Case Study — Singapore Anchorage
Clearing Both Sides: Keeping Bunkering & Hull Cleaning Running in Parallel
How proactive instruction to the Master — and a sharp call on arrival — kept two simultaneous operations on schedule and avoided a prolonged Singapore port stay.
Contact Us TodayThe Situation
Context & Port Call Overview
A scheduled call for concurrent Bunkering and Hull Cleaning turned into a coordination challenge when other barges came alongside the vessel, threatening to block the Dive Team from safely carrying out its work.
The Challenge
Other barges came alongside the vessel, which prevented the Dive Team from safely going alongside to perform Hull Cleaning. This created a direct conflict with the principal's planned Bunkering and Hull Cleaning operations. Left unresolved, the conflict would force the operations to run sequentially instead of concurrently — extending the vessel's time in port.
⚡ High Urgency — Risk of Prolonged Port StayFor Bunkering and Hull Cleaning to run concurrently, both sides of the vessel had to be kept clear at the same time — one side for the Bunker Barge to come alongside, and the other for the Dive Team to safely operate. Any unauthorised vessel alongside on either side made simultaneous operations unsafe and effectively impossible.
Why Both Sides Had to Stay Clear
Bunker Barge Alongside
Dive Team Alongside
If any other vessel occupies either side, one operation must stop — turning a concurrent job into a sequential, time-costly one.
What We Did
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Proactive Instruction Before Arrival
Before the vessel called at Singapore, our PIC wrote directly to the Master, explaining the requirement to keep both sides of the vessel clear — and specifically instructing that no other vessel be permitted alongside — so that the Bunker Barge and Dive Team could go alongside together for Bunkering and Hull Cleaning to proceed concurrently.
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On-Board Operations Monitoring at Arrival
Our operations team on board the vessel during arrival identified that the Master had allowed a Lub Oil Barge alongside — a development that would have blocked the Dive Team from safely conducting Hull Cleaning.
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Immediate Corrective Action
Our team immediately advised the Master, who instructed the Lub Oil Barge to cast off without delay — clearing the side needed for the Dive Team and restoring the conditions for both operations to run in parallel as planned.
Concurrent Operations Achieved
Bunkering and Hull Cleaning were carried out simultaneously, exactly as planned by the principal.
On-Schedule Sailing
The vessel completed operations as per schedule and sailed without further delay.
Cost Saving
A prolonged port stay in Singapore — and the associated costs — was prevented entirely.
Conflict Resolved On the Spot
The Lub Oil Barge conflict was identified and corrected in real time, before it could disrupt the Dive Team's operation.
"Had the Lub Oil Barge remained alongside, the Dive Team would have been unable to carry out Hull Cleaning — turning a concurrent operation into a delayed, sequential one."
Without an agent actively monitoring operations on board at the moment of arrival, the Lub Oil Barge would have stayed alongside, blocking the Dive Team and forcing Hull Cleaning to be postponed until the side was clear. This would have meant the two operations running one after another rather than together — directly prolonging the vessel's stay in Singapore.
What made the difference was twofold: setting clear expectations with the Master before arrival, and having a team physically present on board to catch and correct a developing conflict in real time — before it could cost the vessel a single extra hour in port.
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