S'pore adds 94 ships to registry in Sept as reflagging of vessels jumps

Rise in fleet as foreign shipowners seek to avoid US port fees on China-built ships

- Kang Wan Chern Deputy Business Editor

The Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) added 94 ships to its fleet under the Singapore flag in September, as more foreign shipowners sought to avoid exposure to US port fees on China-built ships.

This takes the total number of Singapore-flagged ships to 4,230, with around eight million gross tonnage added in September alone.

The SRS now has a total of 127.8 million gross tonnes, up more than 19 million tonnes since the start of 2025, compared with just an 8.5 million tonne gain for the whole of 2024, according to preliminary data released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

The larger shipping registry represents a boon to Singapore's maritime ecosystem, driving demand for high-value services such as ship financing and insurance, while reinforcing its reputation as a trusted maritime hub.

The jump in the number of ships on the SRS also comes as a result of more shipowners reflagging their vessels under Singapore to avoid port fees as trade tensions escalate between the US and China.