FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Why use MAS?
Marine Advisory service (MAS) could offer optimal professional support and nautical assistance for the Captains who are not familiar with navigating in the constraint waters. The service would contribute to the overall navigational safety for all users in the Straits and also help in the protection of environment of the littoral nations bordering the Malacca and Singapore Straits.
In line with IMO's recommendation on fatigue management, StrasseLink's pilotage assistance will contribute to enhancing the safety of navigation of a vessel in the Malacca and Singapore Straits. Use of a Marine Advisor (pilot) will help the bridge team manage their resources more effectively to prevent fatigue, stress and anxiety of the team members. The Master will be provided with the opportunity to clear his doubts if any by referring to the professional who is on the bridge.
The pilot's local knowledge will be of extra value to the bridge management team and his professional skillset as a shiphandler will be most welcome in times of need.
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Who are the Marine Advisors?
Experienced local pilots conducts the service in the capacity of Marine Advisors. Our Marine Advisors are all Master Mariners and trained pilots with at least 10 years of pilotage experience behind them.
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Latest Technology for safe navigation (GPS positioning on notebook ENC)
To enhance safety during transit, our Marine Advisors brings with them portable position fixing equipment that work independently from the ship system. The sophisticated software in their notebook computer works with the latest updated ENC/AIS allowing them to monitor the progress of the vessel safely throughout the passage.
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Boarding and Disembarkation locations
Boarding OFB RV One Fathom Bank Rendezvous Position Lat 03°05’N Long 100°40’E BROTHERS RV Off Brothers Island Rendezvous Position Lat 01°12.8’N Long 103°22.6’E EAST SG RV Off Eastern Bouy Rendezvous Position Lat 01°17’N Long 104°09’E TJ. PELEPAS Off Tanjung Pelepas Anchorage (Malaysia) About Lat 01°13.8’N Long 103°33’E NIPA ANCHORAGE Marine Advisor Disembarkation off Nipa Anchorage (Indonesia) About Lat 01°10’N Long 103°33’E Disembarkation Location Code Description Coordinates OFB One Fathom Bank Lat 03°00’N Long 100°50’E EAST SG Marine Advisor Eastern Disembarkation In The TSS off Singapore Lat 01°15’N Long 104°05’E WEST SG Marine Advisor Western Disembarkation In The TSS off Nipa Beacon Lat 01°11.8’N Long 103°35’E PEBGB Marine Advisor Disembarkation off Pilot Eastern Boarding Ground Bravo off Singapore Lat 01°15’N Long 103°57’E PWBGA Marine Advisor Disembarkation at Pilot Western Boarding Ground Alpha off Singapore Lat 01°12.5’N Long 103°35.5’E TJ. PELEPAS An Anchorage Position off Tanjung Pelepas Anchorage (Malaysia) Lat 01°13.8’N Long 103°33’E NIPA ANCHORAGE Marine Advisor Disembarkation off Nipa Anchorage (Indonesia) Lat 01°10’N Long 103°33’E RAFFLES Off Raffles Lighthouse Lat 01°08.5’N Long 103°45.5’E For One Fathom Bank service (Malacca Straits) - The Marine Advisors (pilot) would board the vessel about 25 miles northwest of One Fathom Bank and would complement the bridge team in the conduct of the vessel to the various destinations off Singapore or to those in transit, to Horsburgh and the China Sea.
They will either disembark off the Singapore Pilot boarding grounds or at position Lat 01°15'N Long 104°05'E for vessels transiting into the China Sea.
Alternatively, the vessel could pick up the Marine Advisor closer to Singapore somewhere near Karimun Island, Indonesia (boarding ground off Brother's Island).Marine Advisor pickup off Brother's Island at position Lat 01°12.8'N Long 103°22.6'E.
For the vessels' information and planning, these boarding and disembarkation positions will be sent to the vessels in the Passage plan.
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Special service - Seamless operation
Marine Advisor connects seamlessly with the harbour pilot upon arriving at the designated boarding ground without the vessel having to wait.
The Marine Advisor would coordinate with the Pilotage Company so that the relieving harbour pilot would be waiting upon the arrival of the vessel at the boarding ground. Based on IMO recommendations on fatigue management, this arrangement offers added safety and convenience to the vessels.
The Marine Advisor could conduct the vessel directly to the port limits (pilot boarding ground) where the harbour pilot will take over the vessel proceeding to the berth or anchorage. In compliance with MPA regulations, the harbour pilot will conduct the vessel into the controlled anchorages of Singapore.
Please note that Marine Advisory Service is only for operations outside Singapore port limits and outside the territorial waters of the littoral nations.
Normal harbour pilotage fees according to Singapore's MPA tariffs or the harbour pilotage charges of the respective nations will apply once the vessel enters its port limits and engages their pilotage services.
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Navigational Auditing
To allow shipping companies to measure and benchmark their navigational standards, StrasseLink is able to offer our external navigation auditing service utilising the considerable experience of our Marine Advisors (pilots) across the maritime industry. For those tanker operators taking part in the OCIMF Tanker Management and Self-Assessment (TMSA) Program, we are able to provide external auditing services.
TMSA External Navigational Safety Audits are one of the key performance indicators necessary for an operator to reach level 4 of the TMSA program, thereby placing themselves in an advantageous commercial position with charterers willing to pay for quality and safety. When requested to provide this service it should be borne in mind that our primary business is the provision of pilotage services and auditing will be undertaken such that it does not interfere with our primary duty.