The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has issued SHIPPING CIRCULAR No.24 OF 2017 dated on 1 December 2017, encouraging Singapore registered ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above to join the voluntary experience building phase (VEBP) of the IMO data collection system for fuel oil consumption (IMO DCS), as per attached.

1. Essential points of VEBP of IMO DCS
(1) The VEBP is one year start from 1 January 2018.
- The VEBP is voluntary exercise. Ship owners, ship managers and operators of Singapore registered ships can decide to participate or not.

(2) On or after 1 January 2018, each participating ship needs to collect data specified in Appendix IX of MARPOL ANNEX VI and report the data on a monthly basis by using a standardised data reporting format to Classification Society (MPA-RO). The monthly dataset is daily noon to noon values (at local time) and aggregated values for the month.
- The VEBP does not require revision of SEEMP (development of Data Collection Plan)
- A sample of standardised reporting format can be found at:
https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/port-of-singapore/circulars-and-notices/shipping-circulars/detail/21f3d001-7c34-43c1-8559-750642045dd1

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(3) The MPA-RO will collect and report these monthly datasets to MPA within a month after the end of each month.
- The VEBP does not require data verification

The objective of VEBP is just to collect and report data to ensure the smooth implementation of the DCS for relevant parties from 2019 onwards as mandatory. Accordingly, the timelines and requirements as stated in MARPOL Annex VI (Resolution MEPC.278(70)) are to be followed as it is. For the details, please refer to Annex A of the Circular (Attachment 2 of this Technical Information).

(To be continued)