Singapore Strengthens Ship Registry Capabilities as Registry Marks 60 Years

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The Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) is strengthening its capabilities to support a more digital and increasingly multi-fuel shipping sector, as it marks 60 years since its establishment in 1966.

2.       At the SRS Forum on 2 October 2026, which was attended by industry and union partners, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Mr Murali Pillai highlighted the importance of continued partnerships as Singapore strengthens the SRS amid the maritime industry’s digital and green transition.

Modernising the Registry

3.       The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will launch a new ship registration system in the first half of 2027 to simplify the registration process and make it more seamless for shipowners and ship agents. The new system will integrate the end-to-end registration process, from application submission to certificate issuance. It will also incorporate AI capabilities to support the vetting and processing of applications. Processing time for standard applications will be reduced from up to three working days to just a few minutes, with certificates issued upon completion.

4.       Shipowners and ship agents will also have greater visibility over the status of their applications. MPA will invite industry stakeholders to participate in pilot trials in the coming months to refine the system ahead of its launch.

A growing and evolving Singapore-registered fleet

5.       Since its establishment in 1966, the SRS has grown to more than 4,400 vessels. As at 31 December 2025, the SRS reached a record 137 million gross tonnage (GT), a 27% increase from the previous year, making Singapore the world’s fourth-largest ship registry. With an average vessel age of about 11 years, the SRS is also currently the youngest fleet among the world’s top ten ship registries[1]. Singapore continues to rank among the leading flags under the Tokyo and Paris Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control[2], and qualifies for the United States Coast Guard’s QUALSHIP 21 programme[3]. 

6.       The Singapore-registered fleet is also evolving as shipping companies adopt alternative fuels. Since 2020, eight methanol-fuelled vessels have been registered with the SRS. The SRS is expected to flag its first ammonia dual-fuelled vessel next month.

7.       A record 74 vessels from 28 companies qualified for MPA’s Green Ship Programme this year for adopting solutions that exceeded the prevailing environmental regulatory requirements. Seaspan Corporation was recognised for contributing the highest net tonnage to the SRS in 2025/2026. The list of SRS Award recipients is in the Annex.

Developing Singapore’s maritime talent

8.       At the Forum, 13 local seafarers were also recognised under the Sail Milestone Achievement Programme (SailMAP). Since its launch in 2022, SailMAP has supported more than 100 local seafarers in progressing towards higher levels of shipboard competency, contributing to efforts to strengthen Singapore’s maritime talent pipeline.

 

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Annex: List of SRS Award Recipients 2026

 

SRS Top Net Tonnage Contributor Award 2026

Seaspan Corporation

 

SRS Green Ship Award

No.

Recipient

1.

BAL Container Line Pte. Ltd

2.

Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd / Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd

3.

CCB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd

4.

Clearlake Shipping Private Ltd

5.

CMA CGM

6.

Consort Bunkers Pte Ltd

7.

Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services Pte Ltd

8.

Evergreen

9.

Financial Partners Group Co., Ltd

10.

Global Energy International Ltd

11.

Interasia Lines Singapore Pte. Ltd

12.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. / Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd

13.

Kuok Maritime Group

14.

marineEV, a Yinson GreenTech Business

15.

MISC Berhad

16.

Nathalin Shipping Pte. Ltd

17.

Oasis LNG Pte. Ltd

18.

Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd

19.

Pacific Basin

20.

Pacific International Lines (PIL)

21.

Pertamina International Shipping

22.

Pioneer Logistics Holdings Pte Ltd

23.

STC Shipping Pte. Ltd

24.

T.S. Lines Ltd

25.

VLK Traders (S) Pte. Ltd

26.

Wan Hai Lines

27.

Wideshine

28.

Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation

 

SailMAP Award

Attainment of COC 1

No.

Recipient

1.

Teo Lip Kio

Clock qualifying sea-going service while holding valid COC 2

No.

Recipient

1.

Elijah Jordan Q Villavieja

2.

Syed Shams Murshedul Islam

First ocean-going ship after obtaining COC 2

No.

Recipient

1.

Yap Cheng Hong

Attainment of COC 2

No.

Recipient

1.

Sidhant Singh

Monthly allowance while attending COC 2/1 prep course

No.

Recipient

1.

Emir Bin Yusri

2.

Muhammad Haris Ayub

3.

Noor Muhammad Bin Emran

4.

Pearl Win Htoo

5.

Sakinah Binte Mohamed Razip

Clock qualifying sea-going service while holding valid COC 3/5

No.

Recipient

1.

A V Vikneswaran

2.

Radhakrishnan Ashok

First ocean-going ship after obtaining COC 3/5

No.

Recipient

1.

Muhammad Khidir Bin Abdul Karim

2.

Tan Chuin Wei

 

 



[1] Flag State statistics published by Clarksons Shipping.

 

[2] The Tokyo and Paris Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) are two major regional agreements through which maritime authorities cooperate on Port State Control (PSC). The Tokyo MOU on Port State Control in the Asia-Pacific Region coordinates PSC activities among maritime authorities in the Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Australia, China, Japan and others, while the Paris MOU on Port State Control covers Europe and the North Atlantic, with participating maritime administrations conducting coordinated PSC inspections.

 

[3] The United States Coast Guard’s Quality Shipping for the 21st Century (QUALSHIP 21) programme recognises flag Administrations and vessels that demonstrate a strong record of compliance with international safety, environmental and regulatory standards.