PORT STATE CONTROL The Singapore Experience

1. PORT STATE CONTROLThe Singapore Experience Tan Kim Liang Senior PSCO, MPA 2 December 2003

2. Introduction • Singapore strongly supports quality shipping and port State control (PSC) • Port State control plays an important part in ensuring ships are maintained in accordance with international standards • There are 8 regional PSC regimes and we are a founding member of Tokyo MOU Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

3. Introduction • Tokyo MOU has 18 maritime authorities as members • The annual regional inspection target rate is set at 75% • All members are linked up to the Asia-Pacific Computer Information System (APCIS) operated in Vladivostok Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

4. Introduction • IMO is encouraging inter-regional cooperation and exchange of PSC data Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

5. Policy and Regulations • Singapore follows closely procedures set by the Tokyo MOU • Port State Control is provided for in the Merchant Shipping Act • Singapore is also party to SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Lines, STCW and Tonnage conventions Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

6. Policy and Regulations • When a ship is detained, concerned Parties are informed • Singapore is a convenient port for rectifying deficiencies • However, we have encountered difficulty in contacting some of the recognised organisations Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

7. Policy and Regulations • IMO has issued a circular (MSC/Circ.1010-MEPC/Circ.382) requesting flag Administrations to provide information on ROs • When a ship is detained and deficiencies have been rectified, a report is submitted to IMO and the APCIS of Tokyo MOU Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

8. Trends of Deficiencies found • LSA and fire safety measures are always top of the list: Failure of lifeboat engines and launching gears and emergency fire pumps used to be widespread • Recent decline in the number of such deficiencies could be attributed to the effort of PSC • General dry cargo ships top the list of ships inspected Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

9. PSC Inspections in 2000 • Singapore carried out PSC inspections on 1,023 ships • This represents 9.4% of eligible individual ships calling Singapore that year • 93% or 947 ships were found to have deficiencies. Total no. of deficiencies: 7,020 • 130 ships were detained (12.7%) Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

10. PSC Inspections in 2001 • 1189 ships were inspected • 170 ships were detained • Top 3 categories of deficiencies were LSA, fire safety measures and navigation • Deficiencies under MARPOL were also high Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

11. PSC Inspections in 2002 • 1221 ships were inspected • 66 ships were detained • Top 3 categories of deficiencies were LSA, fire safety measures and navigation • Deficiencies under MARPOL and STCW were also high Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

12. Most Common Deficiencies • Bypassing OWS discharge connection • OWS not working • Garbage Management Plan not implemented • Insufficient fire hoses and nozzles • Funnel/machinery space dampers inoperable • Emergency fire pump inoperable • Lifeboat engines cannot start • Batteries for SART/EPIRB expired • Liferafts lashed/permanently secured Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

13. Profile of ships detained • Ship types: • Dry cargo ships — 60% of total • Container ships — 26% of total • 41% were classed with 3 classification societies • 50% were between 16–25 years old • 70% were between 500–10,000 GT Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

14. Changes in areas for attention • MARPOL 73/78 Annex V (Garbage). Many ships did not comply with regulations but those that had no other deficiencies were not detained • Bypassing the OWS. Many ships were bypassing the OWS in various ways • Compromise to safety. Essential safety equipment could not be easily made available for emergencies Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

15. Way forward • Singapore has intensified and will continue to intensify its inspection programme • Inspection intervals will be shorter • We participated in the Tokyo MOU’s Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on the Bulk Carriers • We will carry out PSC inspections on Maritime Security in particular, we will check on the compliance with SOLAS Ch XI and ISPS Code Port State Control: The Singapore Experience

16. Conclusion • Life-saving appliances, fire safety measures and navigation items continue to be the areas with the most deficiencies, although the situation has improved lately • Cooperation and collaboration between parties involved can help eliminate sub-standard ships • Flag States must be responsible and play their part Port State Control: The Singapore Experience