Marine Inspection Unit (MIU) Singapore
History
In the mid 1970’s, as the marine industry began building and repairing vessels overseas and using U.S. flag drill rigs to explore for oil overseas, Marine Inspection Offices were established in Kobe and Yokohama, Japan, and Singapore. Due to Coast Guard budget reductions, these offices were disestablished in 1981 and marine inspection activities in the Far East were then carried out by TAD inspectors from Marine Safety Office (MSO) Honolulu. As the number of overseas inspections increased in the early 1990s, a two-person Marine Inspection Detachment (MIDET) was established in Singapore in April 1992. This unit remained under the operational control of MSO Honolulu and the two Coast Guard personnel assigned were located with and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Singapore. The MIDET was charged with carrying out liaison functions, in addition to marine inspection duties. On December 13, 1994, the USCG decommissioned FESEC and simultaneously commissioned the USCG Activities Far East (FEACT), also at Yokota Air Base. At that time, FEACT became the parent command of the Marine Inspection Detachment (MIDET) Singapore. FEACT is one of just two Coast Guard commands located overseas.
The creation of the U.S. International Port Security Program, mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, led to a dramatic increase in FEACT’s maritime security and international partnering responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific region. In May 2004, a cadre of International Port Security Liaison Officers was assigned to FEACT and MIDET. The IPSLOs engage in bilateral or multilateral discussions with partner nations around the region in an effort to exchange information and share best practices that align implementation and enforcement of the International Ships and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and other international maritime security standards.
On March 4, 2005, FEACT held a ceremony to honor the achievements and contributions of Captain Meals. Mr. Patrick Krochina, grandnephew of Captain Meals, traveled from Valdez, Alaska, and shared family stories of Captain Meals. The ceremony also celebrated MIDET to a new office in Sembawang, Singapore.
USCG missions in the Far East have evolved significantly since 1947. Today, FEACT is organized into three distinct departments; Safety, Security, and Planning/ Logistics. FEACT continues to execute Coast Guard missions in the same spirit as Captain Meals, by exemplifying the Coast Guard core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty.
Primary Duties
Inspections Services
Conduct inspections of U.S. flagged vessels that are under repair and/or undergoing construction in Asia Certificate of Compliance (COC) examinations on foreign tank-ships, including chemical tankers and liquefied gas carriers In addition, personnel conduct investigations into maritime casualties involving U.S. vessels and incidents involving Coast Guard documented and licensed Merchant Mariners.
International Port Security Liaison Officer (IPSLO)
Ensure implementation of the International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code through performance of bilateral information exchanges with 18 trading partner nations and territories (including sharing best practices) and periodically visiting their various ports. IPSLO’s liaise with the countries of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Burma, Timor-Leste, Brunei, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros.
Contact Information
Commercial Office Phone Number: +65 8816 1981
Duty Phone: +1 (808) 291-6846 Commercial
Fax: +65-6750-2357
U.S. Mailing Address
Supervisor MIDET Singapore
PSC 470 Box 2050
FPO AP 96534
Local Mailing Address
USCG MIU Singapore
PSA Sembawang Wharves
Stores Road
Singapore 759657