There is “no indication” Singapore lacks qualified bunker surveyors, says a spokesperson of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (14 February).
The authority was responding to a media query from Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times over an earlier article where players within the Singapore bunkering sector claimed it is currently facing a ‘talent gap’ over the recruitment of qualified bunker surveyor staff.
The reply of MPA is as follows:
Currently, there are more than 260 qualified bunker surveyors licensed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). There is no indication that the number of licensed bunker surveyors is insufficient to meet the demand. We note that the number of licensed bunker surveyors and bunker surveys carried out in Singapore have remained relatively stable in the last two years. These licensed bunker surveyors are trained by STET Maritime Pte Ltd, a service provider appointed by MPA, to conduct bunker surveys in accordance with the Technical Reference for bunker mass flow metering (TR48: 2015). Beyond this mandatory training course, bunker surveying companies also provide on-the-job training to their surveyors. Based on our engagements with industry stakeholders such as shipowners, we did not receive any negative feedback on the shortage of bunker surveyors in Singapore or lack of their training to carry out their jobs professionally.
STET currently conducts up to two runs of the bunker surveying course per year, subject to demand from the industry. We note that STET has conducted two runs in 2019 and the training vacancies provided by STET are sufficient for companies seeking to train new bunker surveyors. STET has scheduled the next two runs for 10 February and 15 June 2020.
To further assist the industry including the bunker surveyors, the MPA is preparing the industry players for the transition to newly launched Code of Practice for Bunker Mass Flow Metering (Singapore Standards SS 648: 2019). MPA is working with the appointed course service providers to offer relevant courses to upskill the bunker surveyors. MPA will be sharing more detailed information on the courses when ready. We will continue to work with industry stakeholders to review the training needs for bunker surveyors as required under the licensing regime.
Related: Singapore bunkering sector faces manpower ‘talent gap’ for qualified bunker surveyors
Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 February, 2020
Highest savings achieved when bunker prices are high and owners’ earnings are low, including on long journeys.
Deciding on pricing structure and plan to start offering compliant fuels by the end of Q3 2019 or earlier.
Letter of credit was issued on 6 April followed by a notice on 23 April that OCBC would revoke its decision due to doubts over HLT’s financial status, reports Bloomberg.
The Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards is organised by Asia Cargo News, and winners were determined by votes cast by its readers.
Singapore port will remain open for cargo operations and will continue to provide essential marine services including bunkering, ship stores and ship supplies, says MPA.
The software uses data such as vessel specifics, position, ETA, tank capacity, bunker prices, weather etc to generate its actionable bunker planning insights, it said
Caroline Yang, President of SSA, addresses issues earlier raised by players; including PMC No. 04, the seven-day restriction, contactless bunkering, sampling point, hose connection, and more.
IBIA Asia, ABIS, sources from Singapore’s bunkering and surveying companies, and an industry veteran share with Manifold Times the issues expected from MPA’s latest Covid-19 measures.
The top three positive movers in the 2020 bunker supplier list are Hong Lam Fuels Pte Ltd (+13); Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd (+12); and SK Energy International (+8), according to MPA list.
‘We will operate in the Singapore bunkering market from the Tokyo, with support from local staff at Sumitomo Corporation Singapore,’ source tells Manifold Times.
Changes include abolishing advance declaration of bunkers as dangerous cargo, reducing pilotage fees on vessels receiving bunkers, and a ‘whitelist’ system for bunker tankers.
Claim relates to deliveries of MGO to the vessels Pacific Diligence, Pacific Valkyrie, Pacific Defiance, Crest Alpha 1, and Pacific Warlock between March 2020 to April 2020.
