CCCS recommends five-year renewal of shipping exemption order

The recommendations said to retain the categories of liner shipping agreements. 

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has recommended renewing the Block Exemption for Liner Shipping Agreements Order (BEO) for five years from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029. 

The recommendations said to retain the categories of liner shipping agreements (LSAs) including the vessel-sharing agreements (VSAs) for liner shipping services and price discussion agreements (PDAs) for feeder services. 

As per the CCCS, VSAs will improve Singapore ports' global connectivity and enhance competition amongst liners by lowering entry barriers for smaller liners to provide services on trade routes. 

Meanwhile, PDAs will attract feeders to base their operations in Singapore which will anchor main lines, expanding the city-state’s shipping network. 

CCCS also recommends updating the scope of the LSA BEO to reflect current industry practices and cover cooperation amongst liners for the transport of goods between ports only. 

To facilitate this transition, CCCS recommends the LSA BEO allow current LSAs involving inland carriage of goods to benefit from the order for one year.