SCBMA

What SCBMA does

The Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) is a specialist arbitral institute providing a non-administered model of maritime and international trade dispute resolution, headquartered at Maxwell Chambers Suites in Singapore. Established as a department within the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in November 2004 and reconstituted as an independent institute in May 2009, SCMA offers the SCMA Arbitration Rules (4th Edition, effective January 2022), the Expedited Procedure for claims up to USD 300,000, and specialized procedures for bunker disputes (SBC Terms under SS 600:2022) and collision claims (SEADOCC Terms). Supporting optional Secretariat services include Chairman Appointment, Fund Holding, Challenge to Tribunal, Award Authentication, Virtual Hearings Support, and the SCMA Vault resource repository. SCMA also jointly operates the SCMA-SIMC Maritime Mediators Panel (established 2024) and runs the Maritime Arbitrator Accreditation Programme (MAAP) and The Singapore Form for Methanol Bunkering publication.

SCMA serves maritime owners, operators, charterers, bunker suppliers and buyers, commodity traders, P&I clubs, ports, and maritime law firms, with charterparty disputes representing roughly half of caseload and coal disputes about one-fifth. Its distribution relies on default inclusion in BIMCO's Law and Arbitration Clause 2020 and the NYPE Time Charter 2015, a Pledge Signatories programme with over 35 corporate signatories, and an Individual/Corporate/Corporate Plus membership ecosystem. Revenue is generated from membership subscriptions (Individual SGD 310/year, Corporate SGD 1,500/year, Corporate Plus SGD 800/year per affiliate, with a 10% multi-year discount), and transaction-based fees on Chairman appointments, Expedited Procedure arbitrations (arbitrator fees capped at USD 10,000), Award Authentication, Fund Holding, and Challenge applications; the institute charges no filing, administration, or management fees.

The organization is governed by an independent board chaired by former Vice President of the Court of Appeal of Singapore Chao Hick Tin SC DUBC, with members drawn from leading maritime law firms (Allen & Gledhill, Rajah & Tann, Dentons Rodyk), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Singapore Maritime Foundation, Kuok Maritime Group, and Cargill Ocean Transportation. Operating geographies are global with an Asia-Pacific anchor, supported by international marketing trips across Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, China, and India.

Name

SCBMA

Legal name

Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA)

Website

https://scma.org.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) is an independent arbitral institute providing a non-administered model of maritime and international trade dispute resolution, serving shipping owners, charterers, bunker suppliers, traders, and maritime law firms globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Arbitration Services

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Protecting Agency & Dispute/Contingency Handling (Charterer/Owner Interests) (TLAHAJAL)

Keywords

• Maritime arbitration
• Bunker dispute resolution
• Charterparty arbitration
• Arbitration rules
• Maritime mediation

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from Individual, Corporate, and Corporate Plus members. Individual: SGD 310/year; Corporate: SGD 1,500/year; Corporate Plus: SGD 800/year (per additional affiliate). Multi-year discounts of 10% available for 3-year commitments.
2. Arbitration Appointment Fees: Fees charged when the Chairperson appoints arbitrators under Rule 8. Parties are jointly and severally liable, typically split equally in the first instance.
3. Expedited Procedure Fees: Arbitrator fees capped at USD 10,000 for claims up to USD 200,000; USD 10,000 plus 5% of amounts exceeding USD 200,000 for claims up to USD 300,000.
4. Award Authentication/Certification: Fees for authentication or certification of SCMA Awards, including costs for printing, binding, or postage.
5. Fund Holding Service Fees: Fees for the Chamber's fund holding service as set out in the Schedule of Fees.
6. Challenge Application Fees: Application fee payable to the Chamber when a party refers an arbitrator challenge to the Chairperson for decision.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCMA is a private membership-based arbitral institute that provides arbitration services, rules, and procedures for maritime and international trade disputes. It operates a non-administered arbitration model featuring specialized procedures including the Singapore Bunker Claims Procedure (SBC Terms), SEADOCC Terms, and an Expedited Procedure. SCMA maintains a panel of arbitrators and accreditations for maritime dispute resolution.

Product overview

SCMA operates as a specialist arbitral institute providing a non-administered model of arbitration for maritime and international trade disputes. The core offering consists of the SCMA Arbitration Rules (4th Edition), which encompasses standard arbitration procedures along with specialized tracks including the Singapore Bunker Claims Procedure (SBC Terms) for bunker fuel disputes and SEADOCC Terms for collision liability determination. The 4th Edition Rules include an Expedited Procedure (Rule 44) for smaller claims under USD 300,000. Supporting services include virtual hearing support and the SCMA Vault resource repository. SCMA also publishes The Singapore Form for Methanol Bunkering and offers training through the Maritime Arbitrator Accreditation Programme (MAAP). The organization maintains a diverse panel of arbitrators with 65% resident in Asia-Pacific, and offers optional services such as Chairman Appointment, Fund Holding, Challenge to Tribunal, and Award Authentication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCMA Arbitration Rules (4th Edition)

Quantifiable outcome

• Charterparties disputes account for about half of SCMA's caseload
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joint establishment of the SCMA-SIMC Maritime Mediators Panel in 2024, with 13 leading practitioners from multiple nationalities (China, Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, US). The panel aims to facilitate nomination of qualified mediators for maritime and shipping disputes while promoting commercial mediation in the maritime industry.
• Enterprise Singapore / Singapore Standards CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SCMA co-maintains the Singapore Bunker Claims Procedure (SBC Terms) with the Singapore Standards Council as part of SS 600:2022. The SSO600:2008 and TR48:2015 also provide for SCMA to administer bunker disputes. SCMA provides the arbitration framework while Enterprise Singapore maintains the standards.
• Singapore Shipping Association (SSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SSA works with SCMA in the bunker claims procedure, advising parties on dispute resolution options and recommending SCMA arbitration for bunker disputes. SSA receives notes of protest and complaints in bunker disputes and refers parties to SCMA arbitration.
• BIMCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020BIMCO adopted SCMA as one of three designated arbitral seats in the BIMCO Law and Arbitration Clause 2020. SCMA is also the designated arbitral institution for the NYPE Time Charter 2015. This partnership provides automatic inclusion of SCMA in major global shipping contracts.
• Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPA collaborates with SCMA in the maritime arbitration ecosystem. Under the SBC Terms, MPA receives findings of arbitration proceedings for information. MPA's Ang Wee Keong (Chief Executive) serves on the SCMA Board of Directors.
• Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ASEAN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint seminar collaboration for the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ASEAN) X SCMA X Baltic Exchange seminar scheduled for 4 August 2026.
• Baltic ExchangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint seminar collaboration with Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ASEAN) and SCMA. Baltic Exchange offers escrow services at discounted rates for SCMA Corporate Members.
• Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSICC model clause available for parties wishing to commence court proceedings under the International Arbitration Act in the Singapore International Commercial Court. Some SICC judges are admitted to the SCMA Panel of Arbitrators.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): Singapore's flagship administered arbitration institution, originally the parent of SCMA. Both serve as Singapore-seated arbitration venues; SCMA specializes in maritime while SIAC administers a broad caseload including maritime disputes.
• London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA): The dominant maritime arbitration institution globally, based in London. Directly competes with SCMA for charterparty and shipping disputes, with a larger historical panel and broader London-based commercial law integration.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): Hong Kong's leading arbitration institution with a strong maritime practice. Competes with SCMA for Asia-Pacific disputes and offers administered arbitration services that contrast with SCMA's non-administered model.
• China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC): Specialist maritime arbitration commission based in Shanghai. Directly competes in the China-out maritime dispute market, particularly for disputes involving Chinese state-owned shipping enterprises.
• Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group (HKMAG): Specialist maritime arbitration group operating under HKIAC's framework. Comparable to SCMA in maritime-specialist focus and small-scale, non-administered model.

Broad incumbents

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: Globally dominant administered arbitration institution. Handles maritime disputes as part of a broad commercial portfolio; competes with SCMA for high-value cross-border shipping disputes but lacks maritime specialization.

Emerging players

• Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC): SCMA's strategic partner for the joint Maritime Mediators Panel. Provides mediation services that complement arbitration; expanding scope creates partial overlap as SIMC builds maritime expertise.
• Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC): Middle East-focused arbitration institution with growing maritime practice. Competes indirectly for energy and shipping disputes routed through Gulf trade lanes; increasingly relevant as Middle East trade grows.

Regional players

• Japan Container Daily Associates / Japan Shipping Exchange: Long-established Japanese maritime arbitration body. Competes regionally for disputes involving Japanese charterers and owners; smaller and more regionally focused than SCMA.
• Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB): South Korea's main arbitration institution with maritime capabilities. Competes with SCMA for Korean shipping disputes but is general-purpose rather than maritime-specialized.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SCBMA