Business

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.

Published

6 years ago

July 27, 2020

Admin

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

Biofuel

Petrochina International blends over 30,000 mt of marine biofuel since March

Company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Published

20 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

Zhoushan completes China’s first batch of marine biofuel blending under pilot programme

Petrochina International Co Ltd recently said it has blended more than 30,000 metric tonnes (mt) mt of biofuel since completing the country’s first biofuel marine fuel blending operation on 13 March.

The company said the milestone demonstrates its ability to conduct continuous and large-scale biofuel marine fuel blending operations.

The company has been developing marine biofuel blending operations at China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging storage and logistics facilities at its Aoshan base.

Its latest product, B24 marine fuel containing 24% biofuel component, meets relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements and marine fuel standards, according to the company. It said the product can be supplied for bunkering vessels operating on international routes.

It has used its global trading network to secure feedstock supplies and support cost control and supply security for the blending operations, it added.

The company said the large-scale blending of its marine biofuel products marks a development in China’s marine biofuel blending market.

It plans to work with upstream and downstream businesses within its group to support the development of Zhoushan Port as a major bonded marine fuel bunkering hub and contribute to its parent group’s transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Manifold Times previously reported China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone launching the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China with the completion of the first batch of B24-HSFO.

The launch was marked with the blending of 2,000 mt of biodiesel and 6,300 mt of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in storage tank F-02 of Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan), producing 8,300 mt of B24-HSFO.

Manifold Times also reported the first cross-regional bonded bunkering operation of blended biofuel in East China was successfully completed at the Meishan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

The B24-HSFO used in the bunkering operation was supplied by the Aoshan Petroleum Base in Zhoushan from the first pilot programme for marine biofuel blending in China.

Photo credit: Sinochem-Xingzhong Oil Staging (Zhoushan)
Published: 21 September, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Final general meetings scheduled for Dromond Shipping, related firms

A member is entitled to attend the meetings and should notify the liquidators’ team office via email no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Published

20 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

The final general meetings of Dromond Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies have been scheduled to take place on 19 October, according to the company’s liquidator on a notice posted on Friday (18 September) on the Government Gazette.

The other companies are Tidewater Emergency Response Services Pte Ltd, Tidewater Production Solutions Pte Ltd and Tidewater Salvage Pte Ltd.

The final general meetings of the members of the companies will be held via electronic means on 19 October 2026 at 2.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 3.00 pm and 3.30 pm (Singapore time), respectively.

The meetings are being held for the purpose of having accounts laid before the members showing the manner in which the winding up of the respective companies has been conducted and how the property of the respective companies has been disposed of and to hear any explanation that may be given by the liquidators.

The details of the liquidator is as follows:

Tan Kim Han
Joint and Several Liquidators
137 Amoy Street, #02-03, Far East Square
Singapore 049965

Note: A member is entitled to attend the above meeting and should notify the Liquidators’ team office via email to [email protected] or [email protected] no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 21 September, 2026

Ammonia

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

Ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier “Shoei Maru” via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

Published

20 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Admin

NYK wraps up first STS ammonia bunkering operation in Japan

NYK Line, on Thursday (17 September) with Japan Marine United Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, and Kokuka Sangyo Co Ltd, has completed the world’s first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering operation to an ammonia-fuelled vessel.

At a quay within Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard, ammonia fuel was transferred from the ammonia carrier Shoei Maru via the STS method to an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

The operation was conducted in preparation for sea trials of the AFMGC using fuel ammonia.

“This achievement represents an important initiative that has put into practice an operation essential for the future practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels,” the company said.

The bunkering operation was conducted following extensive discussions among the companies involved. Safe operating procedures and work processes were established prior to the operation, enabling the transfer to be completed safely. Through this initiative, we have accumulated practical insights regarding safe fuel supply operations.

This operation serves as a pioneering example of the fuel-supply framework that will be required for the widespread adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The AFMGC is currently in the final stage of construction and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

“The successful completion of this operation marks a significant milestone toward the broader commercial use of fuel ammonia and the practical deployment of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It also represents an important step forward in establishing an ammonia supply chain,” the company added.

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 21 September, 2026