operational committee's reports - Singapore Shipping Association

Photo courtesy of Jurong Port Pte Ltd.
F Ship Operations & Port Services
Sub-Committee
The Ship Operations Sub-Committee is chaired by Mr.
Kek Beng of MOL (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The Sub-Committee
works closely with the MPA, the ICA, terminal operators and
other service providers to overcome any problems associated
with ship operations and port services in Singapore.
F Singapore Port Dues
As part of Government’s Economic Resilience Package
for Budget 2009, MPA introduced a 10 per cent port dues
concession for all ocean going ships with a port stay of not
more than 10 days, and a 20 per cent port dues concession
for harbour craft from 1 Apr 2009 to 31 Mar 2010. This was
later extended to 30 September 2010.
Following consultation with the Association, the MPA
decided to extend the port dues concession for all oceangoing
ships with a port stay of not more than 10 days
by 5 per cent, for another six months expiring 31 March
2011. Harbour craft, with the exception of pleasure craft
for personal use, were granted 10 per cent port dues
concession till 31 March 2011.
F Compulsory Pilotage & Potential Dangers to
Navigation
The Sub-Committee noted concerns by members about
safety of navigation and increased incidence of near misses
as a result of congestion in Singapore’s anchorages.
In light of this, it was proposed that, so long as pilotage
service levels are maintained, SSA would support the MPA’s
introduction of compulsory pilotage requirement for vessels
entering and leaving Singapore’s bunkering anchorages by
MPA.
30 SSA Annual Review 2010/2011
F Manpower Issues
Photo courtesy of BW Maritime Pte Ltd.
In view of ongoing concerns relating to delays and
rejections of work permit applications for foreign workers
working in the harbor craft industry, SSA engaged MPA in
serious discussions to adopt a set of guidelines for workpermit
holders serving aboard port-limit bunker tankers and
tugs, on the understanding that the Ministry of Manpower
will expedite the application process for 1:1 replacement of
existing crew.
MPA has further clarified, however, that in the event
that there are Singaporeans currently serving aboard portlimit
bunker tankers and tugs, the company’s allocation of
work permits will be reduced accordingly.
F Training & Development Sub-Committee
The Training & Development Sub Committee is chaired
by Capt. Mark Heah of Jardine Shipping Agencies. The
role of the Sub-Committee is to assist shipping staff in
upgrading their professional skills, and to support and
cooperate with other educational institutions in providing
executive training courses for the shipping industry.
The Sub-Committee continues to update and renew
the courses offered under its Executive Development
Program to ensure the courses remain relevant in today’s
market.
During the past year, a 1-day course on the Maritime
Labour Convention (MLC 2006) was launched to help
prepare shipping companies in their implementation of the
MLC before the Convention comes into force.
The SSA
now runs 14
courses under
its Executive
Development
Programme
The SSA now runs 14 courses under its Executive Development
Programme, namely:
• Introduction to Shipping
• Principles of Shipping Operations & Practices
• Principles of Shipping Documentations & Practices
• Understanding Import/Export Techniques and Documentation
• Principles of Shipbroking and Chartering
• Shipping Law & Disputes
• Compliance of the IMDG Code for Transport of Dangerous Goods
• Container Management
• Marine Insurance
• Effective Written Communication in the Shipping Industry
• Basic Course on the Code of Practice for Bunkering
(SS600:2008)
• Intermediate Course on the Code of Practice for Bunkering
(SS600:2008 Chapter 1 – for Cargo Officers)
• Crew Operations Management
• Maritime Labour Convention 2006 – The Concise Perspective
In 2010, a total of 965 people attended courses run by the SSA. The Association
further co-operates with the MPA and the SMA on other programmes,
such as the:
• Certificate of Performance (COP) Programme
• Diploma in Ship Operations & Management (DSOM)
F Course Fee Subsidies
With the termination of the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience
(SPUR) funding scheme on 31 December 2010, the Association successfully
obtained Maritime Cluster Fund subsidies for most of its courses under the SSA
Executive Development Programme 2011, albeit at a reduced level.
SSA Annual Review 2010/2011
31