Here's an article I wrote for The Business Times, published on 14 January 2009 . This article is on Singapore's ship registry and its success.-Flying+high+with+Singapore%27s+flag++(mediabanc)+copy.jpg)
Flying High with Singapore's Flag
Flying High with Singapore's FlagSingapore continues to enjoy one of the world’s largest quality fleets, backed by an effective and responsible registry
The growth of the Singapore fleet continued through 2008, with the tonnage of ships under the registry growing by some 10.4 per cent over 2007 to reach 43.7 million gross tons (GT) as of end December 2008. Last year, the Singapore fleet grew by about 8.2 per cent to 3,843 vessels, as compared to 3,553 in 2007.
The steady growth of the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) attests to the effective administration and "quality flag" strategy that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) develops and promotes since its establishment. The SRS has grown steadily by about 8 per cent, from 18 million GT in 1996 to 43.7 million GT in 2008.
As a flag administration, MPA’s SRS is committed to promoting the highest standards of shipping. This includes implementing effective monitoring, implementation and enforcement mechanisms to promote safe and clean shipping. With a large fleet flying under its flag, MPA recognises that maintaining high shipping standards and ensuring safety and security are critical for the reputation and attractiveness of its ship registry.
Singapore’s recent successful participation in the Voluntary International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS) is important as the audit provides an objective assessment of a member state’s performance in its implementation of IMO instruments.
Captain Khong Shen Ping, Assistant Chief Executive Officer of MPA said, “Singapore’s participation in VIMSAS will enhance the state’s standing in Port State Control (PSC) regimes and uphold high quality standards of ships flying the Singapore flag. This builds on MPA’s efforts to develop Singapore into a premier International Maritime Centre.“
Since July last year, seafarers of Singapore-flagged ships had been able to apply through MPA’s online MARINET for their Certificate of Endorsement (COE), a document that is required for employment on board Singapore-flagged ships. Time is saved as it used to take a seafarer seven days to obtain a certificate. Now a seafarer can obtain the COE within 1-2 days. The shorter processing time is crucial to ship owners as it enhances operational efficiencies. Vessels can be detained by port state inspectors if seafarers do not have original certificates.
Besides its regulatory role, SRS also provides guidance and timely advice to ship owners on issues affecting operations. The SRS’ professional, reliable and efficient operators.
As part of MPA’s efforts to develop Singapore into a premier International Maritime Centre, Singapore has become a global hub where the shipping community has easy access to an extensive range of ancillary maritime services in shipping, making the country the choice location for ship owners to operate out of, and to tap the Asian market. Maritime Singapore is characterised by its vibrant maritime cluster, stable and pro-enterprise business environment, efficient and highly-skilled manpower, and excellent transport and telecommunication infrastructure.
Today, the SRS is ranked among the world’s top ten largest ship registries, with a fleet of 3,843 vessels. The registry has also one of the youngest fleets among the top ten registries, with an average age of ten years. Tankers, container ships and bulk carriers make up the majority of ships under SRS.
Singapore today is regarded as a reputable flag state in the world, renowned for its quality fleet, and backed by an efficient maritime administration. This is proven by its fleets’ good safety records and the registry’s adoption and compliance with the IMO’s international standards for shipping. The flag state has a reputation of low average PSC detention rates, and is included in the “white lists” of two major PSC regimes - the Paris and Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding. Both memorandums aim to establish effective PSC regimes where flag ships are examined on the basis of deficiencies and detentions to eliminate sub-standard ships.
Shipping remains a highly competitive and fast-paced industry. The strong partnerships that MPA has with its ship owners and operators and the international maritime communities are crucial to Singapore’s success. It is through their support that Singapore has gained global prominence in the maritime community. The SRS will continue to maintain its reputable fleet by working closely with ship owners to ensure that their ships continue to fly high with the Singapore flag.
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