Business

Singapore oil spill: Minister refutes claim that contractor was slow in preventing further spillage

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, in response to a supplementary question in Parliament, said the contractor deployed was not slow in responding to the 14 June oil spill incident.

Published

9 months ago

July 4, 2024

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Singapore oil spill: Minister refutes claim that contractor was slow in preventing further spillag

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on Tuesday (2 July) defended the response time of contractor T&T Salvage Asia (T&T) to the oil spill incident on 14 June, following an allision between two vessels in Singapore.

T&T was engaged by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) after Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour was hit by Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima at Pasir Panjang Terminal, which resulted in an oil spill in Singapore waters.

Chee was responding to Workers' Party MP Dennis Tan who raised several supplementary questions following Chee’s ministerial statement in Parliament.

Tan, who is a a practising shipping lawyer at a maritime law firm, highlighted that it has been reported that T&T was mobilised on the same day of the collision at about 2.55pm and it took them just over 14 hours before they were mobilised and finished laying the 200-metre containment booms.

He then questioned Chee why the Oil Spill Response Limited (ORL), the largest international industry funded cooperative providing oil spill response services, was not mobilised concurrently with T&T Salvage Asia, “especially with the view to reduce the deployment time and to reduce the subsequent spread of the oil spill.”

Responding to Tan, Chee said: “There's a certain underlying assumption, which is that T&T Salvage had been slow and had not been doing its work properly. If I understood him (Tan) correctly, I think that's not the case.”

“Mr Tan is a maritime lawyer. I'm sure he understands these are not lightweight equipment. These are heavy equipment that will require time to load up onto the vessel.”

Chee also highlighted Captain Anuj Sahai, managing director of T&T Salvage Asia, said in a media interview that the crew was working at night and under bad weather conditions and so “they did their best to deploy heavy containment booms as quickly as they could”.

“And I would say, given the weather conditions, nightfall and the amount of work that is required to lay out the booms, I think TNT did their best and the response time was in line with the industry practices internationally,” Chee added.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 4 July, 2024

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Singapore: MPA issues circular on resolutions adopted at IMO MSC 109

New circular informs shipping community of the resolutions, including on use of ammonia cargo as bunker fuel, and urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions.

Published

11 hours ago

March 18, 2025

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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (17 March) issued Shipping Circular No. 2 of 2025 regarding resolutions adopted by the 109th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 109) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which was held from 2 to 6 December 2024:

This circular informs the shipping community of the resolutions adopted by MSC 109 and urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions.

MSC 109 adopted the following mandatory resolutions:

Resolution MSC.566(109) – Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code)

This resolution adopts amendments to Chapter 16 of the IGC Code, mainly to allow the use of ammonia cargo as fuel. The amendments will enter into force on 01 July 2026 and will be given effect through the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations.

Resolution MSC.567(109) – Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)

This resolution adopts amendments to IGF Code regarding ship design and arrangements; general pipe design; safety functions of the gas supply system; fire protection; hazardous area zones; and ventilation requirements. The amendments will enter into force on 01 January 2028 and will be given effect through the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations.

MSC 109 also adopted the following resolutions:

Resolution MSC.568(109) – Amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70))

This resolution adopts amendments to Part 1- Prototype Test for Life-saving Appliances, for self-righting test requirements of totally enclosed lifeboats, under paragraph 6.14.1.1 of the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)).

Resolution MSC.569(109) – Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF digital navigational data (NAVDAT) system

This resolution adopts the Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF digital NAVDAT system.

Resolution MSC.509(105)/REV.1 – Provision of radio services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

This resolution adopts the revised Recommendation on provision of radio services for the GMDSS, the Criteria for use when providing shore-based digital selective calling (DSC) facilities for use in the GMDSS, the Criteria for establishing GMDSS sea areas, the Criteria for use when providing a NAVTEX service and the Criteria for use when providing a NAVDAT service, set out in annexes 1 to 5, respectively, to the resolution. This resolution revokes resolution MSC.509(105).

Resolution MSC.570(109) – Performance standards for a universal shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS)

This resolution adopts the revised Performance standards for a universal shipborne AIS, recognising the need for measures to prevent unauthorised entry or tampering of the ship's identity information in shipborne AIS.

Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to MPA Shipping Division via email at [email protected].

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 18 March, 2025

Business

Singapore-based AET appoints Nick Potter as new President and CEO

Potter, who assumes the CEO role from Zahid Osman, also assumed the role of Vice President, Petroleum & Products at MISC Group, joining the MISC Executive Leadership Team.

Published

11 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Admin

Singapore-based AET appoints Nick Potter as new President and CEO

Singapore-headquartered AET, MISC’s petroleum arm, on Monday (17 March) announced the appointment of Nick Potter as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

Potter also assumed the role of Vice President, Petroleum & Products at MISC Group, joining the MISC Executive Leadership Team.

With over 35 years of experience in the maritime and energy sectors, Potter has led commercial, technical, and operational teams across the globe. He previously served as Head of Shipping and Maritime for Asia, Pacific, and the Middle East at Shell, and before that, as Global Head of Maritime at BG Group.

His career began at sea as an Engineering Officer, before progressing through various roles at Shell and BG, giving him deep expertise in maritime logistics and the tanker business.

Beyond his leadership roles, Potter is a strong advocate for energy transition, maritime talent development, and seafarer welfare. He has actively contributed to key industry bodies, including OCIMF, the Singapore Maritime Foundation, and the International Chamber of Shipping's Clean Energy Marine Hubs Task Force.

Outgoing CEO Zahid Osman welcomed Potter in a symbolic leadership handover at AET’s headquarters, marking a new chapter in our journey.

“As Zahid takes on his expanded leadership role as President & Group CEO at MISC, we look forward to continuing our close collaboration as part of MISC Group,” AET added.

Photo credit: AET
Published: 18 March, 2025

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AAL Shipping names methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel in China

Singapore-based AAL Shipping says it held a naming ceremony for “AAL Dubai” – a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – at CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou.

Published

11 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Admin

AAL Shipping names methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel in China

Singapore-headquartered project heavy lift carrier AAL Shipping (AAL) on Thursday (13 March) said it held a formal naming ceremony for its fifth Super B-Class vessel, AAL Dubai.

The 32,000 dwt AAL Dubai – a multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – was officially named on March 12 at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China.

The AAL Dubai is engineered to transport a vast array of cargo, including heavy lift project equipment, breakbulk, and dry bulk, all on a single voyage. With a combined lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, this vessel is designed to offer high efficiency, cargo flexibility, and economies of scale to shippers worldwide.

The vessel will now embark on its maiden voyage, joining sister vessels AAL Limassol, AAL Hamburg, AAL Houston, and AAL Antwerp in serving project cargo customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.

“We are now over the halfway mark with our Super B-Class deliveries, and those already in service are exceeding our expectations,” said Liew Teck Liong, Chief Financial Officer at AAL.

“With these vessels, we have achieved both company and industry firsts, and we look forward to redefining what a heavy lift, multipurpose vessel can accomplish as we deploy them for complex cargo challenges.”

Later this year, AAL will take delivery of the AAL Dammam, which will be shortly followed by the AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai that have an increased maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes.

Photo credit: AAL Shipping
Published: 18 March, 2025