Singapore plays host to the 16th International Congress
of Maritime Arbitrators from 26th February 2007 to 1st March
2007. Following the fine traditions set by previous ICMA the
Congress programme is determined by the Delegates who submit
their papers on a wide range of maritime issues. The SCMA is
part of the Host Committee of ICMA XVI.
Singapore, 8 Nov 2004 – Singapore launched its Singapore
Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) today – a move
that will further the Republic's aim to serve as Asia's centre
of maritime legal expertise and dispute resolution.
SCMA aims to win a larger share of the global maritime legal
business, given Singapore's proximity to Asian markets and that
the city is the regional base for over 4,000 international shipping
companies.
The establishment of the SCMA is the result of the efforts of
the Working Group on Maritime Arbitration formed under the auspices
of the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF).
The Working Group obtained private sector input and views and
the support and participation from key stakeholders namely,
the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Singapore
Maritime Arbitrators Association (SMAA), the Maritime Law Association
of Singapore (MLAS), the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators
(SIArb) and the Law Faculty of the National University of Singapore
(NUS). They also offered access to a network of distinguished
professionals and arbitrators – assistance that helped
substantially towards the formation of SCMA.
The launch was officiated by the Minister of State for Finance
and Transport, Mrs. Lim Hwee Hua, at Raffles Hotel.
The launch, said Dato' Jude Benny, Board Member of SMF and Chairman
of the Working Group, would write "an exciting chapter" in maritime
arbitration and take it to the next level.
He thanked Associate Professor Lawrence Boo, Deputy Chairman,
SIAC, and its Board of Directors for their "full and unqualified
support". Professor Boo is the Chairman of SCMA.
There was a common misunderstanding, Dato' Jude Benny said,
that Singapore arbitration meant that the dispute must be resolved
in accordance with Singapore law, hence causing concern to those
unfamiliar with our laws.
"Singapore arbitration merely refers to the seat or place of
administration of the arbitration. The applicable law can be
chosen by the parties at the time they concluded their contract.
SCMA therefore hopes to facilitate and encourage parties to
choose Singapore for their arbitrations by providing a professional
and efficient structure, with an international panel of highly
qualified arbitrators with diverse expertise and background,"
said Dato' Jude Benny.
Consistency, integrity and impartiality, together with access
to complementary services such as banking, communications and
insurance, had all been cited as strengths for London. These
were values and attributes that could equally have been used
to describe Singapore.
He added: "I would also like to reach out to the community of
offshore law firms based here in Singapore with a message of
hope that you will do your utmost to contribute to a vibrant
maritime arbitration landscape here. While there has previously
been a trend to remit cases out of the Singapore jurisdiction,
in favour of various home jurisdictions, I am pleased to note
that recent amendments to the Legal Profession Act has seen
a significant drop in this trend. We hope to see your unqualified
support for SCMA in the years ahead."
Associate Professor Boo believes that the formation of SCMA
will serve as a positive focus for shipowners, charterers, shipbrokers
and marine insurance companies when considering dispute resolution
clauses in their contracts. He added: "The world's leading ports
are also leading centres for maritime arbitration. There is
no reason why this should not be so for Singapore."
The shipping community showed its support for the SCMA when
six major Singapore maritime companies presented letters of
pledge to use SCMA's facilities for dispute resolution and to
include SCMA arbitration clauses in their maritime-related contracts,
where appropriate.
The companies were Keppel, NOL, Pacific Carriers, Pacific International
Lines, Pan United and Sembawang.
"This strong display of support, and the fact that distinguished
maritime leaders are serving on its advisory committee and panel
of arbitrators, show that SCMA has made a good start," said
Ms Trudy Leung, SMF general manager.
Mrs. Lim unveiled the SCMA logo and presented Letters of Appointment
to members of the SCMA Advisory Committee. The Chairman of the
Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore, Mr. Peter Ong, handed
out Certificates of Appointment to the arbitrators on its inaugural
panel.
The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is the
leading arbitral institution in Asia. It offers parties a neutral
and independent forum to resolve their commercial disputes and
provides the necessary institutional support. Established in
1991, SIAC has managed some 750 cases, involving parties from
the Americas, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. Two-third
of these cases have involved non-Singaporean parties.
SIAC provides the following services: it helps parties to appoint
their arbitrator when they are unable to agree; it manages all
the financial accounts between parties and the arbitrator according
to published transparency guidelines; it monitors and supervises
the progress of the arbitration; and it assists in arranging
the logistics, facilities and services for the arbitration.
Please visit www.siac.org.sg
for more information.
The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) is a private sector-led
organisation that works in partnership with different sectors
of the maritime industry and relevant government agencies to
promote and develop Singapore as an international maritime centre.
Established in January 2004, the SMF is directed by a Board
and supported by a permanent secretariat. It has also established
an Advisory Panel which comprises industry practitioners. Please
visit www.sgmf.com.sg
for more information.
For more information, please contact:
Kimberly C Y Phoon
General Manager
Singapore Maritime Foundation
80 Robinson Road #19-01
Tel: 6325 0225
DID: 6325 0249
Mobile: 9671 3260
Fax: 6325 4050
E-mail: kimberly@sgmf.com.sg
Sabiha Shiraz
Senior Assistant Director
Singapore International Arbitration Centre
City Hall
3 St Andrew's Road
Singapore 178958
Tel: 6334 1277
Fax: 6883 0823
E-mail: sabihashiraz@siac.org.sg
Oh Yam Chew
Senior Consultant
WHM Public Relations Pte Ltd
DID: 6325 1782
Mobile: 9764 0193
Fax: 6227 2696
E-mail: ycoh@whm-pr.com
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