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Singapore: MPA enhances measures to protect shore-based personnel against Covid-19

Given the evolving COVID-19 situation internationally, MPA has enhanced its safety measures and will prioritise relevant shore-based personnel for vaccination.

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Thursday (14 January) said given the evolving COVID-19 situation internationally, to further safeguard the health and safety of shore-based personnel and their families, it is introducing enhanced requirements for shore-based personnel boarding vessels (including harbour craft and pleasure craft) at anchorages, piers, marinas, terminals, wharves and shipyards in Singapore.

These requirements take effect from 15 January 2021.

MPA explained that shore-based personnel carry out essential work onboard vessels at the port such as cargo and bunkering operations, repairs and maintenance, as well as surveys and inspections.

They play an important role in keeping the port open and supply chains flowing so that essential goods can continue to be brought into Singapore.

The MPA, together with relevant agencies, tested some 27,000 shore-based personnel in a one-time sweep between 2 and 8 January 2021.

All have been tested PCR-negative except for one person who was tested PCR-positive and serology-positive, and has been assessed to have recovered from a COVID-19 infection.

Implementation of checks of COVID-19 tests and SafeEntry@Sea

All shore-based personnel who will be boarding vessels for work or visits must produce proof of a valid negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test from a rostered routine testing programme, an ad hoc COVID-19 PCR test or Antigen Rapid Test taken within 72 hours before boarding the vessel. 

The frequency of rostered routine testing for shore-based personnel who go onboard vessels regularly has increased from every 14 days to every seven days. 

To facilitate contract tracing should the need arise, all shore-based personnel are required to perform a SafeEntry@Sea check-in/out when embarking and disembarking at all waterfront facilities.

They must provide details of their company and vessel(s) to be boarded, and comply with the safe management measures on board the vessel. 

The waterfront facility’s owner, occupier or manager must conduct stringent checks and disallow any personnel from going on board if proof of a negative test result is not produced or if the personnel fails to use SafeEntry@Sea.

Compliance of COVID-19 safe management measures

MPA requires the owner, master, agent of the vessel, which the shore-based personnel is boarding, to verify that the personnel has the requisite test results. The owner, master, agent of the vessel must also implement safe management measures on board the vessel when the shore-based personnel is on board.

If a shore-based personnel boards a vessel to work without proof of test results, fails to check in via SafeEntry@Sea, and/or fails to comply with measures on board the vessel, the personnel will also be held liable for non-compliance.

Additional requirement for shore-based personnel going on board harbour craft or pleasure craft to do a job

Shore-based personnel who have carried out a job on board an ocean-going vessel in the port of Singapore must not, in the next 7 days, go on board a harbour craft or pleasure craft, to carry out a job. Enterprises must not deploy any of their shore-based personnel to do a job on board any harbour craft or pleasure craft where that personnel had gone on board an ocean-going vessel in the past 7 days.

The owner, master or agent of the harbour craft or pleasure craft must check that the shore-based personnel coming on board to do a job, must not have been on board an ocean-going vessel in the past 7 days; and the owner, master or agent of the harbour craft or pleasure craft must disallow boarding if the shore-based personnel has been on board an ocean-going vessel in the past 7 days. 

COVID-19 vaccination of shore-based personnel

As part of the Government’s measures to protect frontline workers, shore-based personnel who are required to board a vessel in port in the course of their work, including marine pilots as well as seafarers who are Singaporeans or long-term residents, will be prioritised for vaccination against COVID-19.

Vaccination for shore-based personnel started on 13 January 2021.

Firm actions will be taken against the errant companies and individuals for non-compliances, said the MPA.

Details of the enhanced requirements for shore-based personnel in Port Marine Circular 4 of 2021 dated 14 January 2021 are available here


Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 15 January, 2021

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China: Yangpu records 27% on year increase in bunkering volumes from Jan to May

Latest bunker supplier at Yangpu port is Hainan Luhai Energy which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

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The Port of Yangpu located in Hainan Island recorded a 27% on year increase in bonded bunkering volume for the period between January to May 2025 due to local government initiatives, according to Danzhou Municipal People’s Government on 5 July.

During the five-month period, the port supplied 149,400 metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel to 288 international vessels, compared to 117,400 mt of marine fuel to 278 ships in the year before.

Explaining the 2025 figures, the government pointed out 145,400 mt of bonded bunker fuel to 275 vessels were delivered by bunkering firms under national licenses, while 4,000 mt of bonded marine fuel were sent by bunkering companies under Hainan licenses.

To date, there are four bunker suppliers operating at Yangpu port. The latest to join is Luhai Energy Technology Development (Hainan) Co., Ltd (陆海能源科技发展(海南)有限公司) which received a license from the Danzhou Municipal People’s Government in April 2025.

“In the future, we will continue to work hard to continuously optimise the bonded oil refuelling service system, increase policy publicity and promotion efforts, attract more bonded oil refuelling companies to settle in Yangpu, and continuously expand the scale of business, and promote the implementation of the bonded oil refuelling policy,” stated Li Leiming, a mid-level employee of the Yangpu Investment Promotion Bureau.

 

Photo credit: Chuanhaozi under Creative Commons Licences
Published: 14 July 2025

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Milestone

Singapore retains ranking as world’s top maritime centre for 12th consecutive year

Finds report jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency.

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Singapore on Friday (11 July) said it has retained its ranking as the world’s top maritime centre, marking the 12th consecutive year it has led the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index.

Jointly published by the Baltic Exchange and China’s Xinhua News Agency, the Xinhua-Baltic ISCD Index provides an independent benchmarking of the world’s leading maritime hubs.

It evaluates factors such as cargo throughput, port infrastructure, maritime services (including finance, law and shipbroking), and the overall business environment.

The index is closely monitored by shipping lines, port investors, and maritime service providers to track market competitiveness, and inform investment location and service development decisions.

Singapore retained its top position among 43 maritime cities and regions, underpinned by its consistent performance as one of the world’s busiest transhipment and bunkering hubs, and a well-established ecosystem of professional maritime services and expertise.

In 2024, Singapore handled 41.12 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in container throughput – a record high – and saw total vessel arrival tonnage exceed 3 billion gross tons. The Port of Singapore also remains the world’s largest bunkering port, having supplied 54.92 million tonnes of marine fuel in 2024.

Home to more than 200 international shipping groups and a growing number of maritime technology start-ups, Singapore continues to strengthen its position as a global node for maritime innovation and enterprise.

This growing industry base is also creating new career pathways in areas such as port operations, digital systems management, automation, maritime law, and sustainability – as the sector transforms to meet the needs of a more digital and decarbonised future.

“We thank our industry partners, the research and enterprise community, and our unions who have been instrumental in Singapore’s journey to become a leading international maritime centre and global hub port,” said Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“We will continue to build on this momentum by innovating and investing in digitalisation, green technologies, and workforce development to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted and future-ready international maritime centre.”

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 14 July 2025

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“LNG London” marks 1,000 safe LNG bunkering ops in Rotterdam and Antwerp

Milestone is a tribute to the technical expertise and steadfast dedication of LNG London’s team, states Victrol.

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The LNG London, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel chartered by Shell, owned by LNG Shipping, and operated by Victrol recently completed over 1,000 safe LNG bunkering operations across the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.

“This landmark achievement underscores LNG London’s unwavering commitment to safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship as LNG rises to prominence as a lower-emission marine fuel compared to conventional fuel oil,” stated Victrol on Friday (11 July) over a LinkedIn update.

“With this milestone, LNG London reaffirms its pioneering role in promoting sustainable, lower-emission bunkering throughout the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) hub.”

Launched in June 2019, LNG London has a capacity of 3,000 m³, spans 110 m in length, and navigates inland waterways with ease—facilitating efficient LNG supply to both seagoing vessels and barges offshore-energy.

Victrol as the vessel’s operator, emphasises the outstanding performance of the crew and the vessel’s robust design. Built with stringent safety specifications, LNG London strives to maintain high operational standards. This milestone is a tribute to the team’s technical expertise and steadfast dedication.

Building on the good work of LNG London, Shell had also enhanced its bunkering network with the larger Energy Stockholm, an 8,000 m³ bunker vessel, now operating in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Amsterdam.

Related: Europe: ‘LNG London’ bunkering vessel starts operations at Rotterdam
Related: “LNG London” conducts first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Rotterdam
Related: Bureau Veritas classifies Europe’s largest inland waterway LNG bunker barge
Related: Europe’s largest LNG bunkering barge on maiden voyage to ARA
Related: Shell takes delivery of Europe’s largest inland LNG bunkering vessel

 

Photo credit: Victrol
Published: 14 July 2025

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