Guide underway for mariners navigating in straits of Malacca and Singapore

Channel NewsAsia 13 Feb 14;

SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is in the final stages of developing a safe passage guide for all mariners navigating in the Strait of Malacca and the Singapore Strait.

MPA said it is cooperating with the littoral states of Malaysia and Indonesia and BIMCO on coming up with the guide, which will be made available as soon as it is ready.

The authority gave the update after it conducted the first of a series of navigational safety dialogue sessions with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) to the shipping community on Thursday, following three marine collisions recently over a span of 13 days in Singapore waters.

More than 100 representatives from the shipping community, who have direct channels to convey the safety messages to the ship masters and officers, attended the dialogue.

MPA said the session covered the interim measures that will be adopted to minimise future marine incidents.

Ships' crews were also reminded about their responsibilities and practices on the safe navigation of their ships.

MPA said it would also take appropriate action against any parties that are found to be guilty of navigational safety lapses in the Singapore Strait and within Singapore's port waters.

- CNA/nd

First of series of navigational safety dialogue sessions conducted by MPA and SSA
MPA 13 Feb 14;

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) collaborated with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) to organise the first in a series of dialogue sessions to the shipping community to reinforce the importance of the safety of navigation in the Singapore Strait and Singapore's port waters. Following the recent collisions, MPA announced several measures on Monday to minimise future marine incidents.

The dialogue session was attended by more than 100 representatives from the shipping community, including shipowners, ship managers, ship charterers and shipping agents, who have direct channels to convey the safety messages to the ship masters and officers. The session covered the interim measures to be adopted, as well as reminders to the ships' crew on their responsibilities and practices on the safe navigation of their ships. The industry welcomed the session and took the opportunity to voice suggestions that could further enhance safe navigation within these waters, which would be considered through further dialogues between MPA and the shipping community.

MPA is also in the final stages of developing a safe passage guide for all mariners navigating in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, in cooperation with the littoral states of Malaysia and Indonesia and BIMCO, which will be made available as soon as it is ready.

MPA will continue to engage the shipping community to raise their vigilance. MPA will also take appropriate action against any parties that are found to be guilty of navigational safety lapses in the Singapore Strait and within our port waters.