The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the maritime administrations of France, United Kingdom, and Spain, and the European Commission in London on 28 January 2000 to establish an electronic information system called Equasis. The US Coast Guard and the maritime administration of Japan had also expressed their intention to join the signatories but have not yet finalise their internal procedures for doing so. The system is a unique database of safety-related information on the world's merchant fleet from both public and private sources. It will be easily accessible on the Internet at www.equasis.org after its launch in May this year.

Equasis will allow parties involved in maritime transport to be better informed about the performance of ships and maritime organisations with which they are dealing. It aims to make information on the quality of ships and their operators more transparent and accessible. This data system, which is in its first phase, will contain information from public authorities such as port state inspection and detention information as well as details on class and marine insurance from the industry players. It is expected to help improve the quality of shipping information available, thereby curbing sub-standard practices in the maritime industry.

The MPA and the other maritime authorities involved in the project will comprise the Supervisory Committee which is responsible for supervising the management of Equasis and deciding on policy matters related to the operation and future development of the system. More information sources will be included in the future.

The MPA with the 7th largest shipping fleet in the world totalling 23 million gross tons under its charge is committed to the promotion of safe and responsible shipping. It endorses the Quality Shipping Campaign launched in Europe in 1997 to advance a quality culture throughout the maritime industry. As the issues of quality shipping are not just a European concern but an international one, the MPA is organising a high-level forum on quality shipping this year. The forum entitled the Quality Shipping Seminar, will be held on 24 and 25 March 2000. Distinguished personalities, such as the Secretary- General of the International Maritime Organisation, Mr William O' Neil, have agreed to speak at the seminar.

The MOU was signed in the International Maritime Organisation Headquarters in London, in the presence of its Secretary-General, Mr William O' Neil. Representing MPA at the signing ceremony was Mr Lee Seng Kong, Director of Shipping and Corporate Communications.

End of Release.