MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.39 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That they Bill be now read a Second time."

Ships which leave Singapore fall into one of three categories: foreign-going ships which operate over the high seas of the world, home-trade ships which operate only within what is known as home-trade limits, and local-trade ships which operate only within what have been defined as local-trade limits.

In many countries, it is the practice to allow officers who do not possess foreign going masters' certificates to command vessels which operate within limited areas as long as these officers have satisfied the local authorities as to their knowledge of navigation and maritime law. This practice is followed in our local Merchant Shipping Ordinance which prescribes the different manning scales that are required for ships in each of these three categories: foreign-going, home-trade and local-trade.

For some time now, it has been recognised that the manning scales prescribed for such ships in the existing Ordinance are unnecessarily complicated and restrict the opportunities of locally qualified mariners from command of these ships. As an example of man-made complications, the present law classifies those who can command ships of 25, 75 and 100 tons. This is the policy of the past which we now seek to remedy. The effect of such a restrictive policy only serves to discourage our local citizens from making the sea a career. As a consequence of this complication, we have at present a multitude of certificates of competency issued to local mariners.

The various unions of local mariners have long protested against the situation I have described. They have constantly agitated for an extension of the local trade limits. The P.A.P. Government re cognises the validity of their claims and has carefully examined ways and means to meet them.

Shipping, however, is an international business. It is futile for us to legislate shipping laws of our own if there is no concurrence from the governments of other countries to which our ships go. For example, recently, a Singapore registered ship, the motor vessel "New Constitution", was detained in a neighbouring territory because it was not up to the manning standards of that territory. Such cases will not occur when all territories have an agreed manning policy.

Before drafting this Bill which is now presented to the House it was necessary, therefore, to seek a common agreement between our Government and the Governments of the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei. At the request of the Singapore Government, a meeting of the marine officials of the five Governments was recently convened. At this meeting, agreement was reached on an extension of the local-trade limits along the Sarawak and North Borneo coasts and a simplification of the manning scales for local-trade ships. The terms of this agreement are embodied in clauses 2 and 3 of the Bill.

It was also agreed at this meeting that each territory could, as a domestic matter, provide for more simplified manning scales for small vessels operating on or near their coasts. The Federation of Malaya and Singapore representatives agreed on a simplified manning scale to operate within thirty miles of ports in the Federation and Singapore. This simplified scale is in sub-clause (3) of clause 3 of the Bill.

The effect of all these changes is to widen the scope of employment potential for local officers and engine-drivers. The size of ships which they may command is now increased. There is also an in crease in the horsepower of ships' engines which local engine-drivers may take charge of. Finally, the geographical limits within which locally certificated mariners may command ships are being extended. These limits have been drawn up in the chart accompanying the Bill and Members of the House will notice that there is a considerable extension of these limits up to Tawau on the Borneo coast.

All these changes have been referred to the unions of the officers concerned, to the associations of ship owners and to marine insurance companies who do not object to the new proposals embodied in this Bill. The proposals have been received enthusiastically by the unions of local officers.

This amendment to the Merchant Shipping Ordinance is a great achievement of international co-operation. The lifting of the repressive restrictions of the past should now stimulate the development of a flourishing merchant marine in the waters of South-East Asia and encourage our citizens to look to the sea for a living and a career.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Dr Toh Chin Chye].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

3.46 p.m.

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 -

The Chairman: Hon. Members will notice the manuscript alterations

In page 3, line 20, the word "wide", where it firstly occurs, to read "mile".

In page 3, lines 31 and 32, after "Peninsula" to add the words "and the west coast of Thailand".

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3 to 6 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported with amendments; read the Third time and passed.