Maritime tradition of firing New Year flares from ships halted after S’pore authorities flag safety concerns

SINGAPORE – A longstanding maritime tradition of setting off flares to ring in the new year has seemingly come to an end in Singapore’s waters.

For decades, mariners on vessels in Singapore’s harbour have fired flares at the stroke of midnight on the last day of the year – a sight to behold from various spots on the mainland, especially in East Coast.

On Dec 31, having set up his cameras at a vantage point facing the sea, architectural photographer Darren Soh waited to capture the moment.

But he was surprised when midnight passed and just two flares were spotted in the sky, instead of the usual volley.

He wrote in a Facebook post on Monday: “For years, I could depend on the ships to do this one thing at the stroke of midnight... but my faith was suddenly shaken.”

In the same post, he noted that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) had issued a notification to the maritime community on Dec 9, 2021, stating that the firing of flares for non-emergency purposes is an offence under the Air Navigation Order.

“These actions can confuse, distract, or cause discomfort to pilots, and can be hazardous to aircraft operations, especially during the aircraft’s critical phases of take-off and landing,” said CAAS in the notification, adding that first-time offenders face a fine of up to $20,000, while subsequent offences carry a fine of up to $40,000, jail of up to 15 months, or both.

In a joint statement on Friday with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), CAAS said it has noticed an increase in such activities in recent years, particularly on New Year’s Eve.

“An increased number of calls were made to the authorities from members of the public raising potential safety concerns posed by the firing of flares,” said the agencies, adding that none of these activities has “resulted in disruptions to aircraft operations or pilots having to seek medical attention”.

“The firing of pyrotechnics in non-distress situations can create confusion and be mistaken as distress signals, which could tie up resources needed for real emergencies,” they added.

The agencies said that to raise awareness of the dangers posed to aircraft, they have worked together to remind the maritime community of the prohibitions on the firing of flares in non-emergencies.

“Surveillance of such activities was also stepped up,” said the agencies, adding that they take a serious view of such activities.

CAAS issued warning letters to five offenders identified by MPA in 2021, they said on Saturday.

The practice of mariners setting off flares to mark the new year in Singapore’s waters has been reported in newspapers as far back as 1960.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also mentioned it in a Facebook post on Dec 30, 2015, posting a photograph of breakwaters in East Coast and writing that they “will be a good place to catch ships firing off their flares at midnight tomorrow to mark the new year”.

Mr Soh said in his post that flares were fired on New Year’s Day in 2022, while others commenting on his post shared pictures of flares that they said had been taken in recent years.

Captain Frederick Francis, president of the Singapore Nautical Institute, said that previous instances of flares being fired – a practice among mariners worldwide – could have taken place with the authorities “turning a blind eye because it’s New Year’s Eve”.

Ultimately, the practice is wrong as flares should be fired only when there is distress on board, he said, adding that it could pose safety hazards, as mariners typically use expired flares on New Year’s Eve.

Serviceable flares are a safety requirement on board vessels, and these usually expire after three years.

Capt Francis, who said he fired flares on New Year’s Eve while he was a cadet officer in the late 1970s, noted that mariners also sound the horns of their vessels to mark the occasion, but that “ringing the bell is not as fun as releasing pyrotechnics”.

He said that with shipping firms becoming increasingly stricter about rules, maritime traditions such as the releasing of flares on New Year’s Eve and the equatorial baptism – an initiation marking a sailor’s first crossing of the Equator – are dying.

Ragging can occur during these “baptisms”, and shipping lines would want to distance themselves from them due to ethics and safety concerns, he said.

Pilot and flight instructor Jezreel Mok said he agreed with CAAS’ concerns over the dangers posed by the firing of flares to aircraft operations. It would be disruptive if pilots have to abort landing just to ensure they remain a safe distance from the flares, he said.

According to the Department of Transport of Western Australia, the incandescent parachute flares – the type usually fired on New Year’s Eve – can reach a height of about 300m.

Mr Mok added that if fired from some of Singapore’s eastern anchorages, the flares could encroach on the path of planes taking off or landing at Changi Airport, depending on which runway is being used.

Suggesting that a short pause in take-off and landing at Changi could be arranged to allow flares to be set off, he said he hopes that the tradition will be allowed to resume among mariners in the future.

According to CAAS’ website, the firing of pyrotechnics is allowed with a permit from the authority, and applications must be submitted at least seven working days before the date of firing.