Taiwan implements new restrictions on vessels linked to China, Hong Kong, Macau

Taiwan has implemented procedural restrictions for approving ship arrivals and departures linked to China after recent reports of undersea cable damage.

According to market sources and GAC Hot Port News, charterers must submit all details at least one month in advance for document processing, though there is no guarantee of clearance.

Starting from 31 March, "substandard vessels" and "specific vessels (drive-on and drive-off vessels, semi-submersible vessels, platform vessels, heavy transport vessels, crane vessels, oil tankers, product tankers and liquefied petroleum gas tankers, etc.)" with Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau backgrounds will need to consult with relevant authorities when applying for direct navigation permits or business registration, GAC said.

Authorities have warned that this approval process will be time-consuming and are advising operators to submit applications at least 30 days in advance to avoid disruption to port entry schedules.

The new requirements also come alongside a planned system upgrade to Taiwan's MTNet shipping portal, which will include a new field requiring ship operators to input detailed ownership and carrier company information.

Officials are urging stakeholders to prepare these details in advance to streamline data entry and speed up approval procedures once the system goes live, GAC said.

The scope of the regulation applies to foreign-flagged ships whose owners or carriers are registered in Mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau -- regardless of flag state.

Vessels registered in Hong Kong but falling under the "specific type" category will also be subject to the new consultation process, it reported.

The responsible government agencies will scrutinize four entities listed in each vessel's Q88 form: the registered owner, technical operator, commercial operator and disponent owner.

Additionally, the vessel's head owner listed on the official registry certificate will be subject to verification, according to market sources.

in the week ended March 28, Taiwan's CPC Corp. was reported to have been seeking a VLCC to load 270,000 mt of crude from the Persian Gulf to Taiwan, with a laycan of April 14.

The charterer specified that vessels whose owners or carrier companies are registered in China or Hong Kong, or that are flagged under China or Hong Kong, should not be offered, according to various market sources.