The Association would like to inform its Members of the current situation with regards to anchoring in and around the area of Singapore.
The area around Singapore has traditionally been one of the busiest in the shipping world due to large numbers of vessels transiting the straits or calling at the port. Recent months have seen a large number of vessels anchored off the port, many of them outside port limits to the east and west of the island. Anchoring in non designated areas can be extremely dangerous and cause considerable risks to traffic moving around in this busy seaway. The area between the outer port limits and the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) is quite small and as the area has filled with ships, some have drifted or anchored too near or inside the TSS. #
This picture shows an AIS image of the congested area to the west of the island
Vessels found to be anchored in the TSS risk being boarded by officers of the Singapore MPA, reported to Flag state and named on the regular Navtex warnings.
The Association would advise its Members to consider anchorages carefully in this area and if they have any doubts to contact the local correspondent or port authority, vessels should anchor in designated anchorages and ensure that they are not obstructing the TSS or other local hazards.
