Singapore's enterprise development agency SPRING Singapore and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have launched a new standard, the Singapore Standard SS 600: 2008 – Code of Practice for Bunkering, to “further enhance consistency in practices in the delivery of bunkers for ships calling at Singapore’s port”.
The launch of this national standard for bunker suppliers and surveyors – a first in the world – was announced by transport minister Raymond Lim, at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON 2008) last week.
SS 600 sets out guidelines and procedures to ensure that the correct quality and quantity of bunkers are being delivered safely and efficiently. By enhancing the procedures and requirements for the delivery of bunkers by bunker tankers to vessels as well as the work of bunker surveyors, the new standard will boost Singapore’s position as a leader in the bunkering industry. SS 600 will be enforced by MPA for all bunkering operations and bunker surveying works in Singapore. This standard which will replace the two current standards: SS CP 60: 2004 (‘Bunkering by Bunker Tankers’) and SS CP 77: 1999 (‘Bunker Surveying’) will be adopted by the bunkering industry in the second half of 2009.
Besides obtaining a licence from MPA to conduct bunkering business in Singapore’s port, bunker suppliers, craft operators and surveyors will have to comply with SS 600 when carrying out their operations. The standard will also serve as the technical basis for resolution, should there be any disputes.
The MPA's chief executive Tay Lim Heng said: “The bunkering industry is an important component of Singapore’s maritime cluster, and an integral part of the country’s growth as a premier global hub port and an international maritime centre. We constantly review our bunker quality and quantity measures, with inputs from various stakeholders, to maintain our status as the top bunkering port with the highest standards. By offering greater assurance to our global customers when they call at our port to lift bunkers, SS 600 will foster further development of the bunkering industry here.”
The launch of this national standard for bunker suppliers and surveyors – a first in the world – was announced by transport minister Raymond Lim, at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference (SIBCON 2008) last week.
SS 600 sets out guidelines and procedures to ensure that the correct quality and quantity of bunkers are being delivered safely and efficiently. By enhancing the procedures and requirements for the delivery of bunkers by bunker tankers to vessels as well as the work of bunker surveyors, the new standard will boost Singapore’s position as a leader in the bunkering industry. SS 600 will be enforced by MPA for all bunkering operations and bunker surveying works in Singapore. This standard which will replace the two current standards: SS CP 60: 2004 (‘Bunkering by Bunker Tankers’) and SS CP 77: 1999 (‘Bunker Surveying’) will be adopted by the bunkering industry in the second half of 2009.
Besides obtaining a licence from MPA to conduct bunkering business in Singapore’s port, bunker suppliers, craft operators and surveyors will have to comply with SS 600 when carrying out their operations. The standard will also serve as the technical basis for resolution, should there be any disputes.
The MPA's chief executive Tay Lim Heng said: “The bunkering industry is an important component of Singapore’s maritime cluster, and an integral part of the country’s growth as a premier global hub port and an international maritime centre. We constantly review our bunker quality and quantity measures, with inputs from various stakeholders, to maintain our status as the top bunkering port with the highest standards. By offering greater assurance to our global customers when they call at our port to lift bunkers, SS 600 will foster further development of the bunkering industry here.”