Additional Safety Measures to Prevent Maritime Collisions
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns additional safety measures to prevent maritime collisions following the June 2024 incident between the vessels Vox Maxima and Marine Honour. Member of Parliament Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) plans to prevent recurrences beyond existing radio communication advisories. Minister of State Jeffrey Siow stated that the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau issued recommendations to the ship's management while MPA penalised four crew members. MPA has also updated pilot training to include emergency scenarios and revised the "Vessel's Checklist for Piloted Movements" to ensure anchors are ready for immediate release. Furthermore, MPA is studying the feasibility of stationing harbour tugs at critical port areas to provide support for ships experiencing mechanical or electrical failures.
Transcript
58 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Acting Minister for Transport arising from the findings of the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau on the causes of the collision between Vox Maxima and Marine Honour on 14 June 2024, what additional safety measures does the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore intend to implement to prevent the recurrence of such collisions, beyond the advisory on keeping a listening watch on the designated radio channels.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Ministry of Transport's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau's report on the allision of Vox Maxima and Marine Honour identified multiple causal factors and made six safety recommendations, all directed to the company managing Vox Maxima.
Separately, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has taken action against four crew members of the Vox Maxima who were convicted and fined under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 for failing to discharge their respective duties.
MPA has safety protocols in place for emergency response, especially in situations where there is a loss of electrical power on board. A similar allision scenario has been incorporated in the simulator training and assessment of MPA's harbour pilots. The "Vessel's Checklist for Piloted Movements", which must be completed before pilotage, has also been amended to include a new requirement for ship crews to ensure that their anchors can be readily let go in an emergency.
In the longer term, MPA is studying the feasibility of stationing harbour tugs at critical areas within the port to provide an additional layer of support for ships experiencing mechanical or electrical failures.