No. 17 of 2024 - MERCHANT SHIPPING (TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND MANNING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2024 AND PREVENTION OF POLLUTION OF THE SEA (BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT) (AMENDMENT NO. 2) REGULATIONS 20
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR
NO. 17 of 2024
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
21st Storey mTower
Singapore 119963
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
23 December 2024
Applicable to: Shipowners, ship managers, operators, masters, crew members,
recognised organisations, surveyors and the shipping community
MERCHANT SHIPPING (TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND MANNING)
(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2024 AND PREVENTION OF POLLUTION OF THE
SEA (BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT) (AMENDMENT NO. 2) REGULATIONS
2024
- This circular informs the shipping community on the amendments to the
Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning) Regulations which entered
into force on 01 November 2024, and the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Ballast
Water Management) Regulations 2017 which will enter into force on 01 February 2025.
Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning) (Amendment)
Regulations 2024
- The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) had adopted amendments to the International Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW
Convention), through Resolution MSC.540(107), which will enter into force on 01
January 2025 (as previously shared in Shipping Circular No. 8 of 2024).
- Resolution MSC.540(107) adopted amendments to STCW Convention to allow
the use of electronic certificates of seafarers, in response to the global digitalisation
trend and as a solution to manage and control the seafarers’ certificates. The
amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning)
Regulations give effect to the Resolution MSC.540(107).
Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Ballast Water Management) (Amendment No.
2) Regulations 2024
- The Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO had also
adopted amendments to the International Convention for the Control and Management
of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) through Resolution
MEPC.369(80), which will enter into force on 01 February 2025.
- Resolution MEPC.369(80) adopted amendments to Appendix II of the BWM
Convention which provided greater clarity and requirements on information to be
recorded by ships performing ballast water operations. The amendments to the
Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Ballast Water Management) Regulations 2017 give
effect to the Resolution MEPC.369(80).
- Copies of the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning)
(Amendment) Regulations 2024 (Government Gazette No. S 775/2024) and
Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Ballast Water Management) (Amendment No. 2)
Regulations 2024 (Government Gazette No. S 999/2024) can be purchased at:
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- The Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Manning) Regulations and
Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Ballast Water Management) Regulations 2017 can
also be accessed on Singapore Statutes Online.
- Any queries relating to this circular should be emailed to shipping@mpa.gov.sg.
- The shipping community is encouraged to subscribe to our Telegram channel –
t.me/MPASingapore to receive the latest updates.
CHEAH AUN AUN
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE