Statute Details
- Title: Prohibited Anchorage (Rochor River)
- Act Code: 236-N1
- Type: Singapore subsidiary legislation / statutory instrument (as indicated by “sl”)
- Legislative Source: Port of Singapore Authority Act (Chapter 236) and Regulation 45(2)
- Revised Edition: Revised Edition 1990 (25th March 1992)
- Declared Date (as shown in extract): 26th April 1974
- Status (as provided): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Regulated Activity: Prohibiting vessels from lying alongside, making fast, or beaching along a defined portion of the Rochore (Rochor) River banks
What Is This Legislation About?
The “Prohibited Anchorage (Rochor River)” instrument is a targeted maritime safety and navigation control measure. In plain terms, it designates a specific stretch of the banks of the Rochore (Rochor) River as a “prohibited area” for vessel anchorage and related mooring activities. Once an area is declared prohibited, vessels are not allowed to remain alongside it, secure themselves to it, or beach along that portion of the riverbank.
Although the instrument is short, its practical effect can be significant. In busy urban waterways, anchorage and mooring practices can create hazards—such as obstructing navigation channels, interfering with river traffic management, or increasing risk to the riverbank and nearby infrastructure. By restricting where vessels may anchor or attach, the Port Master can reduce operational risk and maintain orderly movement of harbour traffic.
Importantly, the prohibition is not limited to large commercial ships. The instrument expressly includes “harbour craft and native craft” within its scope. This broad coverage reflects a policy that all categories of vessels using the river must comply with the declared safety perimeter.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Declaration of a prohibited area using precise coordinates. The core operative provision is the Port Master’s declaration that part of the banks of the Rochore River, bounded within specified latitude and longitude coordinates, is a prohibited area. The extract lists four coordinate points (a) to (d). These coordinates define the geographic boundary of the restricted zone. For practitioners, the coordinates matter because compliance is determined by the location of the vessel relative to the defined boundary, not by general descriptions like “near the bridge” or “around the bend.”
2. Absolute prohibition on vessel positioning and mooring along the prohibited area. The instrument provides that “No vessel including harbour craft and native craft shall lie alongside, make-fast or beach along such prohibited area.” This is a three-part prohibition:
- “Lie alongside”—the vessel must not remain positioned alongside the prohibited bank area.
- “Make-fast”—the vessel must not secure itself by fastening lines or otherwise tying up to the bank within the prohibited area.
- “Beach”—the vessel must not run aground or intentionally land on the bank within the prohibited area.
In practice, these terms capture both intentional and operational behaviours. A vessel that is merely passing through may not be “lying alongside,” but a vessel that stops and holds position near the bank could be treated as “lying alongside.” Similarly, even temporary mooring—such as taking a line to the bank—can fall within “make-fast.”
3. Scope includes all vessel categories using the river. The express inclusion of “harbour craft and native craft” is a drafting choice that closes potential loopholes. If a vessel operator argued that the prohibition applied only to larger ships, the instrument’s wording undermines that argument. For compliance planning, operators should treat the prohibition as applying to their entire fleet category, regardless of size or vessel type.
4. The Port Master’s role and the legal basis. The instrument is framed as a declaration by the Port Master. The extract also indicates it is made under the Port of Singapore Authority Act (Chapter 236) and Regulation 45(2). This matters for legal interpretation: the Port Master is exercising statutory authority to designate restricted areas for port and harbour management. Practitioners should therefore expect the declaration to be implemented as part of the port’s regulatory regime, rather than as a voluntary guideline.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the instrument is structured as a short declaration with an enacting/operative statement. The key elements are:
- Heading: “Prohibited Anchorage (Rochor River)”
- Enacting formula / legislative context: referencing the Port of Singapore Authority Act and Regulation 45(2)
- Port Master’s declaration: identifying that part of the riverbank within defined coordinates is a prohibited area
- Operative prohibition: “No vessel including harbour craft and native craft shall lie alongside, make-fast or beach along such prohibited area.”
There are no visible “parts” or “key sections” in the extract provided. Instead, the instrument functions as a single, location-specific regulatory rule. For legal work, this means analysis often turns on (i) the accuracy and interpretation of the coordinates and (ii) whether the vessel’s conduct fits within “lie alongside,” “make-fast,” or “beach.”
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The prohibition applies to “No vessel”—a formulation that is broad and vessel-centric. It therefore binds vessel operators, owners, masters, and anyone directing vessel movements within the Rochore River area covered by the coordinates. Because the instrument includes “harbour craft and native craft,” it is not confined to ocean-going vessels or large commercial shipping.
In practical terms, the instrument will be relevant to: (a) port users operating vessels in the Rochore/Rochor River; (b) tug and barge operators; (c) small craft operators; and (d) any party arranging berthing, mooring, or temporary stops near the riverbank. If a vessel is chartered or managed by a third party, compliance duties will still fall on the master and those responsible for navigation and mooring decisions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the instrument is brief, it can be decisive in disputes, incident investigations, and enforcement actions. If a vessel is found to have been alongside, made fast, or beached within the defined prohibited area, the instrument provides a clear regulatory basis for determining breach. The clarity of the prohibition—coupled with the inclusion of all vessel categories—reduces room for argument based on vessel type or the operator’s understanding of the rule.
From a compliance perspective, the instrument highlights the need for geofenced operational planning. Operators should ensure that voyage planning, mooring plans, and any “temporary” holding arrangements account for the prohibited coordinates. In modern practice, this often means using charting software and GPS-based monitoring to avoid inadvertent entry into the prohibited zone.
From a legal risk standpoint, the instrument can also affect liability allocation. If an incident occurs near the prohibited area—such as a collision, grounding, or obstruction—evidence that the vessel was lying alongside, made fast, or beached within the prohibited coordinates may support findings of regulatory non-compliance. Conversely, operators may defend by showing that the vessel did not engage in the prohibited conduct or remained outside the defined boundary.
Related Legislation
- Port of Singapore Authority Act (Chapter 236)
- Regulation 45(2) (as referenced in the instrument’s source context)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Prohibited Anchorage (Rochor River) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.