Dangerous Goods regulating system in Singapore

• Main Author: Cui, Yi Fang
• Other Authors: Wong Yiik Diew
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Maritime studies::Maritime management and business
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40374
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Dangerous Goods (DG), as its name states, can lead to serious consequences if improperly managed. Hence, a sound regulating system needs to be established to safeguard the handling of DG. In Singapore, many international and national rules and regulations have been implemented in the industry. Moreover, supportive initiatives have also been launched by various DG agencies to improve the DG regulating system in Singapore. This report covers various literature reviews done in order to understand the DG regulating system in Singapore. The results from surveys and interviews with both industrial companies and regulatory bodies provide the different perceptions towards several DG issues in the regulating system. The research shows that there are controversial opinions towards the integration of DG regulating system between the industrial companies and the regulating agencies. Some of industry companies are looking for a unified system with one DG agency in charge to reduce the confusions that exist in current system, on the other hand, the regulatory bodies have their own reasons to retain the multiple-agency system in Singapore while they are trying to improve and divide the responsibilities among each agency clearly. Moreover, a common message from the industrial interviewees is that the effectiveness of communication between the industry and the regulating agencies needs to be improved and enhanced. The agencies shall keep the companies informed timely about the updated information about DG such as web portal function updates and regulation updates. Since the 2006 study conducted by Mr. Rajkumar about DG logistics system in Singapore, the DG system has been strengthened along the years. The comparison shows an improvement especially in the compliance status of various DG initiatives by the companies. However, there is still a gap between Singapore and Europe as mentioned by some of the interviewees, and further developments and measures are warranted in the years ahead.