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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore on 02 February 2024 issued Shipping Circular ("SC") 02/2024, requiring vessels registered under the Singapore Flag or vessels in Singapore waters to report marine casualties and incidents not only to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, but also to the Ministry of Transport's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau. SC 02/2024 supersedes SC 08/2023 from 02 February 2024. Under the new requirements the following occurrences must be reported to MPA and TSIB, or MPA only, if the vessel is a Singapore-registered vessel or if the vessel is within Singapore territorial waters: Initial reporting of an incident must be to MPA and TSIB (where applicable), within 2 hours and the reporting should be made by e-mail to the following departments or via the relevant hotlines accordingly: Details on the circular and the reporting format to be generated, can be found at the following link - https://www.mpa.gov.sg/media-centre/details/no.-2-of-2024---reporting-of-marine-casualties-and-marine-incidents-to-(i)-the-shipping-division-mpa-and-(ii)-the-transport-safety-investigation-bureau-of-singapore-(tsib)

As a result of the well-publicized contamination incidents arising from HSFO bunker deliveries in the Port of Singapore in early 2022 (contamination from elevated Chlorinated Organic Compounds), MPA in consultation with various industry stakeholders has mandated enhanced testing requirements to marine fuels to be delivered as bunkers by licensed Singapore Suppliers. The enhanced testing requirements that local Suppliers will have to conduct, in addition to the existing quality assurance measures, will enter into force on the 01 June 2024. Briefly, the recommendations that have been adopted by MPA, which will require additional testing to be performed by Suppliers on their bunker products are as follows: The full details on the enhanced testing regime can be found in MPA's Port Marine Circular 03/2024, released on the 08 February 2024 - https://www.mpa.gov.sg/media-centre/details/port-marine-circular-no.-03-of-2024-adoption-of-testing-enhancements-for-marine-fuel-intended-to-be-delivered-as-bunkers-in-the-port-of-singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore ("MPA") releases its revised guidelines on 22 March 2023 in PMC 06 of 2023, superseding its previous circular from 2019, on the topic of preventing pollution from bunkering operations within its jurisdiction. MPA reminds vessels and bunker tanker operators that most pollution incidents involving bunkering operations occur due to operational lapses and could be prevented if precautions are taken by the involved parties. It contains a general guideline and checklists for involved parties to keep in mind and refer to, in order to ensure that bunkering operations do not result in an occurrence of a pollution incident: MPA's Guidelines to be observed for Bunkering Operations: MPA's Checklist Guide for Bunker Tanker and Vessel: Vessels and bunker tanker operators are reminded that they may be liable of a pollution offence under Section 7 of the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act if they are found to have caused such an incident from occurring either through their actions or inactions during bunkering operations. PMC 06 of 23 may be found here.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be stepping down the remaining COVID-19 measures following MOH's adjustment on the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level from Yellow to Green on 13 February 2023. MPA's Port Marine Circular 05 of 2023 detailing the above, can be found here.