A Singapore Government Agency Website

General Information

General information for vessels eligible for pilotage exemption in the pilotage district areas of the port:

  • General information on pilotage exemption for vessels not engaged in marine projects
  • General information on pilotage exemption for vessels engaged in marine projects
  • Application procedures for vessels requiring pilot exemption
  • General information on the certificate of pilotage exemption

All queries on Pilotage Exemption may be directed to:

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore,
Port Master's Office,
#19-07/09,
Tanjong Pagar Complex Singapore 089055

Tel: 6325 2592/6325 2420

General information on pilotage exemption for vessels not engaged in marine projects in the following pilotage district areas:

Exemption may be granted subject to the following conditions:

Area A

For a vessel of less than 300 GT
  • A blanket exemption is granted unless otherwise specified by Port Master.
For a vessel of 300 GT or above but less than 2,000 GT
  • The shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the Pilotage Exemption Course for Small Vessels (PESV course).
  • The vessel is fitted with a VHF radio-telephone that is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF channel(s). Prior to the movement, the vessel must call the appropriate control station by VHF radio-telephone on the designated channel as specified in the latest Port Marine Circular on VHF Reporting Procedures.
For a vessel of 2,000 GT or above but less than 5,000 GT
  • The shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the Pilotage Exemption Course for Large Vessels (PELV course).
  • The vessel must be fitted with a VHF radio-telephone that is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF channel(s).
  • In the case of a sea-going vessel, the shipmaster must have brought the vessel into and out of Area A on at least 6 occasions within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the exemption. In the case of an application for the renewal of an exemption, the master must have brought the vessel into and out of Area A on at least 2 occasions in the six months immediately preceding the date of the application for the renewal of the exemption.
  • The ship owner or agent will be required to apply for the issuance of a Certificate of Pilotage Exemption for the vessel.


Area B

For a vessel of less than 300 GTA blanket exemption is granted unless otherwise specified by the Port Master.
For a vessel of 300 GT or above but less than 5,000 GT
  • The shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the PESV course.
  • The vessel is fitted with a VHF radio-telephone that is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF channel(s). Prior to any movement, the vessel must call the appropriate control station by VHF radio-telephone on the designated channel as specified in the latest Port Marine Circular on VHF Reporting Procedures in Port.

 

Area D

For a vessel of less than 300 GT and of a height of 30 metres or less
  • A blanket exemption is granted unless otherwise specified by the Port Master and provided the vessel does not enter, leave or transit the Traffic Information Area (TIA) in the East Johor Strait.
For a vessel of 300 GT or above but less than 2,000 GT and of a height of 30 metres or less
  • The shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the PESV course.
  • The vessel is fitted with a VHF radio-telephone that is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF channel(s). Prior to any movement, the vessel must call the appropriate control station by VHF radio-telephone on the designated channel as specified in the latest Port Marine Circular on VHF Reporting Procedures for the East Johor Strait.

 

    General requirements for pilotage exemption for vessels engaged in marine projects such as dredging, dumping, reclamation, port development works in the various pilotage district areas of the port.

    Area A

    For vessels of 2000 GT or above but less than 10000 GT

    Exemption may be granted subject to the following conditions:

     

    • The vessel must be engaged in marine projects that require it to move frequently within Area "A";
    • The shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the Pilotage Exemption Course for Large Vessel (PELV);
    • The vessel must be fitted with a VHF radio-telephone which is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF Channel(s). Prior to any movement, the vessel must call the appropriate control station by VHF radio-telephone on the designated channel as specified in the latest Port Marine Circular on VHF Reporting Procedures in Port;
    • In the case of a sea-going vessel, the shipmaster of the vessel must have brought the vessel into and out of the area concerned on at least 6 occasions under pilotage within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the exemption. In the case of an application for the renewal of an exemption, the master must have brought the vessel into and out of the area concerned on at least 4 occasions in the 3 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the renewal of the exemption;
    • The shipmaster of the vessel must follow the route laid down under the conditions for pilotage exemption;
    • The shipowner or agent will be required to apply for the issuance of the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption for the vessel.

     

    Area B

    For vessels of 5000 GT or above but less than 10000 GT

    Exemption may be granted subject to the following conditions:

    • The vessel must be engaged in marine projects that require it to move frequently within Area "B”;
    • (he shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the Pilotage Exemption Course for Large Vessel (PELV);
    • The vessel must be fitted with a VHF radio-telephone which is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF Channel(s). Prior to any movement, the vessel must call the appropriate control station by VHF radio-telephone on the designated channel as specified in the latest Port Marine on VHF Reporting Procedures in Port.;
    • In the case of a sea-going vessel, the shipmaster of the vessel must have brought the vessel into and out of the area concerned on at least 6 occasions under pilotage within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the exemption. In the case of an application for the renewal of an exemption, the master must have brought the vessel into and out of the area concerned on at least 4 occasions in the 3 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the renewal of the exemption;
    • The shipmaster of the vessel must follow the route laid down under the conditions for pilotage exemption; and
    • The shipowner or agent will be required to apply for the issuance of the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption for the vessel.

     

    Area D

    For vessels of 300 GT or above but less than 10000 GT

    Exemption may be granted subject to the following conditions:

     

    • The vessel must be engaged in marine projects that require it to move frequently within Area "D”;
    • The shipmaster of the vessel has successfully completed the Pilotage Exemption Course for Large Vessel (PELV);
    • The vessel must be fitted with a VHF radio-telephone which is in good working condition and capable of communicating at all times on the required VHF Channel(s). Prior to any movement, the vessel must call the appropriate control station by VHF radio-telephone on the designated channel as specified in the latest Port Marine on VHF Reporting Procedures In East Johor Strait.
    • In the case of a sea-going vessel, the shipmaster of the vessel must have brought the vessel into and out of the area on at least 24 occasions under pilotage, within the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the exemption. For subsequent renewals of the exemptions, the master shall have entered and left the area on at least a total of 4 occasions within the 3 months immediately preceding the date of the application for the renewal of the exemption;
    • The shipmaster of the vessel must follow the route laid down under the conditions for pilotage exemption; and
    • The shipowner or agent will be required to apply for the issuance of the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption for the vessel.


     


    Details of courses for Pilotage Exemption for Small Vessel (PESV) and Pilotage Exemption for Large Vessel (PELV) can be obtained from the following course providers:

    • ST Electronics (Training & Simulation Systems) Pte Ltd
      Wavelink Maritime International Pte Ltd

    Application Procedures for Pilotage Exemption Courses

    The applicant is required to have the following:

    Course for PESV (vessels between 300 and 2,000 GT)
    • NRIC or passport.
    • Certificate of Competency.
    • Two recent passport-size colour photographs.
    • Completed application form for the PESV course.
    Course for  PELV  (vessels above 2,000 GT and up to 5,000 GT)
    • Letter from owner/agent of the master supporting the application
    • List of movements, conducted under pilotage, in the approved movement record form.
    • Ship's Registry or Harbour Craft Licence
    • Vessel's crew lists
    • NRIC or passport or seaman's book
    • Certificate of Competency
    • Completed application form for the PELV course

      The applicant should send copies of the above documents to:

      ST Electronics (Training & Simulation Systems) Pte Ltd
      Integrated Simulation Centre of Singapore (ISC),
      Singapore Polytechnic 500 Dover Rd.,
      Singapore 139651
      Tel: 6874 7782
      Fax: 6874 7666

      STET will inform the applicant of the status of his application and available scheduled date. The applicant will make the necessary arrangement for payment of the course with STET before proceeding to ISC to attend the course on the given date with the original documents for verification.

      On successful completion of PESV and PELV courses, the applicant will be issued a Pilotage Exemption Course Attendance Certificate by the Integrated Simulation Center of Singapore.

      Validity of Pilotage Exemption Course Attendance Certificate

      The Pilotage Exemption Course Attendance Certificate is valid for 1 year and is not renewable.

      The Certificate of Pilotage Exemption is issued at the Port Master's Office, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

      • Application for a Certificate of Pilotage Exemption should be made by the ship owner/agent with all the relevant supporting documents  e.g. Pilotage Exemption Course Attendance Certificate for PELV course.
      • The Certificate of Pilotage Exemption is only valid for the vessel and the shipmaster named in the certificate.
      • The Certificate of Pilotage Exemption is not transferable and must be returned to the Port Master's Office upon expiry.
      • The ship owner/agent is required to apply for a new Certificate of Pilotage Exemption before their shipmasters are transferred to another ship within the company.
      • If the ship owner/agent wishes to extend the validity of the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption, it should be done at least 1 month before the expiry date.  Two recent passport-size photographs of the shipmaster should be included in the application for extension.
      • If the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption has expired for less than 3 months, the shipmaster is required to attend the PELV refresher course.
      • If the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption has expired for more 3 months, the shipmaster is required to attend the full PELV course.

      The above applications can be made at:

      Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore,
      Port Master's Office,
      #19-07/09,
      Tanjong Pagar Complex
      Singapore 089055

      Fees

      The following fees are applicable for the Certificate of Pilotage Exemption:

      New certificateS$200
      Shipmaster transferred to another vessel within the companyS$100
      Extension of validityS$50