MPA Singapore issued Shipping Circular 17/2024 informing 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.