Singapore holds cruise ship emergency preparedness drill

More than 1,000 personnel from 21 agencies and companies participated.

Elements included a table-top drill at the Port Operations Control Centre at PSA Vista and deployment of resources to test the preparedness and response of mass evacuation and transfer of persons at the sea. The exercise was conducted in the Eastern Holding Anchorage, approximately 4.5 kilometers from Marina South Pier and at the landward locations in Marina South Pier and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.

The exercise scenario started with a fire in the engine room of a cruise ship heading toward Singapore. The master reported the incident to the Port Operations Control Centre and requested assistance in fire-fighting and evacuating the passengers. The evacuated passengers and crew were taken to the landing point at Marina South Pier where the injured received medical attention and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore provided temporary refuge.

'As a major hub port along a very busy waterway, Singapore takes the safety of vessels and passengers seriously,' said Andrew Tan, chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority. 'The exercise today gives us an excellent opportunity to test our inter-agency response to any major emergencies at sea involving real assets and people. We cannot take safety for granted and it involves everyone playing their part.'

Participating government agencies included the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Land Transport Authority, Ministry of Health, People's Association, Police Coast Guard, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Tourism Board.

Besides Star Cruises, company participants included Singapore Cruise Centre, Batam Fast Ferry, SATS-Creuers Cruise Services, Sindo Ferry, Singapore Island Cruise and Singapore Salvage Engineers.

Participating maritime academies and associations were Singapore Shipping Association, Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Maritime Officers' Union and Wavelink Maritime Institute.