country Training Programme (TCTP). Under this memorandum of understanding, Singapore conducts and contributes to the funding of training programmes for developing IMO Member States on matters relating to maritime safety and the prevention and control of marine pollution.

One such programme is the Regional Training Course for Auditors under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS). IMSAS aims to promote effective and consistent implementation of IMO instruments while assisting Member States to improve their capabilities and overall performance in compliance with the requirements of the IMO instruments to which they are a Party of. The IMSAS came into effect on 1 January 2016.

Two training courses had been conducted in 2015 and 2016 – at Accra, Ghana in September 2015, and at Busan, Korea in June 2016. On both occasions, MPA provided a consultant to assist the IMO in conducting the courses. The MPA was also privileged to send participants to attend the courses. In the more recent course held in Korea, a total of 34 officials from 13 Maritime Administrations in the Asian region attended.

The courses included a mock audit, where participants had the opportunity to put what they had learnt and their auditing skills to practice. The group exercises also allowed the participants to interact in a multi-cultural environment, while understanding the topics in greater depth.

On completion of the training courses, participants are expected to assist their respective administrations in preparing for the Member State audit and, if selected, to participate in the IMO audit teams.

Through supporting such training courses under the Singapore-IMO TCTP, Singapore hopes to enhance IMO Member States’ capacities to effectively implement international maritime regulations and standards.

Training Workshop on MLC held in Jakarta, Indonesia

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) successfully conducted a training workshop on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 for Indonesian Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST) officers from 20 to 22 July 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This training workshop was made possible by the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Maritime Training signed between MPA and DGST Indonesia in September 2015. The MOU was extended for another three years at the 9th meeting of the DGST-MPA Training MOU in December 2015. For the conduct of this workshop, MPA sent two officers from the Shipping Division (SG) to serve as trainers. A total of 35 participants took part in the workshop. The participants included officers from DGST HQ and various regional ports in Indonesia.

The training workshop was conducted using a combination of techniques that involved classroom lectures in conjunction with several interactive group case studies and presentations. Topics such as provisions for Flag State Control (FSC), Port State Control (PSC) under MLC, Guidelines for FSC and PSC inspections and PSC inspection on the 14 requirements in the MLC 2006 were covered by the workshop. The feedback received from the participants on the training workshop was generally very good and MPA was also updated on the progress of Indonesia’s MLC ratification by the Deputy Director of Marine Safety, DGST Indonesia, Capt. Ferry Akbar.

Apart from training the participants on inspection requirements for flag and Port State regimes of the MLC, the MPA also shared their PSC experience in MLC inspections with the participants. This will accord mutual understanding between Singapore and Indonesia on practical aspects of MLC implementation onboard ships and, in particular, the MLC requirements that are further complicated by differences in national determination and legislation. In addition to this, solutions to the participants’ feedback and concerns were offered by us in an effort to harmonise our respective PSC procedures for MLC inspections.