Several incidents and complaints of near misses by pilots and masters of large vessels involving line-towed barges have taken place in the western sector of the Singapore port in recent years, most of which happened at night. To enhance safety of navigation and facilitate a smoother flow of vessels in the port, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will restrict the use of line-towed barges at night in the western sector of the port from 1900 hours to 0630 hours with effect from 1 June 2000. This measure will not affect work barges operating within the designated working areas. Currently, night towing of barges is prohibited in the East Johor Strait.

Line-towed barges are slow and not easy to manoeuvre. Also, they are not easily identified by other vessels, particularly at night or in restricted visibility. Hence they pose a navigational hazard at night.

The 16-month notice period will allow barge operators sufficient time to make the necessary adjustments to the way they carry out their operations. They can either adjust their operating schedules or switch to alternative modes such as self-propelled barges. It is to be noted that night operations for barges can still take place if the barges are self-propelled or operated in pusher tug/barge composite unit, as these are safer modes of operation.

Captain Mark Heah, MPA's Acting 2nd Deputy Director of Port Division and Port Master, said, "The new measure is part of the Authority's continuing efforts in maintaining a high level of service and safety to port users. It aims to further promote the navigational safety of barges and other vessels plying the port waters as well as to improve the flow of marine traffic in the western area where the traffic is particularly heavy compared to the eastern sector of the port. As more berths become operational at the Pasir Panjang Container Terminal, and as Jurong Island becomes more developed, the amount of shipping traffic in the western sector will increase. Therefore, it is no longer possible to allow line-tow barges that are slow-moving and difficult to manoeuvre to continue operating at night in the western area as they pose significant risks to safety."

End of Statement.