Statute Details
- Title: Prohibited Anchorage (Single Buoy Mooring)
- Act Code: 236-N3
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation / schedule provision within the Port of Singapore Authority framework
- Instrument / Parent Legislation: Port of Singapore Authority Act (Chapter 236 and Regulation 45)
- Commencement: Revised Edition 1990 (25 March 1992); original declaration dated 29 November 1974 (as reflected in the legislative history extract)
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Authority: The Port Master
- Core Mechanism: Declaration of a “prohibited anchorage” area for vessels, with a limited exception for vessels awaiting berth at the Single Buoy Mooring
What Is This Legislation About?
The “Prohibited Anchorage (Single Buoy Mooring)” provision is a regulatory control that restricts where ships may anchor in the vicinity of Singapore’s Single Buoy Mooring (SBM). In plain terms, it creates a designated maritime area where anchoring is generally not allowed, because the area is treated as operationally sensitive and potentially unsafe for vessels that are not directly involved in SBM-related activities.
Although the text provided is brief, its legal effect is clear: the Port Master has declared an area specified in the Schedule to be a “prohibited anchorage.” The restriction is not absolute for all vessels; it is calibrated by vessel size (measured by gross registered tonnes) and by purpose (whether the vessel is awaiting to berth at the SBM). This kind of targeted prohibition is typical of port safety and traffic management measures, where anchorage space and waterway usage must be tightly controlled to prevent congestion and reduce collision risk.
Practically, the legislation functions as a navigational and enforcement tool. It enables the Port of Singapore Authority (through the Port Master) to manage vessel movements around the SBM by limiting anchoring to those vessels that are specifically waiting for SBM berth allocation, while excluding other vessels above a defined size threshold.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Declaration of a prohibited anchorage area (Schedule-based)
The central operative statement is that “the Port Master has declared the area specified in the Schedule as a prohibited anchorage.” This means the legal prohibition is tied to a particular geographic area. For practitioners, the Schedule is therefore critical: the precise boundaries determine whether a vessel is within the prohibited zone at the relevant time.
2. General prohibition on anchoring by larger vessels
The provision then imposes a restriction: “No vessel above 75 gross registered tonnes … shall use the said area for anchorage.” In effect, vessels exceeding 75 gross registered tonnes are barred from anchoring in the prohibited area. This threshold is important because it creates a clear compliance test based on vessel tonnage.
3. Limited exception for SBM-bound vessels
The prohibition is qualified by an exception: vessels “awaiting to berth at the Single Buoy Mooring” are not caught by the prohibition. This indicates that the prohibited anchorage area is intended to be reserved for the operational flow associated with SBM berthing—i.e., vessels that are in the process of waiting for SBM access may use the area, whereas unrelated anchoring is not permitted.
4. Enforcement and compliance implications
While the extract does not set out penalties or enforcement procedures, the legal structure (a declaration by the Port Master under the Port of Singapore Authority Act and Regulation 45) implies that breach would be actionable under the broader port regulatory regime. For a lawyer advising a shipping client, the key compliance questions are: (i) whether the vessel is within the Schedule-defined prohibited anchorage area; (ii) whether the vessel exceeds 75 gross registered tonnes; and (iii) whether the vessel can properly be characterised as “awaiting to berth at the Single Buoy Mooring.” Evidence of operational status (e.g., berth waiting instructions, SBM scheduling communications, port clearance records) may become relevant in any dispute.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Based on the extract, the instrument is structured as a schedule-based declaration within the broader legislative framework of the Port of Singapore Authority Act. The document is labelled “Prohibited Anchorage (Single Buoy Mooring)” and is identified as N 3 under the Act’s regulatory materials (Chapter 236 and Regulation 45). The extract shows the presence of:
• Enacting Formula (the legal basis for the declaration)
• The Schedule (the geographic area subject to the prohibition)
• Legislative History (including the original declaration date and the revised edition date)
Notably, the extract does not show multiple “parts” or “key sections” beyond the schedule declaration itself. This is consistent with many port authority instruments: the operative rule is short, and the Schedule provides the detailed location. For legal research and case preparation, the Schedule is often the most practically important component because it determines the factual scope of the prohibition.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The prohibition applies to vessels—i.e., ships—using the maritime area declared as a prohibited anchorage. The rule is size-based and therefore applies to “any vessel above 75 gross registered tonnes.” This means that smaller vessels (at or below 75 gross registered tonnes) are not expressly prohibited by the text provided, though they may still be subject to other navigational restrictions or port instructions.
In addition, the legislation applies through the exception for vessels “awaiting to berth at the Single Buoy Mooring.” Therefore, the practical applicability depends not only on vessel tonnage but also on the vessel’s operational purpose at the time it is in the area. A vessel that is within the prohibited zone for reasons unrelated to SBM berthing would not fit the exception, whereas a vessel waiting for SBM berth allocation would.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This provision is important because it supports port safety, traffic management, and operational efficiency around the Single Buoy Mooring. SBMs are critical infrastructure for handling bulk liquid cargoes and require predictable vessel movements. Allowing unrelated anchoring in the same area can increase navigational risk, complicate traffic sequencing, and create hazards for vessels approaching or manoeuvring for SBM berthing.
From an enforcement and risk perspective, the legislation provides the Port Master with a clear legal basis to restrict anchorage. For shipping operators, charterers, and masters, compliance reduces the risk of regulatory action and operational delays. For lawyers, it provides a straightforward framework for assessing liability: identify the vessel’s gross registered tonnage, determine whether the vessel was anchoring within the Schedule area, and evaluate whether the vessel was legitimately “awaiting to berth” at the SBM.
Finally, the schedule-based nature of the rule means that disputes often turn on factual location and operational status. Practitioners should therefore treat this as a “location + status + tonnage” compliance exercise. In incident investigations—such as where a vessel anchors in the prohibited area—evidence of voyage planning, anchoring orders, SBM waiting status, and the vessel’s position at the relevant time will be central.
Related Legislation
- Port of Singapore Authority Act (Chapter 236)
- Regulation 45 (as referenced in the instrument’s identification)
- Singapore Authority Act (listed in the provided metadata as related legislation)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Prohibited Anchorage (Single Buoy Mooring) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.