Asia/Pacific News
Singapore MPA: Bunker Surveying Companies to be Licenced from 2017
Singapore's Maritime Port Authority (MPA) has announced plans to licence bunker surveying companies from January 1, 2017.
Currently, individual surveyors themselves are licenced, while companies work on an accreditation scheme.
MPA said the move was being taken to improve assurance over bunker quality at the port.
"To further enhance the quality of bunker surveying in our port, MPA will require all bunker surveying companies to be licensed with effect from 1 January 2017," said MPA.
"This move will seek to raise the standards for bunker surveying companies and allow MPA to have greater oversight of bunker surveying companies and their bunker surveyors," it added.
According to a report by Platts, industry figures have welcomed the move, hoping that licensing would bring greater transparency.
The report suggests that under the new plans, surveyors caught flouting regulations would see both the individuals and the companies involved held responsible.
Gard said recently that using bunker surveyors will still be important after the introduction of mandatory MFMs in Singapore.
