Singapore signed the Open Skies Agreement (OSA) with the United Kingdom (UK) in London today. The landmark agreement was signed by Singapore’s Ministe r for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Raymond Lim and United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP.

Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK) have concluded a landmark Open Skies Agreement (OSA) on 2 October 2007, removing all restrictions on air services operated by carriers of both countries.

Minister for Trade And Industry issues Exclusion Order for Air Shuttle Service Operation Agreement Between Malaysian Airline System Berhad (MAS) and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur sector.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) will be further tightening the quality of service (QoS) standards for basic bus services provided by the two licensed public transport operators, SBS Transit Ltd and SMRT Buses Ltd. A key change is that the PTC will require the bus operators to run at least 80% of their bus services at headways or frequencies of not more than 10 minutes, instead of the present 15 minutes, during weekday peak hours. This change will be phased in over two years.

Speech by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport, at second reading of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (Amendment) Bill, on 12 February 2007, 4.30 pm at Parliament.

India and Singapore have concluded a round of air services consultations with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the air services between both countries. This will pave the way for carriers of both sides to increase the number of services between the Indian metropolitan cities of Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi, and Singapore. A new air link between the Indian city of Coimbatore and Singapore is now also possible. There are additional fifth freedom traffic rights granted to the airlines of both India and Singapore under the MoU.

Two new tertiary maritime law programmes launched as part of efforts to plug the severe manpower shortage in the maritime industry.

LTA.PROMPT or the "Permit for Road Occupation Management Portal" is a new internet-based service that gives applicants the ability to apply for all road permits from all necessary agencies in one application online.

The ReCAAP Agreement will enter into force on 4 September 2006. Altogether, 11 countries have ratified the Agreement, namely Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka. Brunei has also signed the Agreement and is in the process of ratification. 10 ratifications are needed for the agreement to take effect. Singapore looks forward to the signing and ratification of the ReCAAP Agreement by the remaining countries.

Speech by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister Of State For Finance And Transport, at the signing ceremony of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic Of Singapore on certain aspects of air services, 9 June 2006, 9.15 am at EU Conference Centre, Luxembourg.

Singapore and the European Union have signed a new aviation agreement, marking an important first step towards a fully liberalised aviation framework between the European Union (EU) and Singapore. The agreement was signed in Luxembourg today between Mr Hubert Gorbach, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology, President-in-office of the Council of the EU, Mr Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for Transport, and Singapore’s Minister of State for Transport, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua.

Singapore and Greece have signed a new Air Services Agreement (ASA), marking a breakthrough in the 35-year history of bilateral aviation relations. The agreement was signed in Athens yesterday between Mr Michalis Liapis, Minister for Transport and Communications, and Singapore’s Minister of State for Transport, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua.

This circular is to inform shipowners, shipmanagers, shipping-agents, masters and officers of Singapore ships of the coming into force of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention)(Amendment) Regulations, 2006 on 1 July 2006.

As part of the feasibility study on the installation of security cameras to enhance public transport security, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the public transport operators have started installing security cameras, on a trial basis, on selected public buses and MRT trains along the North South and East West lines. The feasibility study started in late 2005 and is at an early stage of development.

Singapore and China have signed an expanded air services pact which allows airlines of both countries to operate passenger and all-cargo services between China and Singapore with no restrictions on capacity, routing or aircraft type.

The Bill proposes to amend the Public Transport Council Act in the following key areas: (i) Introduce a bus service operator licensing regime; (ii) Introduce a regulatory regime for ticket payment services; (iii) Enhance the Council's regulatory power to effect fare adjustments; and (iv) Introduce a penalty to deter fare evasion.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) welcomes the passing of the PTC (Amendment) Bill in Parliament today. The enhanced powers will enable the PTC to better regulate bus services and bus/train fares, and to regulate ticket payment services.

Presently, under the Driver Improvement Points System, driving in bus lanes carries a penalty of $130 and four demerit points. With effect from 1 Oct 2005 , motorists who travel along or leave their vehicles in bus lanes islandwide during restricted hours will no longer be given four demerit points. The $130 penalty will however still apply.

With the deposit of the Instrument of Accession on 1 May 2005 at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London, Singapore became party to Annex IV of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78). Of greater significance is that Singapore has acceded to all six Annexes of MARPOL , an achievement shared by few countries in the world.

Singapore and Bahrain have signed an open skies agreement (OSA) that removes all restrictions on passenger and cargo flights by airlines of both countries. The agreement was signed in Singapore today by Bahrain's Minister of Transportation, H.E Shaik Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and Singapore's Minister for Transport, Mr Yeo Cheow Tong.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is pleased to announce that it is streamlining the Vocational Licensing Scheme for the convenience of all taxi and bus vocational licence holders. The changes, which will take effect from 1 March 2005, will also help about 130,000 vocational licence holders to reduce the costs of applying and renewing their licences.

Singapore deposited an instrument of accession to the International Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), 1976 at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London on 24 Jan 05. The accession will take effect on 1 May 05.

In a further effort to enhance port security, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has introduced a licensing scheme for regional ferry operators.

The Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) was established in November 2004. It provides the international maritime community with an independent, efficient and reliable dispute resolution institution in fast-developing Asia.

The Law Reform and Revision Division seeks views from the public on a proposed amendment to the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act. The proposed reform will allow the arrest of ships on demise charter to secure the obligations of the demise charterer. More information can be found here.