No lay-ups in Singapore port

MPA refutes report of 735 ships idling in local waters as trade declines
Elizabeth Wilmot, Straits Times 20 May 09;

THE Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has asserted that there are no lay-ups in local port waters, in response to a claim by The New York Times (NYT) that there are 735 ships idling just outside the port.

According to Captain M. Segar, group director (Hub Port) of MPA, there have been no lay-ups in the port, and port dues are structured to actively discourage laying up.

'About 400 to 500 ships use our anchorages daily, contributing to Singapore being the world's busiest port. While these numbers are higher than last year's, they represent an average utilisation of only around 65 per cent of our anchorage capacity,' Capt Segar said in an e-mailed statement to The Straits Times.

He added that more than 95 per cent of those ships stay for fewer than 10 days.

An NYT online article published last Tuesday said that 'one of the largest fleets of ships ever gathered idles here just outside one of the world's busiest ports (Singapore), marooned by the receding tide of global trade'.

It reported that the number of ships congregated amounted to 735, as counted by the AIS Live ship tracking service of Lloyd's Register-Fairplay. It added that 'shipping lines are becoming concerned about near misses and collisions in one of the world's most congested waterways, the straits that separate Malaysia and Singapore from Indonesia'.

Capt Segar assured the international shipping community that MPA was acutely aware of concerns about congestion, and was 'committed to ensuring navigational safety within the Singapore Strait and Singapore port, as well as in its approaches'.

'The number of marine incidents in the anchorages of the Singapore port has remained fairly stable. There were nine reported incidents in our port so far this year, which is the same number reported over the same period in 2008,' he added.

The incidents were not due to port congestion and included four that were caused by ships dragging anchor during unusually high winds. All the incidents were said to be minor and did not result in any injury or pollution.

Capt Segar reported that outside Singapore port waters, MPA's Singapore Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) observed about 150 ships anchored in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) - which helps regulate marine traffic to prevent collisions - in the Singapore Strait region.

'For ships anchored in the TSS of the Singapore Strait, the Singapore VTS actively reports them to their respective flag administrations - and ship owners also where possible - for appropriate action, as these ships are violating the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, which prohibits anchoring in the TSS,' he said.

Economists attributed the widespread idling of ships to the steep decline in global trade.

Economist David Cohen of Action Economics said: 'We've experienced one of the sharpest contractions in world trade...over the past six to nine months. If things do pick up, they (the shipping industry) can get back in action.'

CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun said: 'Better to be parked here where, in case there is a quick shift in sentiment, boats are out there to load up...very quickly. It makes sense to park them near the busiest port of the world.'

Capt Segar said that MPA would be pressing for action from the authorities beyond Singapore.

But he added: 'For areas beyond our port waters, we urge ship owners and flag states to take serious action against errant ship masters who anchor their ships indiscriminately there, so as to help reduce the navigational risks in these locations.

'We will also be working with Malaysia and Indonesia to address this issue at the International Maritime Organisation.'

Singapore port remains navigationally safe: MPA
Letter to the Editor, Business Times 20 May 09;

I REFER to the story by The New York Times titled 'Ships Tread Water, Waiting for Cargo' (May 13, 2009), which The Business Times ran on May 14, 2009. The article suggests that there are about 735 ships idling in and around Singapore waters as a result of the global slowdown in shipping, and that this may lead to an increase in marine incidents.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) assures the international shipping community that we are acutely aware of concerns about congestion, and are committed to ensuring navigational safety within the Singapore Strait and Singapore port as well as in its approaches.

We would like to clarify that the Singapore port has sufficient anchorage capacity to meet the needs of the shipping industry, and for ships to navigate safely. About 400 to 500 ships use our anchorages daily, contributing to Singapore being the world's busiest port. While these numbers are higher than last year, they represent an average utilisation of only around 65 per cent of our anchorage capacity.

While at anchor, these ships perform a variety of activities, such as taking stores, lifting bunkers, awaiting cargo, undergoing maintenance and repairs afloat, or waiting to enter shipyards. More than 95 per cent of these ships stay for less than 10 days.

Reports that ships have been laid up in the Singapore port are not accurate. There have been no lay-ups in our port, and our port dues are structured to actively discourage laying-up in our port.

Also, the number of marine incidents in the anchorages of the Singapore port has remained fairly stable. There were nine reported incidents in our port so far this year, which is the same number reported over the same period in 2008. These incidents were not due to port congestion, and included four that were caused by ships dragging anchor during unusually high winds. All the incidents were minor and did not result in any injuries or pollution.

Outside Singapore port waters, MPA's Singapore Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) observed that there are about 150 ships anchored in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait and in the approaches to ports (including the Singapore port) along the Singapore Strait. Observations made about the number of ships in the Singapore port probably included these vessels which are actually outside the Singapore port waters.

For ships anchored in the TSS of the Singapore Strait, the Singapore VTS actively reports them to their respective flag administrations (and shipowners also, where possible) for appropriate action, as these ships are violating the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (Colregs), which prohibits anchoring in the TSS. Singapore's efforts have helped reduce the number of ships indiscriminately anchoring within the TSS of the Singapore Straits and few ships remain there.

Most of the approximately 150 ships are indiscriminately anchored outside the TSS of the Singapore Strait. The Singapore VTS actively advises these ships against doing so, as such indiscriminate anchoring poses a risk to navigational safety, even though they are outside the TSS. As a result of this increased risk, we have observed an increase in the number of incidents outside Singapore port waters. To date this year, the Singapore VTS has received 16 reports of minor incidents outside the Singapore port. This is an increase from the four reported over the same period last year.

In conclusion, MPA would like to reassure the shipping community that the port of Singapore remains navigationally safe and that MPA will continue its efforts to ensure navigational safety within the Singapore Strait and the Singapore port. For areas beyond our port waters, we urge ship owners and flag States to take serious action against errant shipmasters who anchor their ships indiscriminately there, so as to help reduce the navigational risks in these locations. We will also be working with Malaysia and Indonesia to address this issue at the International Maritime Organization.

Capt M Segar
Group Director (Hub Port)
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore