Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996

Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore Act 1996

2020 REVISED EDITION

This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021

An Act to establish and incorporate the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, to provide for its functions and powers, and for matters connected therewith.

[2 February 1996]

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. This Act is the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“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 —

(a)	masters, mates, engineers, radio officers, pursers, cadets, laundrymen and stevedores;
(b)	probationer deckhands, probationer engine‑room hands and probationer catering hands under any training scheme approved by the Authority; and
(c)	any other person employed on board the vessel who is engaged in duties which are not normally the duties of seamen;

“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.

[40/2017; 5/2018]

Declaration of ports by Minister

3.—(1) 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.

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

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