Adhering to safety regulations and ensuring high service standards have earned five harbour pilots the prestigious Biennial Incentive Award (BIA) for Harbour Pilots.
Mr Tan Hee Zou, Mr Heng Nang Keow, Mr Satikin B Karim, Mr Tan Soon Chye and Mr Karron K Moore were awarded $2,000 in cash and a Certificate of Commendation from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) today. The five recipients were selected from a pool of 222 harbour pilots and assessed on a range of qualities that include their level of professionalism, teamwork, technical expertise, safety awareness and shipmaster’s satisfaction.
Speaking at the 7th BIA for Harbour Pilots, MPA Chief Executive, Mr Lam Yi Young said, “Harbour pilots have an integral part to play in Singapore’s continued growth as a premier global hub port by ensuring the safety of navigation in our port waters. The BIA is MPA’s way of recognising these individuals and encouraging them to maintain high safety and professional standards.”
The BIA for Harbour Pilots was introduced by MPA in 1998 to enhance Singapore’s pilotage service standards. Since its introduction, the number of pilotage incidents has decreased steadily through the years reaching an all time low of 6 incidents in 2010, compared with the 21 incidents in 1998.
MPA, as the regulatory and licensing authority, and PSA Marine Pte Ltd (PSAM), as the pilotage service provider, continue to work in close co-operation to ensure harbour pilots in Singapore are equipped with the necessary training and perform in line with international standards for safety awareness and professionalism.
In addition to the BIA, other schemes implemented by MPA to improve the quality of pilotage services in Singapore include the use of a ship handling simulator to train and assess harbour pilots, enhancing the pilot-shipmaster information exchange onboard vessels, and the prompt updating and reviewing of pilotage operational guidelines.