22 August 2008
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be suspending Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd's bunker supplier licence for two weeks for tampering with the bunker sampling container during a bunkering operation. The two-week suspension, which will take effect from 26 August to 8 September 2008, is a clear signal that malpractices in the bunker industry are not tolerated by the Authority.
During the bunker operation for client vessel Dai Long on 2 June 2008, a crew member on board the bunker supplier's tanker Sedna tampered with the sampling container. This is a breach of the Singapore Standard for Bunkering (or SS CP60)and MPA's bunkering licences, under which bunker suppliers are to ensure that its operators, including crew, do not engage in any acts of malpractice in the supply of bunkers.
According to Capt M Segar, Group Director (Hub Port), MPA, "The port of Singapore's international reputation for quality bunkers is a result of stringent licensing requirements, quality assurance standards, active industry engagement and strict enforcement. In fact, Singapore remains the only port in the world to have clear quality standards for bunkering. Any wrongdoing is dealt with to safeguard the interest of the shipping community. The shipping community's confidence in Singapore is key to the growth of our bunker industry."
Last year, bunker sales in the port of Singapore hit 31.5 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year's figures by 11.2 percent. This strong growth bears testimony to the confidence that the shipping community has in the quality of Singapore's bunkering industry. Singapore's bunkering standards have also been recognised as international benchmarks. For instance, the SS CP60 was adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as the base document in the development of an international standard for bunkering. Other initiatives launched over the past few years include the Singapore Standard for Bunker Surveying (or SS CP77), the Accreditation Scheme for Bunker Suppliers, and the Singapore Standard on Quality Management for Bunker Supply Chain (SS 524).
End of release
Footnotes:
1 The SS CP60 was implemented by the MPA in 1997, which made Singapore the first port in the world where a national standard for bunkering was implemented. It lays down the minimum requirements for bunkering, such as proper documentation and verification during a bunkering operation, and helps to safeguard the quality of bunkers in the Port of Singapore. Under this code, a continuous drip sample of the bunkers has to be collected throughout the entire duration of bunkering. This allows for representative samples to be collected during every bunkering operation.
About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. The MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of port authority, port regulator, port planner, IMC champion, and national sea transport representative. The MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.
About the Port of Singapore
The port of Singapore comprises a number of facilities and terminals that handle a wide range of cargo transported in different forms, including containers as well as conventional and bulk cargo. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is responsible for the overall development and growth of the port of Singapore, which includes terminal operators, such as PSA Corporation and Jurong Port Pte Ltd.
