The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore announced new amendments to its safety and pollution-reporting rules. These updates take effect on January 1, 2026, and align Singapore’s requirements with recent decisions made by the International Maritime Organization.
Key Amendments Under the Safety Convention
Singapore’s safety regulations will now reflect several changes approved by the Maritime Safety Committee. The updates introduce new obligations for ships using oil fuel. Before bunkering, suppliers must provide a signed and certified declaration confirming that the fuel meets the required standards. The bunker delivery note must also include flashpoint details. If a supplier delivers non-compliant fuel, that case must be reported to the IMO, and corrective actions will follow.
The amendments also focus on equipment and onboard systems. Lifting appliances and anchor-handling winches must now meet updated design, installation, and maintenance standards. Firefighting foams containing harmful PFOS chemicals will no longer be allowed. Ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and above, including containerships and bulk carriers, must carry electronic inclinometers.
Furthermore, some non-SOLAS vessels operating in polar waters will now fall under the Polar Code. Certificate templates have been revised to recognise containerships as a distinct ship type and to clarify requirements for immersion suits, nuclear cargo ship documentation, and electronic inclinometers.
Another set of changes updates fire safety, fuel safety, and structural protection standards. These requirements apply to several ship categories, including vehicle carriers, ro-ro units, special-category ships, and passenger ships. Additionally, ships must report when freight containers are lost at sea.
Updates to Pollution-Incident Reporting
The Marine Environment Protection Committee introduced changes to the MARPOL Convention’s reporting procedures. These updates add new requirements for reporting container losses at sea. They link the reporting steps to SOLAS danger-message procedures. Singapore’s regulations will now incorporate these changes under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea rules.
Accessing the Updated Regulations
Copies of the amended regulations are available for purchase from Toppan Next Pte Ltd. They are also accessible through Singapore Statutes Online. The MPA encourages the shipping community to review the updates ahead of the 2026 implementation date. Queries can be directed to the MPA’s shipping division through the email provided in the circular.
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Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
