private tour singapore

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Singapore PRIVATE TOURS

Personalised and Private. For those looking for a hassle-free quality travel with dedicated service, an experienced private tour guide will be with your every step of the way.

RATED #1 PRIVATE TOUR IN SINGAPORE

Customisable

Customisable to meet your travel needs and wants

Convenience

Pick-up service from your hotel directl y with more time for experience

Expert Planning

Dedicated itinerary planner & guides attached during your entire tour

BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR WITH US!

Private Car Tour (Half Day / Full Day)

Book a half-day or full-day private tour with a dedicated professional tour guide to visit some of the city's best iconic sights while travelling comfortably in private transport for you and your group only.

Daily (9:00 am to 6:00 pm)​

4 Hours / 6 Hours / 8 Hours

Private Walking Tour (Half Day / Full Day)

Book a half-day private tour with a passionate tour guide to explore the different ethnic quarters and learn about the city's amazing multi-cultural society, while tasting "must-try" local hawker food.

Private Changi Airport & Jewel Guided Tour

Book a private tour with a dedicated professional tour guide to discover the beauty and secrets of the World's No. 1 Airport - Changi Airport and its Crown Jewel!

Daily (9:00 am to 5:00pm)

Private Food & Cultural Tour

Book a half-day or full-day private tour with a dedicated professional tour guide to explore some of the city's best iconic sights in depth on foot, while trying the city's renowned public transport.

CUSTOMISE YOUR OWN PRIVATE TOUR

Not your first time to Singapore? Have a special interest or place that you would like to visit? Let us know the landmarks, interests, preferences that you would like to explore and when you would like to go and we'll build the itinerary that best fits you!

Amazing trip memories created for many...

CITY TOURS FOR COUPLES

Looking for things to do that only both of you like without wasting time? Let us spice up your trip with couple ideas, activities and even romantic surprises!

HEAR WHAT OUR

Customers say, andrea jones, wonderful tour with the most knowledgeable guide.

Me and my husband had the most wonderful and amazing tour of Singapore. Our guide Lena showed us all the goodies and hidden gems of the city. We adjusted the tour based on our interests and we also focused on exploring the places we had yet not seen. Since we stayed and the Marina Bay Sands we had already explored most of that part with its surrounding gardens, and could take a deep dive into and focus on the different districts of Singapore. Lena is very very knowledgeable and sits on the most amazing information about the history of Singapore. We really enjoyed the experience tremendously and would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Singapore.

SMALL GROUP TOURS

FREE WALKING TOURS

BOOK YOUR PRIVAT E TOUR WITH US

Reach out to us to get started!

Ready to plan a private customised tour, walking tour or themed tour for yourself, families, friends or big groups? Simply drop us a note below and we will be in touch to create your ultimate in-person experience.

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Singapore Tours and Experiences Hosted by Local Experts

Introduction to Singapore Tour

Singapore Night Food Tour: Geylang and Joo Chiat Neighborhoods

Singapore Food Tour: Hawker Center Culture

Singapore Little India Tour

Chinese Settler History Tour: Joo Chiat and Katong Neighborhoods

Singapore Chinatown Tour

Singapore private tours and singapore small group tours.

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Private Tours

“if you just do one tour in singapore, make it one of these.” – lonely planet.

Be treated to a fascinating and deeply-enriching tour experience – our guides are known to walk the talk (quite literally!). Journey through hidden corners of Singapore and discover the historical significance of the sites you encounter, coupled with witty observations on culture, tradition, architecture…the list goes on!

Be sure to check out Our Awards , Testimonials and FAQs !

All our walking tours and coach trails are available for private booking, on your preferred day and timing. 

Our private tours are excellent as company outings, birthday treats, cultural orientation activities for newly relocated expatriates, themed educational field trips and more. If you are lucky (or desperate) enough, we might just be able to resurrect past seasons’ Walks, such as Of Dali, Barley & Hadhramis™ Eccentric Clarke Quay-Singapore River Walk, On Forbidden Ground™ Fort Canning Hill Walk, Of Bomohs & Pontianaks™ Kampong Glam Evening Walk and The Last Post™ Kranji War Cemetery Walk. 

Contact us to find out more.

We are fussy in the way that we want to make each walking experience absolutely delightful. So bear with us if we badger you for the nittys and grittys, whims and fancies, to create the most enjoyable walkabout possible.

Much raved and well-loved, The Original Singapore Walks® is THE EXPERIENCE to go for when you’re in Singapore!

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019

We are honoured to have been awarded the prestigious TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence once again! The Original Singapore Walks® consistently earn great reviews from travellers – join our tours and you’ll find out why!

Singapore Tourism Awards 2018 Finalist

Our tours are proud winners and finalists of the Singapore Tourism Award and Singapore Experience Award, a celebration of outstanding experiences in Singapore’s tourism sector.

Singapore Tatler 2019 (Best Inbound Travel)

We’ve been recognised as Best Inbound Travel Company on the definitive guide to luxury lifestyle, Singapore Tatler! From wonderfully curated tours to customised offerings for groups, we are just a call/click away.

Testimonials

Hear it from those who matter – our wonderful guests who have conquered our tours and emerged triumphant with smiles and new-found knowledge 🙂

Before Your Journeys With Us…

Here’s what you need to know before you embark on The Original Singapore Walks® …

Do I need to book in advance?

No, you can purchase tickets from our guides. However, you will need to pay in cash, exact change. 

Meet your guide at the meeting point 15 minutes before your tour start time for a quick registration and cash payment (if any). In the rare event of an unusually large turn-out or a single walker, the tour goes on (sometimes with an additional guide). 

Advance reservations through phone (+65 6325 1631) or email ( [email protected] ) are highly recommended for

• Parties of 8 or more
• Changi WWII™ – Life, Death and Courage Coach Tour

Our team will send you an email confirmation once we have secured your spots.

If you have a group of 20 or more, we strongly recommend a separate tour just for your group. Please send in your request by filling out the enquiry form at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead.

Where is the tour meeting point? Is there a hotel pick-up?

The tour meeting points are mostly at MRT station exits (above ground) or at the entrance of a museum. The meeting point varies depending on the walk or coach trail of your choice. Please refer to the individual tour descriptions for more details. Hotel pick-ups are currently not available.

How do I recognise the guide?

That would be the person waving our brochures madly in the air. Alternatively, look out for a group forming at the meeting point and the guide who is wearing a Singapore Tourism Board guide badge.

What if I don’t find the guide at the meeting point?

There are generally two scenarios where this may happen: guests sometimes end up at the wrong meeting point, or, they turn up after the scheduled tour departure time. Our guides usually wait an additional 5 minutes after the scheduled departure time in case of any latecomers. Otherwise, a guide no-show rarely happens. If in doubt, please feel free to call our hotline +65 6325 1631 .

How is payment done?

For a hassle-free experience, you are encouraged to book and pay online . Alternatively, you may make payment to the guide in cash prior to your tour.

Exact change will be much appreciated by our guides!

How long do the tours last?

The walks generally last 2.5 hours, although, depending on the interests of the walkers, they’ve been known to go up to 3 hours. The coach trails last around 4 hours, again, depending on guests’ interests and road traffic conditions.

Do the tours run as scheduled on public holidays?

No. Our scheduled tours take a break on public holidays in Singapore (we love our festivals!). Please see check our homepage or our red brochure for the exact dates. Private tours may still be arranged on Sundays and public holidays, depending on the availability of our guides.

Do you have any special discounts right now?

Check out our Promotions tab for the latest deals for our tours and attractions.

Currently, we are offering an ONLINE EXCLUSIVE , where you can get a sweet 10% off your total when you book 2 or more tours on our website (offer is valid with 2 or more DIFFERENT tours booked – we want you to discover different facets of Singapore with The Original Singapore Walks®!)

Now and then, we also present exclusive promotions through partners such as the Association of Singapore Attractions and the Singapore Tourism Board. Do look up their websites for the latest deals.

What are the tours like?

Charming, witty, illuminating and highly addictive. By foot, we will explore the many nooks and crannies that run abound in these lovely corners of Singapore and foray behind the scenes to see, hear, touch and feel things that you won’t on most other tours. We take pride and pleasure in exposing the depths, dishing out the dirty, pointing out the eccentricities and regaling you with astonishing true stories of the city-state we grew to adore. Simply go on one and you will see what we mean…

How are the War Trails by Changi Museum different from The Original Singapore Walks®?

The War Trails by Changi Museum are motorcoach-facilitated guided trails that visit selected WWII sites in Singapore. Please note that we will be running Changi WWII™ – Life, Death and Courage from 1 Apr 2018 onwards due to the closure of Changi Museum for redevelopment. This is a refreshed and enhanced version of our long-running Changi WWII™ tour . The 4-hour long coach tour explores the Occupation Experience and run every Wed & Sat (reservations recommended as seats are limited).

Will we learn anything about local festivals, celebrations and commemorations on your tours?

Definitely! During festive months, selected tours will be enhanced with festival-specific content. Learn more about our local festivals and how we celebrate them by hopping onto one of our special festive tours! Important events that have shaped our society are also emphasised during commemorative months. Follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theoriginalsingaporewalks to get the latest updates!

Are there other tours apart from the scheduled ones?

Yes, we have a whole gamut of tours available for private bookings. Based on our research team’s accumulated knowledge of local history, military history, the arts, religion and culture, Journeys is able to tailor make tour programmes and packages according to various special interests. Our forte lies in programmes which require educational and professional focus and content. Simply drop us a line at +65 63251631 or send in your details by filling out the enquiry form at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead. For programmes requiring a full suite of destination services, visit www.journeys.com.sg/tours-and-services

What if it rains?

As long as guests are game, our promise is to run our tours regardless of rain or shine. Guests are advised to wear comfortable, weather-resistant footwear and bring along a cap, umbrella or poncho. Much of the walks take place at sheltered walkways and buildings, which our guides keep to in the event of rain. Coach trails are hardly affected as sites can be viewed from within the comfort of the coach vehicle if necessary. 

We reserve the right to avoid touring sites due to potential safety hazards under certain weather conditions, such as the open-field Kranji War Graves during a lightning storm.

Is photography / video-recording allowed on the tours?

In protection of the intellectual copyright that goes into the tours, note-taking and any forms of video and audio recording are not allowed on the tours. The interesting stories that we share with you are the result of painstaking research over many years, so do show your appreciation by listening with attentive ears, open hearts and obedient hands! By the way, photography is allowed but not in such excess that it disrupts the tour.

How should I dress to walk under the local climate?

Dress comfortably, preferably wearing a cap and comfy shoes. Bring along sunglasses, an umbrella or poncho, and a bottle of water. When all else fails, put on a big grin and face it like a real globe trekker! (Note: Walkers considering the Sultans of Spice™ tour should remember to dress modestly – sleeved top and full-length skirt or pants – in view of a Mosque visit during the walk.)

Will there be a problem having infants, elderly guests and guests in wheel-chair on the tours?

Most walks (except Red Clogs Down the Five Foot Way™ that goes to Ann Siang Hill via long ramps or stairs and Of Graves, Guns & Battles™ that is conducted on Fort Canning Hill with several flights of steps) are on level ground and we maintain a comfortable walking pace throughout. 

We put in every effort to make the tours as convenient to all as possible. The walking routes are planned to include sheltered stops, if not stops that allow walkers to enjoy a short sit-down while the guide shares with the group. 

All guests are urged to be mindful of personal safety while crossing roads, which is hard to avoid while walking around an urbanised city. Guests who rely on wheel-chair to get around may require a considerable level of support embarking on / disembarking from the tour buses used for War Trails by Changi Museum.

Journeys is part of the HERITAGE ASIA GROUP

with the following,

SINGAPORE HISTORY CONSULTANTS

THE CHANGI MUSEUM (Managed from 2001-2018)

HELL'S MUSEUM

Office:  haw par villa management office, 262 pasir panjang road, singapore 118628   |   tel: (+65) 6325 1631 for business enquiries: [email protected]    |  for tour bookings: [email protected] copyright © 2003-2024 the original singapore walks® all rights reserved..

Dear lovely guests,

Kindly note that our tour

Of Graves, Guns & Battles™ – A Tour of  Fort Canning Hill

Journeys to Hell™ – A Twilight Tour of Haw Par Villa and Hell’s Museum

will NOT run on the following public holidays

25 Dec 2023 & 1 Jan,10-12 Feb, 29 Mar, 10 Apr, 1 May, 22 May, 17 Jun, 9 Aug, 31 Oct & 25 Dec 2024

The Original Singapore Walks® Team

You are about to leave the THE ORIGINAL SINGAPORE WALKS’ mini site to discover its award-winning creator,

Journeys heritage tours, you are about to leave journeys’ main site to discover its award-winning flagship feature,, the original singapore walks.

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Private tours in Singapore

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• Singapore Supreme Court
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• Thian Hock Keng Temple
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Luxury Singapore Tours

Singapore in Depth (5 Days)

Food & Culture Tour of Singapore (6 Days)

Singapore in Style (7 Days) Singapore, Sentosa Island

Multi-country Tours

Flavors of Southeast Asia (16 Days) Singapore, Saigon, Hoi An, Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Bangkok

Best of Singapore & Bali (14 Days) Singapore, Nusa Dua or Jimbaran Bay, Ubud, Candidasa

Singapore & Bintan Island (7 Days) Singapore, Bintan Island

Food, Culture & Romance in Singapore & Indonesia (14 Days) Singapore, Nusa Dua or Jimbaran Bay, Sumba Island, Ubud

Singapore in Depth

(5 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)

This private tour of  Singapore  features the top cultural, culinary and natural attractions and accommodation at one of the city's best luxury hotels.

During private touring with an expert guide, experience unique cultural heritage in Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Joo Chiat and other dynamic neighborhoods. Browse bustling local food markets and the best food hawker centers, sample local culinary specialties, visit the most interesting Chinese and Hindu temples, and learn about Peranakan culture and cuisine. Explore amazing contemporary architecture and design highlights such as the Marina Bay Sands complex and Gardens by the Bay, a wonderland of theme gardens, waterways and "supertrees." Also see traditional shophouses and Chinese Baroque architecture, as well as British colonial-era black-and-white buildings in the Historic District.

Other options include visiting the beautiful Botanic Gardens and National Orchid Garden, touring Mandai Bird Paradise, or exploring the Southern Ridges, including the elevated forest walk and Henderson Waves, an architecturally striking pedestrian walkway that offers visitors amazing views of Singapore's skyline, parks and islands. For travelers interested in art, touring can also include Singapore's top art galleries and museums such as the National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, Peranakan Museum, National Museum of Singapore or Museum of Contemporary Arts.

There will also be time to explore historic quays and dining and shopping districts, as well as time to enjoy traditional pastimes such as afternoon tea at Raffles. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional culinary experiences such as spice garden tours and cooking classes.

This tour can be fully customized or extended to include other popular destinations in Asia such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Bhutan.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

Testimonials

Singapore was awesome. Amazing guide and hotel and driver. Thank you! ~ R.W., Toronto, Canada

Our Singapore and Indonesia trip could not have been better. The guides and drivers were amazing. The hotels were beyond our expectations. Artisans of Leisure is the best tour company that we have used. ~ M.W., Bedford, NY

Thank you for our WONDERFUL trip to Singapore and Indonesia. Everything was perfect—our guides, our hotels, itinerary, etc. We were treated royally by everyone.   ~ M.A., Marfa, Texas

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• Beyond Michelin Chinatown Food Tour
• Hawker Fare: Little India Street Food Tour
• Market To Table Culinary Experience
• Flavours of Singapore
• Discover Hainan
• Discover Hokkien
• Discover Thailand
• Island Boat Tour & Kelong Visit

• A Voyage Of Time: Chinese Junk Tour
• Stories of the Sea: Theatrical Boat Tour
• City Highlights: Singapore River & Marina Bay
• City Highlights: Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam
• Singapore For Dummies Tour: Beginner’s Guide to SG
• Chek Jawa Boardwalk
• Pulau Ubin Tour: The Wild Side
• Kampong Experience
• Story of Stamford Raffles
• Fish Farming & Sustainability
• Race & Religion Tour
• Singapore Spice Story
• Singapore Water Story
• SG: Building of A Nation
• Aminah in Kampong Glam
• Ah Huat in Chinatown
• The Red Oil Lamp: Chinatown Stories Alive!
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• i Light Singapore 2023 Walking Tour
• Singapore Art Week 2023 Tours
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Take Adventures Create Memories!

Let’s Go Tour Singapore is an award-winning tour operator offering a wide range of unique tours led by experienced local tour operators. Choose from Bike Tours , Food Tours , Boat Tours , Walking Tours , Cooking Classes , Private Car Tours and more.

Make the most of each travel moment and create some wonderful memories with us now!

Ready to experience the real Singapore?

Popular Singapore Tours

Explore Singapore on carefully-designed routes with friendly local guides. With the wind in your hair, get behind the handlebar to learn a little history and soak in the city’s breathtaking sights!

Go beyond just the Singapore River Cruise and discover Singapore from a different perspective. Sail out to explore the Southern Islands, reconnect with nature and get up close to Kelongs & Fish Farms!

Cooking Classes

Discover Singapore’s delicious food culture and learn how to cook popular local dishes with our friendly, experienced chefs through a variety of immersive Culinary Experiences!

Singapore Food Tours

Discover amazing local street food with our Singapore walking food tour options, complete with a side of historical insights by your tour guide for an memorable tour experience!

Learning Journeys

Learning should be fun and engaging! Our series of educational tours are specially created to enhance knowledge through fun and meaningful experiences outside of the classroom.

Walking Tours

Our guided walking tours are created to be the perfect introduction for those visiting Singapore for the first time, covering the Must-Sees, Best Things To Do and Hidden Gems.

Theatrical Tours

This is not your ordinary walking tour! History comes alive with our innovative Theatrical Tours: immersive storytelling journeys that combine role-play theatrics, visual props and heartfelt emotions.

Nature Tours

Head into the wilderness with our seasoned nature tour guides and explore an abundance of nature found off the beaten tourist track at Pulau Ubin.

Private Tours

Prefer the intimacy of your own group? From food adventures to vibrant street art and to quaint heartland communities, create a trip to remember when you opt for a fully-customisable private tour!

Customised Team Building & Learning Journeys

Whether corporate or school-based, our original team building events leverage on our tour expertise to create experiences that are both fun and meaningful!

Our team is also experienced in Virtual Tours, both livestreamed and recorded segments.

Let us help you transform your event objectives into unparalleled experiences!

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Approved by the singapore tourism board.

The STB has a rigorous approval process for travel and tour agencies, which means that only those who meet the highest standards for quality and service get endorsed.

We pride ourselves on being one of the best Singapore tour agencies for a wide variety of unique and enriching experiences.

Moreover, we are committed to providing quality customer service to ensure that you get a positive experience from booking tours to the end of your chosen tour.

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Rated top ten tours on tripadvisor since 2015.

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Singapore Private Tour In Seven Days, Soulful, Stylish and Striking!

Singapore private Tour In Seven Days, Soulful, Stylish and Striking! Yes, it can be done! Seven days and seven nights to see around this stunningly beautiful country.

The breathtaking architecture alone is enough for me, but the country is one big surprise after another!

On arrival at the airport, you notice immediately the service you are going to get here is second to none! 

The place is shiny like a new pin, and the staff looks like they have walked off a catwalk, so you know you are in for a treat! 

The city has so much to see and do from a swim in the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands hotel (55 floors up !!) with awe-inspiring views over the whole city. 

If not there is an evening safari tour with over 3,000 different species. 

Singapore is a top destination for 2017 !!

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Sentosa 4D Adventureland

Home to unlimited fun! Go on a choice of immersive 4-D movie adventures. This tour is great for the whole family of any age.

Singapore River Safari

Enjoy the River Safari which is a river-themed zoo and aquarium located in Singapore the first of its kind in Asia. Fun for the whole family!

Go Green Segway Tour

There's no smoother way to enjoy the highlights and all the sights of Sentosa Island than by zipping about on a Segway!

Gems of China Town

Discover Singapore and experience a walk off the beaten path through China Town with some great photo opportunities not to be missed.

Gems of Little India

If you could sum up the hustle and bustle of the area of Little India in one phrase, it would definitely be " a feast for all the senses"!

River Cruise By Water B

Let the River Cruise by Water B take you on a voyage through Singapore's historic moments and the people that made them.

Singapore Private Airport Arrivals Transfer

Travel in comfort from the airport to your hotel in one of our Singapore Airport Transfers with a range of vehicles for all group sizes.

Butterflies & Insect Kingdom Entrance Ticket

A must-see outdoor experience for all the family! A showcase of beauties from mother nature, see varieties of butterflies and exotic insects.

Adventure Cove Waterpark Entrance Ticket

Entrance ticket to Adventure Cove Waterpark. Snorkel to see tropical fish at Rainbow Reef or enjoy thrill seeking with the parks many waterslides! A brilliant day for kids!

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Advertisement

Vessels Belonging to Owner of Baltimore Ship Had Been Cited for Labor Violations

The vessels had underpaid crews and kept workers onboard for months beyond their contracts, according to an Australian regulator.

• Share full article

By Michael Forsythe ,  Peter Eavis and Jenny Gross

• March 26, 2024

Ships belonging to the company whose container vessel crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday have been cited in recent years for labor violations, which include underpaying ship crews and holding crew members onboard for months past their contracts, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

In 2021, the authority detained the Western Callao, another ship formerly owned by the company, the Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., after it found that the management was in arrears paying 13 crew members and had kept them on the ship for more than 12 months, well beyond their nine-month contracts. In 2020, an inspection of the same ship in Australia found that eight sailors had been aboard it for more than 11 months.

Another ship owned by Grace Ocean, the Furness Southern Cross, had 10 seafarers aboard for more than 14 months. The infractions were “serious and shameful” violations of an international convention on maritime labor, Michael Drake, the executive director of operations for the authority, said at the time, in October 2021.

“This type of behavior is unethical and in complete contravention to the Maritime Labor Convention,” Mr. Drake said. “The international conventions that protect seafarers’ rights are very clear.”

Any factors about the crew of the Dali, the Grace-owned container ship that crashed into the Key Bridge, including fatigue, will likely be among the many items the National Transportation Safety Board examines as it looks for the cause or causes of the crash.

Grace Ocean owns 55 ships, according to Equasis , a public database of ship information. While global companies such as Maersk charter the vessels, the owners and the ship managers are generally responsible for managing the crew and maintaining the ships. The management company for the Dali, Synergy Marine, was not the company managing the two vessels cited by Australia.

The extremely opaque nature of global ship-owning makes finding the ultimate owners and holding them accountable for any violations difficult. According to Singapore company records, Grace Ocean is owned by the British Virgin Islands-based Grace Ocean Investment Limited. Lloyds List, which first reported Grace Ocean’s infractions in 2021, reported that Grace Ocean Investment is based in Hong Kong. But the company matching the name and address in Lloyd’s database dissolved in 2015, according to Hong Kong company records.

The Singapore company has four directors — two Filipino citizens, a Singaporean and a Japanese person — with all listing addresses in Singapore, records show.

Alexandra Wrage, the president and founder of Trace, a group focused on anti-bribery, compliance and good governance, said that ship ownership structures were designed to maximize opacity and minimize accountability.

“There are some good actors in this space, but shipping is the Wild West from a compliance and accountability perspective,” Ms. Wrage said. “And when compliance and accountability aren’t priorities, issues like environmental standards, labor practices and health and safety often aren’t either.”

The Dali had 22 crew members from India onboard, according to a statement from Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine. None were injured.

An inspection of the Dali last year at a port in Chile found that the vessel had a deficiency related to “propulsion and auxiliary machinery.” The inspection, conducted on June 27 at the port of San Antonio, specified that the problem concerned gauges and thermometers.

The Dali has had 27 inspections since 2015, according to Equasis. The only other deficiency, a damaged hull “impairing seaworthiness,” was found in 2016, at the port of Antwerp, in Belgium. The vessel hit a berth at the port that year. A spokesman representing Grace Ocean and Synergy did not immediately have a comment on the labor violations or on the deficiency reported last year.

Michael Forsythe a reporter on the investigations team at The Times, based in New York. He has written extensively about, and from, China. More about Michael Forsythe

Peter Eavis reports on business, financial markets, the economy and companies across different sectors. More about Peter Eavis

Jenny Gross is a reporter for The Times in London covering breaking news and other topics. More about Jenny Gross

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Who owns the ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore?

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: March 26, 2024 / 5:05 PM EDT / CBS News

The collapse of  Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday after being struck by a cargo ship has raised questions about who owns and manages the ship, as well as on the potential impact on one the busiest ports in the U.S.

Called the Dali, the 948-foot vessel that hit the bridge is managed by Synergy Marine Group, a Singapore-based company with over 660 ships under management worldwide, according to its website . The group said the ship was operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group and chartered by Danish shipping giant Maersk at the time of the incident, which sent vehicles and people tumbling into the Patapsco River.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," Maersk said in a statement to CBS News on Tuesday, in which it also confirmed the ship was carrying cargo for Maersk customers. The company had no crew or personnel aboard the ship.

The Dali, which can carry up to 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, was carrying nearly 4,700 containers at the time of the collision. It was operated by a 22-person, Indian crew. It was not immediately clear what kind of cargo the ship was carrying. 

Who owns and manages the Dali?

The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private, a Singapore-based company that provides water transportation services. The ship was chartered by Danish container shipping company Maersk at the time of the collision.

Synergy Marine, founded in 2006, provides a range of ship management services, including managing ships' technical components and their crews and overseeing safety, according to S&P Capital IQ. Its parent company, Unity Group Holdings International, an investment holding company, was founded in 2008 and is based in Hong Kong.

Where was the ship headed?

The outbound ship had left Baltimore and was headed for Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, Synergy Marine Group said in a  press release . 

How busy is the Port of Baltimore?

In 2023, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, worth $80 billion, according  to the office of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. The port is also a significant provider of local jobs. 

The top port in the U.S. for sugar and gypsum imports, it is the ninth busiest U.S. port by the total volume and value of foreign cargo handled. All vessel traffic into and out of the facility is currently suspended, although the port remains open and trucks continue to be processed within its terminals, according to a statement released by Port of Baltimore officials. 

What is the potential local economic impact?

Directly, the port supports 15,300 jobs, while another 140,000 in the area are related to port activities. The jobs provide a combined $3.3 billion in personal income, according to a CBS News report . The Port of Baltimore said Tuesday that it is unclear how long ship traffic will be suspended.

The disaster also caused chaos for local drivers. The Maryland Transportation Authority said all lanes were closed in both directions on I-695, with traffic being detoured to I-95 and I-895.

How could the bridge collapse affect consumers and businesses?

Experts say the bridge collapse could cause significant supply chain disruptions.

"While Baltimore is not one of the largest U.S. East Coast ports, it still imports and exports more than 1 million containers each year, so there is the potential for this to cause significant disruption to supply chains," Emily Stausbøll, a market analyst at Xeneta, an ocean and air freight analytics platform, said in a statement. 

She added that freight services from Asia to the East Coast in the U.S. have already been hampered by drought in the Panama Canal, as well as risks related to conflict in the Red Sea. Nearby ports, including those in New York, New Jersey and Virginia, will be relied on to handle more shipments if Baltimore remains inaccessible. 

Whether ocean freight shipping rates will rise dramatically, potentially affecting consumers as retailers pass along higher costs, will depend on how much extra capacity the alternate ports can handle, Stausbøll said. "However, there is only so much port capacity available and this will leave supply chains vulnerable to any further pressure."

Marty Durbin, senior vice president of policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said that the bridge is a critical connector of "people, businesses, and communities."

"Unfortunately, its prolonged closure will likely disrupt commercial activities and supply chains that rely on the bridge and Port of Baltimore each day," he said in a statement.

What other industries could be affected?

Trucking companies could be severely affected by the disaster. 

"Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region," American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail said, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore's port "critical components'' of the nation's infrastructure.

Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge every year — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will now have to make 30 miles of detours around Baltimore because they are prohibited from using the city's tunnels, she said, adding to delays and increasing fuel costs.

"Time-wise, it's going to hurt us a lot," added Russell Brehm, the terminal manager in Baltimore for Lee Transport, which trucks hazardous materials such as petroleum products and chemicals. The loss of the bridge will double to two hours the time it takes Lee to get loads from its terminal in Baltimore's Curtis Bay to the BJ's gasoline station in the waterfront neighborhood of Canton, he estimated.

Cruise operators are also being affected. A Carnival cruise ship that set off Sunday for the Bahamas had been scheduled to return to Baltimore on March 31. Carnival said Tuesday that it is "currently evaluating options for Carnival Legend's scheduled return on Sunday." The company also has cruises scheduled to set sail from Baltimore through the summer. 

Norwegian Cruise Line last year introduced new routes departing from the Port of Baltimore. Its sailings are scheduled for late this year. The company said the Key Bridge collapse doesn't immediately require it to reroute any ships.

Who will pay to rebuild the bridge?

President Biden said Tuesday that the federal government, with congressional support, would pay to rebuild the bridge.

"We're going to work with our partners in Congress to make sure the state gets the support it needs. It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge," Biden said in comments from the White House. "And I expect the Congress to support my effort. This is going to take some time. The people of Baltimore can count on us though, to stick with them, at every step of the way, till the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Bridge Collapse
• Patapsco River

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.

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