Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996

“appointed officer” means a person authorised or appointed as an appointed officer under section 89A(1);

“authorised pilot” means any person employed or authorised by the Authority to pilot vessels under section 62;

“Authority” means the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore established under section 4;

“beacon” means a prominent specially‑constructed object forming a conspicuous mark as a fixed aid to navigation;

“berthing master” means any person authorised under section 62(2)(b) to act as a berthing master;

“buoy” includes a floating object of any size, shape and colour which is moored to the seabed and serves as an aid to navigation or for other specific purposes;

“Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority and includes any acting Chairperson of the Authority;

“Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Authority, and includes any individual acting in that capacity;

“container” means a receptacle 6.1 metres or more in length equipped with corner castings to facilitate handling by mechanical equipment;

“dangerous cargoes” means such cargoes, whether packaged, carried in bulk packagings or in bulk, as may be prescribed;

“Deputy Chairperson” means the Deputy Chairperson of the Authority and includes any acting Deputy Chairperson of the Authority;

“Director of Marine” means the Director of Marine appointed under section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;

“dock” means an artificial excavation or construction in which vessels can be placed for loading, unloading, fitting out or repairing and includes gridirons, slips, keel blocks, inclined planes and all machinery, works, fixtures and anything attached or pertaining thereto;

“dues” includes port dues, goods dues and pilotage dues levied under this Act but does not include rates;

“equipment” includes any appliance, apparatus, machinery, system or accessory used or intended to be used for the purposes of providing marine or port services and facilities;

“goods” includes dangerous cargoes, animals, carcases, baggage, containers and any other movable property of any kind and whether in a refrigerated form or otherwise;

“harbour craft” means any vessel which is used in the port for any purpose;

“lighthouse” means a distinctive structure on or off a coast exhibiting a major light designed to serve as an aid to navigation;

“marine services and facilities” means the towage and pilotage of vessels and the supply of water to vessels;

“master” includes every person, except a pilot, having command or charge of any vessel;

“member” means a member of the Authority;

“National Maritime Board” means the National Maritime Board established under the repealed National Maritime Board Act (Cap. 198, 1985 Revised Edition) in force immediately before 2 February 1996;

“owner”, in relation to any vessel, includes any part‑owner, charterer, operator, consignee or mortgagee in possession of the vessel or any duly authorised agent of any such person;

“passenger” has the meaning given by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;

“pilot” means any person not belonging to a vessel who has the conduct of it;

“Pilotage Committee” means the Pilotage Committee appointed under section 66;

“pilotage district” means any area in the port declared under section 59 to be a pilotage district;

“port” means any place in Singapore and any navigable river or channel leading into a place declared to be a port under section 3;

“port dues” means dues levied in respect of a vessel for entering, using, leaving or plying in the port;

“Port Master” means the Port Master appointed under section 15 and includes any Deputy Port Master appointed under that section;

“Port of Singapore Authority” means the Port of Singapore Authority established under the Port of Singapore Authority Act (Cap. 236, 1985 Revised Edition) in force immediately before 1 October 1997;

“port services and facilities” means port terminal services and facilities for the handling, storage and transportation of goods on land adjoining the foreshore of Singapore and for the handling of passengers carried by vessels;

“premises” includes messuages, houses, buildings, structures, lands, tenements, easements and hereditaments of any tenure, whether open or enclosed, whether built on or not, whether public or private, and whether maintained or not under statutory authority;

“public licence” means a licence granted under section 81 and “public licensee” is construed accordingly;

“rates” means any rates or charges leviable by the Authority under this Act and includes any toll or rent but does not include dues;

“regulations” means regulations made under this Act;

“seaman” means any person normally engaged on ship’s articles on any vessel going beyond the limits of the port, but does not include

“vehicle” has the meaning given by the Road Traffic Act 1961;

“vessel” includes any ship or boat or air‑cushioned vehicle or floating rig or platform used in any form of operations at sea;

“wharf” includes a quay, pier, jetty, ramp or other landing place.

The Minister may, after consultation with the Authority and by notification in the Gazette, declare any place in Singapore and any navigable river or waters leading into such place to be a port for the purposes of this Act.

Every declaration under subsection (1) must define the limits of the port.

All deeds and other documents requiring the seal of the Authority must be sealed with the common seal of the Authority and any instruments to which the common seal is affixed must be signed

All courts, judges and persons acting judicially are to take judicial notice of the common seal of the Authority affixed to any document and presume that it was duly affixed.

The Authority consists of

The First Schedule has effect with respect to the Authority, its members and proceedings.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, it is the function and duty of the Authority

In discharging the functions and duties imposed on it by subsection (1), the Authority must have regard to

Nothing in this section imposes on the Authority, directly or indirectly, any form of duty or liability enforceable by proceedings before any court.

In addition to the functions and duties imposed by this section, the Authority may undertake any other functions that the Minister may assign to the Authority and the Authority is deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act and the provisions of this Act apply to the Authority in respect of those functions.

Despite the provisions of this Act, the Authority may, until such time as the licences granted under Part 12 come into effect, continue to provide any marine or port services and facilities that the Port of Singapore Authority was providing immediately before 2 February 1996.

Without affecting the provisions of Part 12, the Authority may provide any marine or port services and facilities in any of the following circumstances even though it has granted a public licence to any person:

The Authority must provide the Minister with information with respect to its property and activities in such manner and at such times as the Minister may require.

Subject to this Act, the Authority may carry on any activities that appear to the Authority to be advantageous, necessary or convenient for it to carry on for or in connection with the discharge of its functions and duties under this Act or any other written law, and in particular, may exercise any of the powers specified in the Second Schedule.

This section does not limit any power of the Authority conferred by or under any other written law.

The Minister may, after consultation with a person to whom this section applies, give

In addition to the power mentioned in subsection (1), if it appears to the Minister to be requisite or expedient to do so

Any direction given under subsection (1) or (2) may include provisions for

A person to whom this section applies must give effect to any direction given to that person under subsection (1) or (2) despite any other duty imposed on that person by or under this Act or any other written law.

A person to whom this section applies must not disclose any direction given to that person under subsection (1) or (2) if the Minister notifies that person that the Minister is of the opinion that the disclosure of the direction is against the public interest.

The Minister may

Any sum required by the Minister for paying compensation or making grants under subsection (6) must be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

This section applies to the Authority and to every public licensee.

If any doubt arises as to the existence of a public emergency or as to whether any act done under this section was in the public interest or in the interests of public security, national defence or relations with the government of another country, a certificate signed by the Minister is conclusive evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.

The Authority or any person authorised by the Authority in that behalf may by notice require any person to furnish to the Authority or the person so authorised, within such period as specified in the notice, all such documents or information relating to such matters as may be required by the Authority for the purposes of this Act and as are within the knowledge, in the custody or under the control of that person.

Any person who, on being required by notice under subsection (1) to furnish any document or information, fails to comply with any requirement of the notice shall be guilty of an offence.

A person who

The Authority may appoint from among its own members or other persons who are not members any number of committees that it thinks fit consisting of members or other persons or members and other persons for purposes which, in the opinion of the Authority, would be better regulated and managed by means of those committees.

The Authority may, subject to any conditions or restrictions that it thinks fit, delegate to any such committee all or any of the powers, functions and duties vested in the Authority by this Act or any other written law, except the powers to prescribe or levy dues and rates and borrow money, and any power, function or duty so delegated may be exercised or performed by the committee in the name and on behalf of the Authority.

The Authority may, subject to any conditions or restrictions that it thinks fit, delegate to any member or employee of the Authority or any person all or any of its powers, functions and duties vested in the Authority by this Act or any other written law, except the powers to prescribe or levy dues and rates and borrow money; and any power, function or duty so delegated may be exercised or performed by the member, employee or person in the name and on behalf of the Authority.

The Authority has the exclusive right to the use of any symbol, design or representation that it may select or devise and to display or exhibit the symbol, design or representation in connection with its activities or affairs.

Any person who uses a symbol, design or representation identical with that of the Authority or which so resembles the symbol, design or representation thereof as to deceive or cause confusion or to be likely to deceive or cause confusion shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

There must be a Chief Executive of the Authority, whose appointment, removal, discipline and promotion must be in accordance with the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018.

The Authority may, subject to the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018, appoint an individual to act temporarily as the Chief Executive during any period, or during all periods, when the Chief Executive

The revenue of the Authority for any financial year must be applied in defraying the following charges:

The balance of the revenue of the Authority must be applied to the creation of a general reserve and any other reserves that the Authority may think fit.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Authority may levy such rates, charges and fees as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette, prescribe for the use of services and facilities provided by the Authority.

The Authority may make such charges as it thinks fit for services or facilities provided or goods supplied by it pursuant to the power conferred by this Act or any other written law in respect of which no rates, charges or fees have been prescribed under subsection (1).

The Authority may require any person to furnish any security that the Authority thinks fit for the payment of any rates, charges, dues and fees payable under this Act or for any other purpose of this Act.

The Authority may determine the fees to be paid in respect of the issue or renewal of any licence or permit issued under this Act or the regulations.

The Authority may, if it thinks fit, remit or waive the whole or any part of any rates, charges, dues and fees paid or payable under this Act.

The owner, agent or master of every vessel which calls at the port of Singapore must pay to the Authority or any person authorised by the Authority such maritime welfare fee as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette, prescribe.

The owner, agent or master of every vessel which enters, leaves, uses or plies within the port or calls at Singapore must pay to the Authority such port dues and pilotage dues as the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette, prescribe.

The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister and by notification in the Gazette, levy such goods dues as are prescribed on goods brought into or taken out of such private wharf or premises (by any means of transportation) as may be specified in the notification.

Goods dues must be paid by

The Authority may recover the goods dues from any of the persons mentioned in subsection (9).

A due, charge, fee or rate exigible by virtue of this section may be recovered by the Authority in any court of competent jurisdiction as if it were a simple contract debt.

Maritime welfare fees under this section are not payable in respect of

The rates, charges, dues and fees applied by the Marine Department, the National Maritime Board or the Port of Singapore Authority immediately before 2 February 1996 continue to be valid as though determined by the Authority under this section until rescinded, varied or otherwise determined by the Authority.

Any duly authorised officer of the Authority may enter into any vessel within the limits of the port or the approaches to the port in order to ascertain the amount of the rates, charges, dues and fees payable in respect of the vessel or on or in respect of any goods carried on the vessel and to obtain any other information required for, or in connection with, the assessment and collection of the rates, charges, dues and fees.

A master of a vessel who fails to comply with a reasonable request made by an authorised officer who has entered the vessel pursuant to subsection (1) for information or for the production of a document shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the master continues to fail to comply with the request.

If the master or owner of any vessel in respect of which any rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums are payable under this Act or the regulations refuses or neglects to pay the same or any part thereof on demand, the Authority may, in addition to any other remedy which it may be entitled to use, distrain or arrest of its own authority the vessel and the bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture belonging to the vessel or any part thereof, and detain the same until the amount due is paid.

If any part of the rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums, or of the costs of the distraint or arrest, or of the keeping of the vessel, bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture belonging to the vessel remains unpaid for 14 days, the Authority may cause the vessel and the bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture so distrained or arrested to be sold or disposed of in any manner that it thinks fit and may recover, as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction from the master or owner of the vessel, the expenses of the distraint, arrest, sale or disposal or attempted sale or disposal of the vessel and the bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture distrained or arrested.

The proceeds of sale of the vessel and bunkers, tackle, apparel or furniture distrained or arrested may be used by the Authority to satisfy those rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums and costs, including costs of sale remaining unpaid.

The Authority must

If the Authority gives to the Port Master a notice stating that an amount specified in the notice is due in respect of rates, charges, dues, fees, damages or penalties or other sums payable under this Act or the regulations against the vessel or the owner, agent or master of the vessel, the Port Master must not grant port clearance until the amount so chargeable has been paid or security has been given to the satisfaction of the Authority for that amount.

As from 2 February 1996, such property, rights and liabilities vested in the National Maritime Board, the Port of Singapore Authority and the Government relating to the Marine Department as may be determined by the Minister for Finance become, by virtue of this section and without further assurance, the property, rights and liabilities of the Authority.

If any question arises as to whether any particular property, right or liability has been transferred to or vested in the Authority under subsection (1), a certificate under the hand of the Minister for Finance is conclusive evidence that the property, right or liability was or was not so transferred or vested.

Any immovable property to be transferred to and vested in the Authority under subsection (1) must be held by the Authority upon such tenure and subject to such terms and conditions as the President may determine.

All deeds, bonds, agreements, instruments and working arrangements subsisting immediately before 2 February 1996 affecting the portion of the property, rights and liabilities transferred to the Authority under section 30(1) continue in full force and effect on and after that date and are enforceable by or against the Authority as if instead of the Government, the National Maritime Board or the Port of Singapore Authority (as the case may be) or any person acting on its behalf, the Authority had been named therein or had been a party thereto.

Any proceedings or cause of action relating to the portion of the property, rights and liabilities transferred to the Authority under section 30(1) pending or existing immediately before 2 February 1996 by or against the Government, the National Maritime Board or the Port of Singapore Authority (as the case may be) or any person acting on its behalf, may be continued and are to be enforced by or against the Authority.

No person other than an employer may engage a seaman.

An employer must not engage a seaman and a seaman must not accept employment on board any vessel except in accordance with regulations made under section 40.

An employer must not enter into arrangements with any seaman to transport the seaman outside Singapore for the purpose of engagement in contravention of regulations made under section 40.

For the purpose of this Part, “employer” includes the shipowner, charterer or operator, the agent of the shipowner, charterer or operator and the master of the vessel.

Any person or employer who

Any person or seaman who accepts employment or works in a vessel as a seaman otherwise than in accordance with regulations made under section 40 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations for the control and management of the port and the approaches to the port and for the maintenance of good order in the port and generally for the purposes of this Act and any other written law and, in particular, may make regulations for or in respect of all or any of the following matters:

The Authority may, in making any regulations under this section, provide that any contravention of or failure to comply with any regulation shall be an offence and may prescribe as a penalty in respect of any one offence a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which such offence continues after conviction.

Where by virtue of this Act or the regulations any person is required to take out and maintain a policy of insurance against liability for any risks or costs, the policy of insurance must be

A policy is of no effect for the purposes of this Act or the regulations unless there is issued by the insurer to the person by whom the policy is effected, a certificate of insurance in the prescribed form and containing such particulars of any conditions subject to which the policy is issued and of any other matters as may be prescribed.

Any condition in a policy of insurance issued or given for the purposes of this Act or the regulations which

Nothing in this section renders void any provision in a policy of insurance requiring the person insured to repay to the insurer any sum which the insurer may have become liable to pay under the policy and which has been applied to the satisfaction of any claim in respect of any risk against which the policy of insurance was required to be taken out or maintained.

The Authority may, by order in the Gazette, prescribe the conditions, including a minimum limit of indemnity, of any policy of insurance which is required to be taken out or maintained under this Act or the regulations and the form and particulars to be stated in any certificate of insurance, and different conditions, forms and particulars may be prescribed in relation to different cases or circumstances.

The Port Master may direct the owner, agent or master of any vessel intending to enter or leave the port to furnish, before entering or leaving the port, such information as the Port Master may require relating to the vessel, its cargo and the estimated time of entering or leaving the port.

The owner, agent or master of any vessel arriving in the port must

The owner, agent or master of any vessel who fails to comply with this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

The Port Master may at any time require the owner or master of any vessel which is in transit in the port or the approaches to the port to provide the Port Master with such particulars of the vessel, its cargo and equipment as the Port Master may determine.

Any owner or master of a vessel who fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Any vessel, other than a vessel referred to in subsection (3), must not leave the port without the owner, agent or master obtaining port clearance from the Port Master.

The owner, agent or master of the vessel applying for port clearance under subsection (1) must

This section does not apply to

If any vessel, not being exempted from complying with this section, leaves or attempts to leave the port without port clearance, the owner, agent or master of the vessel or any person who sends or attempts to send the vessel to sea shall, if that owner, agent, master or person is party or privy to the offence, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for every offence to a fine not exceeding $10,000, and the vessel, if she has not left Singapore waters, may be detained.

Port clearance must not be granted to any vessel

Where under this Act or any other written law a vessel is to be detained, the Port Master must, and where under this Act or any other written law a vessel may be detained the Port Master may, refuse to grant port clearance to that vessel.

The Port Master may refuse to grant port clearance to any vessel whose owner or master has not complied with, or has been charged with an offence under, any of the provisions of this Act or any other written law.

The Port Master may refuse to grant port clearance to any vessel which has anchored in the submarine cable corridor unless the owner, agent or master of the vessel has deposited such sum of money or furnished such security as may be required by a public telecommunication licensee in order to meet the costs of making good the damage, whether actual or estimated by a public telecommunication licensee, to the submarine cable and its associated plant (called in this section the submersible plant).

Where a public telecommunication licensee has reason to believe that the submersible plant has been damaged by a vessel, the public telecommunication licensee may require the owner, agent or master of that vessel to carry out an inspection or survey of the submersible plant in such manner as it considers necessary.

The expenses of any inspection or survey of the submersible plant carried out under subsection (9) must be paid by the owner, agent or master of the vessel.

In this section, “submarine cable corridor” means the area designated by the Port Master as the submarine cable corridor.

The owner, agent or master of any vessel which fails to leave the port within 48 hours, or any shorter period specified by the Port Master, after obtaining port clearance must, within 6 hours after the expiry of the 48 hours or the shorter period, return to the Port Master the port clearance certificate and, if so required, obtain fresh port clearance.

Any owner, agent or master of a vessel who fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for every offence to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and the vessel may be detained.

The Port Master may direct any vessel to leave the territorial waters of Singapore if he or she is of the opinion that it would not be in the public interest for the vessel to remain within the territorial waters of Singapore.

Any person aggrieved by the direction of the Port Master under subsection (1) may, within 7 days of the receipt of such direction, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.

If any vessel fails to leave the territorial waters of Singapore within the time specified by the Port Master, or where an appeal has been made to the Minister under subsection (2) after the appeal has been refused, the Authority may take possession of and dispose of the vessel in any manner the Authority thinks fit.

Any person who, without lawful excuse, refuses, neglects or fails to obey any direction lawfully given under this Part or any regulations made under this Part shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the person wilfully continues to disobey the direction.

In case of any refusal or neglect or failure to comply with any direction given under this Part or any regulations made under this Part, the Authority may, whether any proceedings have been instituted against any person for such offence or not, do or cause to be done all such acts as are in its opinion reasonable or necessary for the purpose of carrying out or complying with the direction, and may hire and employ any person that it considers proper and necessary for such purpose.

All expenses incurred in doing such acts must be paid and borne by the person or persons so offending.

Even though any obstruction or impediment to the navigation of the port has been lawfully made or has become lawful by reason of the long continuance of the obstruction or impediment or otherwise, the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, cause the same to be removed or altered, making to the persons who suffer damage by the removal or alteration reasonable compensation for the damage done.

If any dispute arises concerning the compensation, the amount and, if necessary, any question of liability is to be summarily ascertained and determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

An appeal lies to the General Division of the High Court from any decision of a Magistrate’s Court or a District Court under this section, and the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 apply, with the necessary modifications, to all such appeals.

In the event of fire breaking out on board any vessel in the port, the Port Master or an authorised representative of the Port Master may proceed on board the vessel with such assistance and persons as he or she thinks fit, and may give any orders that seem to him or her necessary for scuttling the vessel, or for removing the vessel or any other vessel to any place that he or she thinks proper to prevent in either case danger to other vessels and for the taking of any other measures that appear to him or her expedient for the protection of life or property.

If such orders are not forthwith carried out by the master of the vessel, the Port Master or the authorised representative may proceed to carry them into effect.

Any expenses incurred in the exercise of the powers conferred by subsections (1) and (2) are recoverable from the master or owner of the vessel concerned as a civil debt.

The Port Master, an authorised representative of the Port Master, any officer of the Authority authorised by the Authority or any police officer may go on board any vessel in the port whenever he or she suspects that any offence against this Part has been or is about to be committed in any vessel, or whenever he or she considers it is necessary for him or her to do so in the discharge of any duty imposed by this Part or otherwise by law.

Any master of such vessel who, without lawful excuse, refuses to allow the Port Master or the other persons referred to in subsection (1) to enter the vessel shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for each offence to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

All acts, orders or directions authorised by this Part or any regulations made under this Part to be done or given by a particular employee of the Authority may be done or given by any other employee of the Authority authorised in writing in that behalf by the Authority.

Any person authorised to do any such act may call to his or her aid any assistance that is necessary.

If in the opinion of the Authority any vessel, aircraft or other object sunk, stranded or abandoned within the port or the approaches to the port is, or is likely to become, an obstruction, impediment or danger to navigation or to the safe and convenient use or operation of the port, the Authority may by written notice require the owner or agent of the vessel, aircraft or object to raise, remove or destroy the whole or any part of such vessel, aircraft or object within such time specified in the notice.

Any notice to be served by the Authority under subsection (1) is deemed to be sufficiently served if addressed to “the owner” of the vessel, aircraft or object (as the case may be) and

Any person who fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the notice is not complied with.

Despite section 57, if the vessel, aircraft or other object is not raised, removed or destroyed within the time given in the notice under that section, the Authority may

The Authority may use the proceeds of the sale under subsection (1)(c) to reimburse itself for the whole of the expenses incurred by it in the exercise of its powers under this section.

The Authority must on demand pay the surplus (if any) of the proceeds of the sale under subsection (1)(c) to the owner or any person entitled to it and if no demand is made by the owner or any person entitled to the surplus within 12 months from the date of the sale, the surplus must be paid into the funds of the Authority.

If the proceeds of the sale under subsection (1)(c) are insufficient to reimburse the Authority for the whole expenses incurred by it, the Authority may recover the balance from the owner of the vessel, aircraft or object as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

If any vessel, aircraft or object or any part thereof is destroyed by the Authority under subsection (1)(a), the owner of the vessel, aircraft or object must reimburse the Authority for the expenses incurred by the Authority in such destruction.

In this section, “vessel” or “aircraft” includes every article or thing or collection of things being or forming part of the tackle, equipment, cargo, stores or ballast of a vessel or an aircraft, as the case may be.

The Authority may, by notification in the Gazette, declare any area in the port to be a pilotage district.

Every such declaration must define the limits of the pilotage district.

Every vessel while navigating in any pilotage district or part of the district must be under pilotage and the owner, agent or master of the vessel must comply with that requirement.

A vessel while being moved within any area of the port which is or forms part of a pilotage district is deemed to be a vessel navigating in a pilotage district.

The Authority may, if it appears to the Authority to be necessary, exempt any vessel or class of vessels while navigating in any pilotage district from being under pilotage subject to any conditions as the Authority thinks fit to impose.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Authority may employ any number of pilots that it considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of providing an adequate and efficient pilotage service.

Despite subsection (1)

Any person who, not being an authorised pilot, engages in any pilotage act or attempts to obtain employment as a pilot of a vessel entering or within any pilotage district shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.

Any owner, agent or master of a vessel entering or within any pilotage district who knowingly employs

For the purposes of this section, a person employed under section 62(1) or authorised under section 62(2)(a) or (b) acting beyond the limits for which the person is licensed or authorised to act or acting in contravention of any of the conditions imposed under section 62(2)(a) or (b) or 70 is deemed not to be an authorised pilot.

Any person may, without subjecting himself or herself or his or her employer to any penalty, act as the pilot of a vessel entering or leaving any pilotage district, when that vessel is in distress or under circumstances making it necessary for the master to avail himself or herself of the best assistance that can be found at the time.

The Pilotage Committee consists of

A member of the Pilotage Committee holds office for such term, not exceeding 3 years, as the Authority may specify in its appointment and is eligible for re‑appointment.

At any meeting of the Committee, 3 members of the Pilotage Committee form a quorum.

The chairperson of the Pilotage Committee presides at all meetings of the Committee.

If the chairperson is absent from a meeting or any part of the meeting, a member elected by the members of the Pilotage Committee present, presides in the chairperson’s place.

The chairperson or member presiding at any meeting of the Pilotage Committee has a vote and, in the case of an equality of votes, a second or casting vote.

Members of the Pilotage Committee may be paid, out of the funds of the Authority, such fees and allowances as the Authority may determine.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Authority may make rules for the purpose of regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Pilotage Committee.

The Pilotage Committee must examine candidates for employment as authorised pilots and on being satisfied as to a candidate’s general fitness and competency, including physical fitness, to act as an authorised pilot may, on behalf of the Authority, issue to the candidate a licence to act as an authorised pilot, and the licence may contain any conditions that the Committee thinks fit.

Every authorised pilot must, whenever the Pilotage Committee considers that owing to changed conditions or for any other sufficient reason the further testing of the knowledge, efficiency or physical fitness of any such pilot is necessary, present himself or herself for further examination, and must in every such case first deposit with the Committee his or her licence issued by the Committee on behalf of the Authority to be returned or cancelled by the Committee on behalf of the Authority as the result of the test or examination.

A person must not continue to employ as an authorised pilot any pilot whose licence to act as an authorised pilot is cancelled as the result of any test or examination carried out or held under subsection (2).

The Pilotage Committee may, and when directed by the Authority must, hold an inquiry into the conduct of an authorised pilot where it appears that the pilot has been guilty of misconduct affecting his or her capability as a pilot or has failed in or neglected his or her duty as a pilot or has become incompetent to act as a pilot.

For the purposes of the inquiry, the Pilotage Committee may summon any person to attend any meeting of the Committee to give evidence on oath or produce any document or other thing in his or her possession and to examine him or her as a witness or require him or her to produce any document or other thing in his or her possession relating to the matters which are the subject matter of the inquiry.

Any person who

Where the Pilotage Committee, after due inquiry in accordance with the provisions of this Part and after hearing any statement that may be offered in defence, finds that an authorised pilot has been guilty of misconduct or indiscipline affecting his or her capability or duties as a pilot or has failed in or neglected his or her duty as a pilot or has become incompetent to act as a pilot, the Committee must submit to the Authority a copy of the record of the inquiry and its findings and recommendations in respect of the inquiry.

The Authority may, after considering the findings and recommendations of the Pilotage Committee, suspend or cancel the licence of such authorised pilot or impose such other punishment as the Authority thinks fit.

Any authorised pilot who is aggrieved by any decision of the Authority made under subsection (2) may, within 14 days from the date of the decision, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.

Where the Pilotage Committee, after due inquiry in accordance with the provisions of this Part, finds that any authorised pilot has been negligent in piloting any vessel or has become incompetent to act as a pilot, the Committee must submit its findings to the Authority and the Authority must suspend or revoke such authorisation as the Authority considers fit.

An authorised pilot who has given a bond in accordance with subsection (2) is not liable for neglect, want of skill or incapacity in office beyond the penalty of the bond and the amount payable to the Authority on account of pilotage in respect of the voyage in which the pilot was engaged when he or she became so liable.

Every pilot must give a bond in the sum of $1,000 in favour of the Authority for the proper performance of his or her duties under this Part and any regulations made under this Part.

Any bond given by an authorised pilot in accordance with this section shall not be liable to stamp duty.

Where any proceedings are taken against an authorised pilot for any neglect, want of skill or incapacity in office in respect of which the pilot’s liability is limited as provided by this section, and other claims are made in respect of the same neglect, want of skill or incapacity in office, the court in which the proceedings are taken may

Any authorised pilot who

Any person who procures, aids, abets or connives at the commission of any offence under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

The issue of a licence to a pilot by the Pilotage Committee on behalf of the Authority under section 68 or the authorisation given by the Authority to any person to pilot vessels in the pilotage district pursuant to section 62(2)(a) shall not impose any liability on the Pilotage Committee or the Authority for any loss or damage caused by any act, omission or default of the pilot.

Any authorised pilot while engaged in any pilotage act is deemed to be the employee only of the master or owner of the vessel under pilotage and the Authority shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by any act, omission or default of such pilot.

The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations for regulating pilotage in any pilotage district and for the maintenance of good conduct and discipline of authorised pilots and for matters relating to their duties.

The Authority may, in making regulations under this section, provide that any contravention of or failure to comply with any of the regulations shall be an offence and may prescribe as a penalty in respect of any one offence a fine not exceeding $5,000.

The Authority may, with the approval of the Minister, by notification in the Gazette, prescribe the limits within which and the levels to which dredging may be carried out by the Authority in the port and the approaches to the port.

The Authority shall not be liable for any loss or damage to any sea or river wall, wharf, dock or other property arising out of any dredging by the Authority in the port.

A person must not carry out or cause to be carried out any hydrographic or hydrologic survey or other study of the waters and seabed within the territorial limits of Singapore except with the approval of the Authority.

The Authority may grant the approval referred to in subsection (1) with or without conditions or may refuse to grant the approval.

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

This section does not apply to any hydrographic or hydrologic survey or other study carried out for or on behalf of the Government.

Subject to this section, a person must not, without the written consent of the Authority, carry out any of the following operations:

The Authority may, as a condition of considering an application for consent under this section, require to be furnished with such plans and particulars of the proposed operations as the Authority may consider necessary; and on receipt of any such application the Authority may cause notice of the application, and of the time within which and the manner in which objections to the application may be made, to be published in such manner as the Authority may consider appropriate for informing persons affected thereby, and, before granting its consent may, if the Authority thinks fit, direct an inquiry to be held.

If the Authority is of the opinion that any operation in respect of which an application is made under this section should not for any reason be carried out or should be carried out subject to such conditions as the Authority thinks necessary to impose, the Authority may either refuse its consent or give its consent subject to any conditions that the Authority thinks fit.

A consent of the Authority under this section may be given so as to continue in force, unless renewed, only if the operation for which the consent is given has begun or is completed within the period specified in the consent; and any renewal of such a consent may be limited in the like manner.

The restriction imposed by subsection (1) does not apply to the carrying out of any dredging operation or reclamation work authorised by the Government in accordance with the provisions of any written law.

Nothing in this section is deemed to be in derogation of any of the powers or rights of the Government in respect of the foreshore or territorial waters of Singapore.

Nothing in this section is deemed to confer upon the Authority any power or right in respect of the foreshore not vested in the Authority.

Any person who

Without prejudice to any proceedings under subsection (8), where any person has constructed, altered or improved any work or deposited any object or material on a river, waterway or the seashore in contravention of subsection (1) or has failed to comply with any condition subject to which any consent of the Authority has been given under this section, the Authority may serve a notice on that person requiring the person to remove, within a period (not being less than 30 days) specified in the notice, the object or material (as the case may be) or, if it appears to the Authority necessary to do so, the Authority may itself remove or alter the work or remove the object or material.

If within the period specified in any notice under subsection (9) the person upon whom the notice is served fails to comply with it, the Authority may remove or alter the work or remove the object or material as specified in the notice.

Where under subsection (9) or (10) the Authority removes or alters any work or removes any object or material, the Authority is entitled to recover the expense thereof as certified by the Authority, from the person by whom or for whom the work was constructed, altered or improved, or the object or material was deposited.

In this section —

“seashore” includes the seabed under the territorial waters of Singapore;

“work” includes any architectural or engineering operation.

A person must not carry on the business of rendering salvage services in the territorial waters of Singapore without a valid licence granted by the Authority for that purpose.

The Authority may grant the licence with or without conditions or may refuse to grant the licence.

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

Any person aggrieved by

A person must not provide

Every public licence granted under this section must be in such form and for such period and may contain such conditions as the Authority may determine.

The Authority may, with the consent of, or in accordance with the terms of a general authority given by the Minister, grant a public licence either unconditionally or subject to any conditions that the Authority may impose and specify in the licence and either irrevocably or subject to revocation as specified in the licence, authorising any person to provide any marine service or facility or any port service or facility.

Without limiting subsection (3), a public licence may be granted either to any person, class of persons or a particular person, and may include conditions requiring the public licensee

Conditions in a public licence may contain

Any provision included by virtue of subsection (5)(c) in a public licence has effect in addition to the provision made by this Part with respect to the modification of the conditions of a public licence.

A payment required by subsection (4) to be rendered to the Authority may be recovered by it in any court of competent jurisdiction as if it were a simple contract debt.

A person must not question whether the grant of a public licence under subsection (3) was, or was not, effected with the consent of or in accordance with the terms of a general authority given by the Minister, and the validity of a licence granted under that subsection must not be impugned on the ground that it was granted neither with the consent of nor in accordance with the terms of a general authority given by the Minister.