Incentives Schemes

Block Transfer Scheme (BTS)

• The BTS gives an 80% discount over the initial registration fee (IRF) to shipowners who register their ships fulfilling the BTS criteria. Under the BTS, the vessel would be registered at the rate of $0.50 per NT subject to a minimum of $1,250 for 2,500 NT and maximum of $20,000 for 40,000 NT.
• The Block Transfer Scheme (BTS) applies to owners registering vessels, within a period of 12 months from the first approval date, subject to satisfying the following criteria:
  • 1 ship aggregating at least 40,000 NT
  • 2 ships aggregating at least 40,000 NT
  • 3 ships aggregating at least 30,000 NT
  • 4 ships aggregating at least 20,000 NT
  • 5 ships of any aggregating tonnage

• To apply for BTS, owners are required to write in to marine@mpa.gov.sg and complete the BTS application form, prior to registering the vessels. Owners should clearly state the total number of vessel, each vessel's net tonnage and the approximate date of registration for each vessel.

Green Ship Programme (GSP)

• What is the Green Ship Programme?
  The Green Ship Programme encourages Singapore-flagged ships to reduce carbon dioxide and sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions.

• How does it benefit you?

• Qualifying Singapore-flagged ships can enjoy a reduction of Initial Registration Fees and a rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax.
• Ships that adopt energy efficient ship designs exceeding IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) will enjoy 50% reduction of Initial Registration Fees and 20% rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax.
  
• Ships that adopt approved SOx scrubber technology exceeding IMO’s emission requirements will enjoy 25% reduction of Initial Registration Fees and 20% rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax.
• Ships that adopt both energy efficient ship designs and approved SOx scrubber technology exceeding IMO’s requirements will enjoy 75% reduction of Initial Registration Fees and 50% rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax.
• Ships that adopt liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative arrangement to fuel oil will enjoy 75% reduction of Initial Registration Fees and 50% rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax. 

•   How do you qualify?

• • To qualify for incentives relating to the adopt of energy efficient ship designs, ship owners can submit a copy of the International Energy Efficiency (IEE) Certificate or pre-verification report as proof that the attained EEDI of the ship exceeds IMO’s requirements on EEDI for that particular ship type and size (at the time when the incentives are to be applied).
  • To qualify for incentives relating to the adoption of approved SOx scrubber technology or LNG, ship owners are to make an application to MPA. The application is to include supporting documents showing the installation of the scrubber and the emission reductions achieved.
  • Submissions can be made via email to marine@mpa.gov.sg. Ships that qualify for the Green Ship Programme will be given a “Green Certificate” issued by MPA. The “Green Certificate” will also be given to the company owning the qualifying ship.  The participation details of the Green Ship Programme can be found here.
  • For more details, please refer to Shipping Circular No. 27 of 2015 and Shipping Circular No. 18 of 2016.

Annual Administrative Fee Scheme

• What is the Annual Administrative Fee (AAF) Scheme?

•  The AAF scheme provides an alternative payment mode option applicable to all Singapore-registered owners for registration and crewing-related services. With effect from 1 Jan 17, the AAF scheme would be priced on a tiered fees based on size of ship.
  

• • From 1st July 2017, the following enhancements to the AAF scheme is applicable:                                         
    1. The list of services covered under the AAF scheme will be expanded to include Seafarer Certification   Services such as certificates of competency, certificates of proficiency and type rating certificates.  
    2. On top of the enhanced AAF scheme, owners/operators of Singapore-registered tankers can also sign up for the optional Tanker Endorsement Fee (TEF) at an additional flat fee of $120 per ship (irrespective of the ship size) for applications and issuance of tanker endorsements.
  • For owners that enrol their ships in the scheme after January of each year, the scheme allows for pro-ration of the fee according to the remaining months in the calendar year, including the month in which the enrolment commences. The tiered fees remain non-refundable.
    
  • All ships that enrolled into the scheme will no longer be issued with invoices detailing every transaction related to registration, crewing and training-related services covered under this scheme.
  • For more details, please refer to Shipping Circular No.11 of 2017

• How do you enrol?
  

• • The ships that may enrol in the scheme only applies to existing tonnage in the Singapore Registry of Ships as well as new tonnage to be registered.

• • For more details on the Annual Administrative Fee scheme as well as list of applicable services under the scheme, please refer to Shipping Circular No.11 of 2017. If you are interested to enrol into the scheme, you are to make an application to the SRS by completing the application form. Upon successful application, the flat fee will be deducted from the owner or ship manager or ship agent’s account.

Other Schemes

• MPA also administers other schemes to the maritime and related companies to grow and develop their business in Singapore.