Preparing Your Ship for Operation
Applicable to: | All Singapore-registered ships, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, wherever they may be |
Who to submit: | Shipowners, ship managers or masters of a Singapore-registered ship |
When to submit: | When your ship is registered with the Singapore Registry of Ships When there is a change in the Singapore-registered ship’s trading area When there is a change of the shipowners or ship manager, together with a change of the entire existing crew on board |
Relevant legislation: | Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Seafarer’s Employment Agreement, Crew List and Discharge of Seafarers) Regulations |
a change in the Singapore-registered ship’s trading area; or
a change of the shipowners or ship manager, together with a change of the entire existing crew on board
It is a mandatory requirement for all Singapore registered ships to be issued with a ship’s Safe Manning Document (SMD). To apply for an SMD, company can use the Annex A form to propose the minimum manning for the ship. The proposed minimum safe manning should take into account the “Principles of Minimum Safe Manning” adopted by the IMO by resolution A.1047(27) and MSC.1/Circ. 1598 on “Guidelines on Fatigue”.
Proposals based on the assessment must be submitted to MPA which, when satisfied that the proposed manning levels are adequate, will issue an SMD. The proposal can be submitted to MPA prior to the registration of the vessel for MPA’s review. An electronic copy of the SMD will be issued once the ship has been successfully registered with us.
At a glance:
Applicable to: | All Singapore-registered ships, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, wherever they may be |
Who to submit: | Shipowners, ship managers or masters of a Singapore-registered ship |
When to submit: | When a seafarer’s employment agreement is entered into with any seafarer When a seafarer is discharged from the Singapore-registered ship |
Relevant legislation: | Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Seafarer’s Employment Agreement, Crew List and Discharge of Seafarers) Regulations |
when a seafarer’s employment agreement is entered into with any seafarer;
when a seafarer is discharged from the Singapore-registered ship
Applicable to: | All Singapore-registered ships, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, which are of 500 gross tonnage or above, engaged in international voyages |
Issued by: | Maritime Labour Certificate: MPA’s recognised organisations (RO) DMLC: MPA |
Validity: | Maritime Labour Certificate: five years from the date of issue DMLC: no expiry date |
Relevant legislation: | Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Forms, Certificates and Fees) Regulations |
Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC); and
Maritime Labour Certificate
Note: Singapore-registered ships, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, which are below 500 gross tonnage, engaged in international voyages are not required to carry a DMLC and a Maritime Labour Certificate. However, these ships must still comply with the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act.
The DMLC consists of two parts:
• DMLC Part II must be drawn up by your company and it must identify measures undertaken by your company to ensure ongoing compliance with the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act and measures proposed to ensure continuous improvement.
A Maritime Labour Certificate will be issued to your ship after MPA is fully satisfied, upon inspection, that your ship complies with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act and there is a valid DMLC. The Maritime Labour Certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue.
Remember to carry on board the following:
Maritime Labour Certificate
DMLC
A copy of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006
A copy of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act
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Outstanding wages and repatriation in accordance with MLC Regulation 2.5, Standard A2.5.2 and Guideline B2.5; and
Compensation for death or long-term disability in accordance with MLC Regulation 4.2, Standard A4.2 and Guideline B4.2
Company must obtain the contracts of insurance for the abovementioned liabilities only from financial security providers that have been approved by MPA. The list of financial security providers that have been approved by MPA can be found at MPA Shipping Circular No. 3 of 2017 / Rev.3. Submission of MLC financial security certificate are to be done online via digitalPORT@SGTM. The list of recognised P&I Clubs can be found here (.pdf, 45 KB). A guide on the updating and submission of MLC certificate can be found in Annex A of MPA Shipping Circular No. 15 of 2018.
Singapore-registered ships that are also licensed as Harbour Craft to operate within Singapore Limits, are required to comply with the MLC requirements. Justifications have to be provided to the Seafarers Management Department of MPA in order for an exemption to be considered.
Applicable to: | All Singapore-registered ships, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, which is of 500 gross tonnage or above, engaged in international voyages, and of which the keel is laid on or after 20th August 2013 |
Issued by: | MPA’s recognised organisations (RO) |
Validity: | Five years from the date of issue |
Relevant legislation: | Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations |
Applicable to: | All seafarer recruitment and placement service operated in, or provided from, Singapore; and Every shipowner of a Singapore-registered ship ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, including such a shipowner who engages seafarer recruitment and placement services operated in, or provided from, a country outside Singapore |
Issued by: | MPA; and/or MOM |
Validity: | 3 years |
Relevant legislation: | Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Seafarer Recruitment and Placement Services) Regulations |
your company’s business profile from ACRA (issued no earlier than three months ago); and
an Employment Agency licence issued by MOM if the company is carrying out recruitment and placement activities for third parties (separate legal entity)
Foreign seafarer recruitment and placement services
It is not a requirement for foreign seafarers to hold a Seaman Discharge Book prior working on board Singapore-registered ships. Foreign seafarers who wish to have an official recording for the period of sea service on board Singapore-registered ship can use the Certificate of Discharge and obtain an endorsement from MPA. The form can be downloaded (here).
The Singapore Seaman Discharge Book (SDB) is only issued to Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. More information on the elgibility and application of Singapore SDB can be found under "Singapore Seaman Discharge Book".