Shipping Circulars
No. 12 of 2005

15 Mar 2005

Applicable to:Ship owners, managers, operators, agents, masters and crew members

This circular informs the shipping community of the entry into force of the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Oil)(Amendment) Regulations 2005.

The MPA through a Press Release on 23 Sep 2004 and Shipping Circular No. 25 of 2004 on 12 Nov 2004 informed the shipping community of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s revised regulations to phase out single-hulled tankers (SHTs) and to ban the carriage of heavy grade oil (HGO) by such tankers.

2.The Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Oil)(Amendment) Regulations 2005 were published in the Government Gazette, Electronic Edition, on 4 March 2005. The Regulations give effect to revised Regulation 13G of MARPOL Annex I (phasing out of SHTs and new regulation 13H (ban on carriage of heavy grade oil in SHTs) and updated Form B (Supplement to the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate).The Regulations will come into operation on 5 Apr 2005.

3.The Regulations authorize nine approved classification societies to conduct surveys including CAS surveys and issue the IOPP Certificate including amended Form B relating to revised Regulation 13G and 13H and CAS Final Report.

4.Shipowners are urged to take early action to comply with the Regulations, in particular the following:

1.Approach the classification society of the vessel to replace Form B to the Supplement to the IOPP Certificate with amended Form B replacing paragraph 5.8.4 (for revised Regulation 13G) and adding new paragraphs 5.8.6 and 5.8.7 (for Regulation 13H). Necessary survey/verification of ship's documents and plans will need to be carried out by the society before entering the result of survey/verification in the amended paragraph 5.8.4 and new paragraphs 5.8.6 and 5.8.7 of Form B.

2.Take action for CAS surveys as spelt out in Resolution MEPC.94(46) as amended by Resolution MEPC.99 (48) and MEPC.112(50). CAS survey notification is required to be made to the Ship Safety Department of the Shipping Division of MPA in addition to the society. A copy of CAS survey questionnaire and CAS survey plan approved by the society are also needed to be forwarded to us.

5.For your information, the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act provides that if a ship does not comply with the provisions of the Act and any regulations made there under, the Director or the Port Master may deny the entry of such ship to the port and if the ship is already in port, they may detain the ship.

6.Copies of the Regulations can be purchased at:

SNP Corporation Ltd
Legal Publishing
1 Kim Seng Promenade, #18-01/06
Great World City East Tower
Singapore 237994
Tel: 6826 9691
Fax: 6820 3341
Email: legalpub@snpcorp.com
Website: www.snpcorp.com
Mon-Fri: 9.30am - 6.00 pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: Closed

7.Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr Zafrul Alam (Tel: 6 375 6204 and Fax: 6 375 6231).

LEE SENG KONG
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE