Population:
3,531,600
Land space:
637.5 km2
Coastal area:
193 km
(Source: CIA World Factbook
1999)
Singapore
Country Contacts:
Ministry of the Environment
http://www.gov.sg/env/
Maritime and Port Authority
http://www.mpa.gov.sg/
(Source: CIA World Factbook
1999)
Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on
Sustainable Development, the source of the following
information. The information was taken from Singapore's
submission to the 7th Session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development (last update: January 1999). For
further information on Singapore's social and economic
factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see
the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National
Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information
for Singapore at
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/singapor/index.htm
OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS
Singapore ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 17 November 1994.
Decision-making
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is responsible for marine environment protection from sea-based activities.
The MPA has established the Marine Emergency Action Procedure (MEAP) to deal with marine emergencies, including oil spills. The MEAP sets out the roles of various other agencies involved in such emergencies.
MPA adopts a comprehensive approach towards the protection of Singaporeís marine environment, based on prevention and preparedness.
The key ministries and bodies involved in the issues related to climate change and sea-level rise are the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Trade & Industry and Attorney-Generalís Chambers.
The national policy towards the prevention of pollution of the marine environment is based on the following:
a. Enhancing safety of navigation;
b. Legislation to ensure that ships are designed, equipped, operated and managed to prevent pollution of the sea, based on internationally adopted regulations; and
c. Strict enforcement of the legislated rules.
Maintaining the highest standard of preparedness includes:
a. Detailed contingency plans to deal with the different
marine emergencies that could occur;
b. Regular exercises to ensure the smooth operation of these
plans;
c. Adequate compensation to ensure the sustainability of our
efforts to protect the marine environment from spills,
through accession to the CLC92 and Fund92 conventions;
and
d. Continuous learning to improve our knowledge of the most
effective and efficient methods and technology used in the
protection of the marine environment.
Specific programmes within MPAís comprehensive approach to protecting the marine environment include:
Enhancing safety of navigation. Singapore
works closely with the neighbors, Indonesia and Malaysia, to
develop measures to enhance safe navigation in the Malacca
and Singapore Straits. For example, from December 1998, the
STRAITREP, a mandatory ship reporting system, is being
implemented for ships using
the Straits. The introduction of STRAITREP, which is
provided for under the International Convention for Safety
of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will contribute towards navigational
safety, efficiency of navigation and the protection of the
marine environment in the Straits.
Oil spill combat exercise. Singapore conducts regular exercises which involve other government and private sector agencies. It also conducts joint oil spill combat exercise with the neighboring countries.
The regulations set by the MPA on maritime safety and prevention of marine pollution are in accordance with the provisions of international maritime conventions to which Singapore is party. The Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act gives effect to the provisions of Annexes I, II and III of the MARPOL 73/78 convention. The Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution) Act 1998 gives effect to the provisions of the CLC92 and Fund92 convention.
When considering whether or not to accede to a particular convention, the MPA holds consultations with relevant agencies and organizations, which could include Non-Government Organizations, Unions, Business and Industry, and other government agencies.
Status
The primary source of sea-based pollution of the marine environment is ships.
Coastal and low-lying areas would be affected by a sea level rise, if preventive or adaptive measures are not taken. The long-term measure to alleviate flooding is to require all developments of land to comply with a minimum platform level that is above the predicted flood level. Low-lying areas thus have to be raised in order to meet the requirement before the land can be built upon. To combat climate change, Singapore is taking no-regrets measures such as promoting energy efficiency. As a long-term measure to alleviate flooding, all development of land would need to comply with a requirement of a minimum platform level that is above the predicted flood level. Low-lying areas thus have to be raised in order to meet the requirement before the land can be built upon. The requirement is imposed during the planning process.
Capacity-building, education, training and awareness-raising
MPA participate actively in various local and international fora relating to the capacity building for the prevention of pollution and the protection of the marine environment.
To raise awareness on issues relating to the oceans and seas, MPA has conducted various seminars and conferences on subjects such as the Accession and Implementation of the 1992 Civil Liability and Fund Conventions, and Shipping and the Oceans: Protection of the Marine Environment (in celebration of World Maritime Day and the International Year of the Ocean).
Technology
MPA is working with the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP) to develop applications of satellite remote sensing for the marine environment. They are also working with 2 local universities on various projects, such as oil spill and fate modeling, baseline water quality monitoring, bio-remedy studies for the removal of oil spills, and the numerical modeling of the movement and spread of oil slicks.
Decisions related to the choice of technologies are determined by suitability of the technology, cost effectiveness and efficiency.
Information
National information is available on marine pollution, including e.g. details of oil spills in Singapore waters to assist both decision-makers and planners working in coastal areas
The MPA has patrol crafts within the port waters and Port State Control inspectors to ensure that ships within Singaporeís waters comply with our national laws and regulations. In this respect, MPA is also assisted by other government agencies such as the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Police Coast Guard. In addition, MPAís collaboration with CRISP provides them with an Oil Spill Slick Monitoring Programme to monitor oil slick pollution in the waters around Singapore.
MPA is working with the Nanyang Technological University in the integration of numerical modeling and geographic information system that supports the operation of a numerical model so that the movement and spread of oil slicks can be simulated more accurately.
Financing
Oceans sector is financed usually internally through operational surpluses.
Cooperation
In addition to the Law of the Sea, Singapore is party to the following IMO conventions on maritime safety and prevention of marine pollution: SOLAS74, COLREG72, LOADLINES66, STCW95, SAR79, MARPOL73/78, CLC92 and FUND92.
Singapore cooperates with other ASEAN countries and Japan under the Project on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (OSPAR) in the ASEAN sea area, which was initiated by Japan. Under the project, Japan granted ASEAN countries 1 billion Yen to purchase oil spill equipment to reinforce the national stockpiles in the region. An OSPAR Management Committee, comprising of the ASEAN countries and Japan, was established to monitor and assess the management and usage of the equipment supplied and to continue the forum on oil spill matters in the region.
Singapore also cooperates with Indonesia and Malaysia to combat oil spills in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
Relating to climate change and sea level rise issues,
Singapore participates in the IPCC programmes and
meetings.