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Singapore: MPA enhances safety measures at port following Covid-19 positive cases

MPA said it is working with the industry taskforce to provide more detailed guidelines on the ‘safe-corridor’ procedures to safeguard the crew change process.

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (24 July) said it is enhancing safety measures at the Port of Singapore, in view of the heightened risks of importing COVID-19 cases into Singapore. 

On crew change, Singapore is facilitating an average of about 300 cases of crew change per day in July, it noted. 

These crew changes are facilitated through the ‘safe corridor’ procedures as detailed in the Singapore Crew Change Guidebook that  was developed by an industry taskforce led by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), supported by MPA.

Singapore has seen three cases within one week, where crew members scheduled to sign-on to ocean-going cargo ships were found to be COVID-19 positive upon arrival, it explained.

This has prevented the shipping companies concerned from conducting successful crew changes. 

Resources were also put in to isolate and minimise the probability of any spread of the virus to others including fellow crew members.

MPA added it is working with the industry taskforce to provide more detailed guidelines on the ‘safe-corridor’ procedures to safeguard the crew change process including the need to self-isolate while serving the 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN), to ensure accurate COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, and direct transfers from airport to ship for the crew while in Singapore to minimise contact.

As there have been some instances of procedural breaches leading up to performing crew changes in Singapore, MPA said it recently reminded ship owners, managers and agents to adhere strictly to the ‘safe-corridor’ procedures including ensuring accurate COVID-19 tests and compliance to self-isolation while serving SHN. 

MPA has also previously informed the industry that any ship owner, manager or agent whose crew member is found to be COVID-19 positive whilst in Singapore for crew change will be suspended from performing any further crew changes for a stipulated period. 

This will allow the company sufficient time to review its internal processes to ensure strict adherence to MPA’s ‘safe-corridor’ crew change procedures, it said.

Given the increasing number of crew change applications, MPA will also need to prioritise new crew change applications. 

These will include crew with expiry of contracts which flag States are not extending further, Singapore-registered ships, and crew sign-offs. Please refer to Port Marine Circular 31 of 2020 at Annex 1 for more details. 

As an added precaution in the Port of Singapore, all shore personnel in contact with ship crew are advised to don face shields or goggles in addition to face masks and gloves when working on the ships, advised the MPA.

For ships which have conducted crew change in the past 14 days, shore personnel are advised to ensure that there is no contact with the ship crew. For more details, please refer to Port Marine Circular 32 of 2020 at Annex 2.

MPA added it has separately provided guidance to all Singapore-registered ships on the best practices that they can adopt. 

For example, if any crew on board is tested for COVID-19 while the ship is in port, the ship should wait for the test results and take necessary measures before departing the port. 

Further information on the MPA’s Covid-19 safety measures are as follows: 

Annex 1 – Port Marine Circular 31 of 2020
Annex 2 – Port Marine Circular 32 of 2020
Annex 3 – Shipping Circular 14 of 2020


Photo credit: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 27 July, 2020

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Winding up

Singapore: Lugalis Shipping Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Liquidators have been appointed at an extraordinary general meeting held on 31 July for the purpose of winding up company’s affair, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for Lugalis Shipping Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary meeting held on 31 July, according to a post in the Government Gazette on Thursday (6 August).

The duly passed resolutions were:

AS SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

  1. That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the “Act”).
  2. That Lau Chin Huat and Yeo Boon Keong, as the Joint and Several Liquidators, be and are hereby authorised to divide among the contributory in cash or in specie the whole or any part of the assets of the company.
  3. That the Joint and Several Liquidators be at the liberty to exercise all or any of the powers conferred on themselves pursuant to the Act.

AS ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

  1. That Lau Chin Huat and Yeo Boon Keong, of 50 Havelock Road, #02-767, Singapore 160050 be appointed as the Joint and Several Liquidators for the purpose of winding up the company.
  2. That the remuneration and winding up disbursements of the Joint and Several Liquidators be fixed on a time basis at rates as agreed in the engagement letter.
  3. That the Joint and Several Liquidators be authorised to destroy all books and papers of the Company and of the Joint and Several Liquidators 5 years after the date of dissolution of the Company pursuant to Section 195(2) of the Act.

In another notice, the liquidators of Lugalis Shipping said creditors for the company are required on or before the 7 September to send in their names and addresses and particulars of their debts or claims, and the names and addresses of their solicitors (if any) to the liquidators. 

Liquidators may also require creditors to, “come in and prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.”

The liquidators can be contacted at the following address:

Lau Chin Huat
Yeo Boon Keong
Joint and Several Liquidators
c/o
Technic Inter-Asia Pte Ltd
50 Havelock Road, #02-767, Singapore 160050
Tel: 6561 0398 Fax: 6222 1855
Email: [email protected] 

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 7 August, 2026

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Biofuel

MESD study finds existing Singapore harbour craft ready for B100 bio bunker fuel adoption

Results demonstrate the qualified readiness of existing large harbour craft in Singapore for B100 adoption, provided that appropriate fuel-handling, storage and additive practices are implemented.

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MESD study finds existing Singapore harbour craft ready for B100 bio bunker fuel adoption

Singapore’s Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD) on Wednesday (5 August) said the findings of its latest study indicate that existing large harbour craft in Singapore are ready for the adoption of B100 biodiesel, provided appropriate fuel handling, storage and additive practices are in place.

The findings were published in MESD’s public report, Study on the Readiness of Existing Large Harbour Craft for B100 Biodiesel in Singapore.

“Overall, the results demonstrate the qualified readiness of existing large harbour craft in Singapore for B100 adoption, provided that appropriate fuel-handling, storage and additive practices are implemented,” MESD said in a social media post. 

“This represents an important step towards supporting the wider adoption of sustainable marine fuels and advancing Singapore’s maritime decarbonisation journey.”

The study evaluated fuel storage stability, engine performance, emissions and operational readiness through controlled laboratory testing and sea trials involving a tugboat and a bunker tanker.

MESD said the findings are highly encouraging, which include:

  • Stable engine performance was maintained throughout the 200-hour sea trials, with no significant power loss, abnormal fuel-consumption trends or critical operational disruptions.
  • Antioxidant additives improved oxidation stability and helped reduce the risk of fuel degradation during storage.
  • B100 achieved brake thermal efficiency comparable to diesel, while producing lower carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions, with a modest increase in nitrogen oxide emissions.

Led by the MESD, the study was conducted in collaboration with KST Maritime Pte Ltd, V-Bunkers Tankers, Alpha biofuels, Aderco, Maritec Naias and IHI Power Systems Co Ltd.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)​ and the ​Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI)​ also contributed to the study. 

MESD added that further research on long-term engine endurance, fuel stability and material compatibility is ongoing under its FAME 1000 project, with a related public report expected to be released later this year.

Note: The report can be accessed here.

 

Photo credit: Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence
Published: 7 August, 2026

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Methanol

COSCO Shipping deploys methanol-ready grain carrier on South America-China routes

“Guo Liang Hai” is equipped with a smart management system, low-carbon design features and a methanol-ready fuel interface, supporting future energy transition pathways.

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COSCO Shipping deploys methanol-ready grain carrier on South America-China routes

COSCO Shipping on Thursday (6 August) said a methanol-ready 80,000 DWT multi-purpose grain carrier, GUO LIANG HAI, has officially been delivered and entered service.

At nearly 230 metres in length, Guo Liang Hai is equipped with a smart management system, low-carbon design features and a methanol-ready fuel interface, supporting future energy transition pathways.

“As the sixth vessel in its series, she is part of the world’s first 80,000 DWT vessel class specifically designed for grain transportation. But grain is only part of the story,” the company said in a social media post. 

The company said the vessel combines the efficiency of a bulk carrier with the flexibility of a multi-purpose ship. 

In addition to commodities such as soybeans, maize and wheat, it can also transport grain and dry bulk cargo, containers, wind power equipment, rolling stock and rail equipment, new energy vehicles and large-scale industrial machinery.

“Already deployed on routes between South America and China, vessels in this series create value in both directions, carrying agricultural imports while supporting exports of Chinese-made equipment and technology,” the company added.

 

Photo credit: COSCO Shipping
Published: 7 August, 2026

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