Investigation and Prosecution of Cases of Waste Disposal into Singapore Waters in Past Five Years

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Transport for each of the past five years (a) how many cases of disposal of refuse, garbage, waste matter, trade effluent, plastics or marine pollutants in packaged form, into Singapore waters have been (i) investigated (ii) issued warning letters (iii) issued compound fines (iv) prosecuted and fines issued and (v) prosecuted and jail terms issued respectively; and (b) how many ships’ garbage and management plans have been verified by inspectors.

Between 2016 and 2020, there were three cases of disposal or discharge of refuse, garbage, waste matter, trade effluent, plastics or marine pollutants in packaged form from ships into Singapore waters investigated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). There were two cases in 2017 and one case in 2018. MPA issued composition fines for all three infringements.

The number of inspections and verifications of the Garbage Management Plan (GMP) on ships conducted by MPA between 2016 and 2020 is provided in the table below.