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“Over 80% of global trade is transported by sea. Seafarers are the backbone for international shipping to keep global supply chains moving. As a major maritime hub, Singapore is committed to supporting the safety and well-being of seafarers.”
In the light of this year’s Day of the Seafarer theme that centered around safety tips at sea, these words from Capt. M Segar, Chief Marine Officer and Senior Advisor at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), are heartening.
Capt. Segar, whose career spanned more than three decades in various roles from master mariner, and harbour pilot to port master of one of the busiest ports in the world, oversees the navigational safety and marine environmental protection of the port, ensuring its smooth operations. This includes managing our responsibilities as a Flag State, Port State, and Coastal State.
“Additionally, my team and I drive the adoption of technological advancements to enhance port operations, such as digitalisation initiatives and smart port solutions,” he adds. Before his current role, Capt. Segar served as MPA Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) for a decade.
He tells us that over at MPA, the Seafarers Policy, Development, and Welfare Department formulates and enforces standards on safe manning and employment conditions onboard Singapore-flagged ships.
“These standards ensure ships are properly manned with certified and qualified seafarers working under fair employment conditions,” Capt. Segar points out.
SV: How does MPA collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure that safety guidelines are effectively communicated and implemented?
Capt. Segar: MPA regularly engages industry stakeholders to create awareness of safety best practices and to promote adherence to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations. These regulations include ensuring that ships and cargoes are properly secured for sea and ships’ firefighting and life-saving equipment are in good working condition.
For 10 years now, MPA has been running the Safety@Sea Singapore campaign as an industry-wide effort to promote safety awareness and a safety-first culture at sea. As part of this campaign, MPA organises the annual Safety@Sea Week featuring events focused on seafarers’ health, well-being, and training, as well as safety forums for the harbour and pleasure craft sectors. These events provide a platform for members of the maritime community and top practitioners to exchange views on maritime safety.
Under the Safety@Sea Singapore Campaign, the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council (NMSSC) was established in August 2015 to spearhead national efforts in promoting maritime safety. The NMSCC focuses primarily on cultivating a safety-first culture and raising awareness for safety best practices. It works closely with various MPA-Industry Safety Work Groups to enhance safety at sea to address both current and future safety risks.
I currently co-chair the Safety of Navigation (SAFENAV) Work Group with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA). The group focuses on improving the safety of navigation in and around Singapore waters and has worked closely with MPA on national-level initiatives, including the Just-in-Time Coordination Platform and Active Anchorage Management System that optimise port operations, reduce vessel waiting times, and enhance navigational safety.
SV: Can you tell us about the seafarers’ drop-in centres?
Capt. Segar: MPA works with industry partners, maritime unions, and seafarers’ missions to run seafarers’ drop-in centres as part of enhancing seafarers’ welfare. At the drop-in centres, seafarers who do not have time to clear immigration and leave the terminal for shore leave can lounge around, enjoy free Wi-Fi, computers with internet access, telephones, transportation, the library, and more.
We recognise that seafarers’ mental and emotional health affects their focus and concentration. We organise various recreational activities for seafarers visiting the Port of Singapore. The Maritime House, currently under redevelopment, will offer more rooms and training facilities upon its completion in 2026.
SV: With the increasing adoption of technology in the maritime industry, how does MPA utilise innovative solutions to improve safety standards for seafarers?
Capt. Segar: MPA launched its digital bunkering initiative on 1 November 2023 and made available mobile and cloud applications to digitalise documentation such as electronic bunker delivery notes. The electronic process enhances workflow and crew safety by reducing the need for crew members to physically transfer documents between vessels to complete the bunkering documentation process.
Another example of innovation that improves safety is maritime 5G. MPA, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and one of our telcos, M1, have recently completed Phase 1 of their maritime 5G plans, providing coverage in our port waters around the southernmost islands. With maritime 5G, we can improve accessibility to healthcare for seafarers in our port through telemedicine and provide drone delivery of medication to seafarers. We are looking at providing full maritime 5G coverage in our major anchorages, fairways, terminals, and boarding grounds by mid-2025. This will enhance connectivity and further strengthen our digitalisation efforts.
MPA operationalised the Integrated Port Operations Command, Control, and Communications (IPOC) system on 1 March 2024, which supports operations and incident management during maritime emergencies by offering a comprehensive situational picture. Enhanced with data analytics, port inspectors can detect infringements, including speeding and unauthorised entries in restricted areas, and identify high-risk activities or vessels for more targeted enforcement actions, thereby enhancing the safety standard and environment for the crew onboard vessels.
Additionally, MPA is exploring the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to enhance surveillance and response capabilities, especially during maritime emergencies. Today, UAVs are widely used in the maritime industry to deliver urgent, high-value goods to vessels at the anchorages, including prescribed medicine following telemedicine consultation. UAVs are also deployed to inspect hard-to-reach areas on vessels like the ship’s mast, superstructure, and hull.
MPA is also collaborating with BeeX, a Singapore-based deep-tech engineering company, to map and provide a comprehensive view of the subsea environment. With the increasing use of underwater drones, the ability to better visualise the subsea environment will enable safe navigation and active management of underwater drone operations, such as seabed infrastructure and underwater inspections.
SV: What message does MPA have for seafarers around the world on the importance of embracing safety tips at sea for their well-being on the Day of the Seafarer?
Capt. Segar: As we celebrate the Day of the Seafarer, we acknowledge the contributions made by seafarers to international seaborne trade and are committed to supporting their safety and well-being. We urge all seafarers to stay informed of safety best practices, adhere strictly to safety protocols and guidelines, and maintain high operational standards.
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