THE 1988 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION (SUA CONVENTION)

SC No. 9 of 2004

31-03-2004

Applicable to: Shipowners, shipmanagers, shipmasters of Singapore ships and the shipping community.
This circular brings to attention of the shipping community, Singapore's accession to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention)

1.Singapore will accede to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (or SUA Convention) on 3 May 2004. The Maritime Offences Act 2003, which gives effect to the SUA Convention, will come into force on the same date. A copy of the full text of The Maritime Offences Act 2003 is attached as1Annex 1.The list of countries that are Parties to the SUA Convention is attached as1Annex 2.

2.The main purpose of the SUA Convention is to ensure that appropriate action is taken against persons committing unlawful acts against ships. These include the seizure of ships by force; acts of violence against persons on board ships; and the placing of devices on board a ship which are likely to destroy or damage it.

3.Shipowners are to bring the content of this circular and The Maritime Offences Act 2003 to the attention of your masters, especially Section 8 of the Act (Master's Power of Delivery).

Singapore Registered Ships - Delivery of Alleged Offenders

4.Upon Singapore's accession to the SUA Convention, the master of a ship registered in Singapore may deliver to the authorities of any SUA Convention country any person on board the ship who he has reasonable grounds to believe has committed any of the offences in the SUA Convention. The relevant maritime offences are in Sections 3-6 of the Maritime Offences Act 2003, and any conspiracy or attempt to commit any of those offences as well as aiding, inciting, abetting, counseling or procuring the commission of any of those offences.

5.When the master of a Singapore registered ship intends to deliver any person on board the ship who has allegedly committed any of the offences in the SUA Convention to Singapore or any other SUA Convention country, he shall give notification in the prescribed form1(attached as Annex 3)1to an appropriate officer in that country:

  • of his intention to deliver that person to an appropriate officer in that country; and
  • of his reasons for intending to do so.

6.Notification of delivery of an alleged offender to Singapore shall be submitted to the Port Master by any of the following means:

  • Radio Telegram Addressed to:PORTMASTER SINGAPORE
  • Telefax Addressed to:PORTMASTER, Fax: 65-62279971
  • Telex1Addressed to:PORTMASTER, Telex No RS:20021
    Answer back MARTEL RS20021

7.The notification of delivery of an alleged offender must be given:

  • before the ship in question enters the territorial waters of that country; or
  • if in the circumstances it is not reasonably practicable to comply with para 6 (a), as soon as1reasonably practicable after the ship has entered the territorial waters of that country.

8.When the master of a Singapore registered ship delivers any person on board the ship who has allegedly committed any of the offences in the SUA Convention to an appropriate officer in Singapore or any other SUA Convention country, he shall:

  • make to an appropriate officer in that country such oral or written statements relating to the alleged offence1as that officer may reasonably require; and
  • deliver to an appropriate officer in that country such other evidence relating to the alleged offence as is in1the master's possession.

9.When a Singapore registered ship has delivered an alleged offender under the SUA Convention to a SUA Convention country other than Singapore, the master of that ship shall notify the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore through the channels listed in para 6.

10.Any enquiries relating to this circular may be directed to Mr. Chandru S R at Tel: 63756217.
LEE SENG KONG
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

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