Anchorage Services

Why Anchorage Location Matters in Ship Lay-Up

The choice of anchorage is one of the most consequential decisions a shipowner makes when laying up a vessel. A poorly selected location — exposed to weather, loosely regulated, or without active emergency response capability — can result in anchor dragging, collision incidents, or security breaches that create significant unplanned costs and liability.

International Shipcare operates from Brunei Bay, Sabah, Malaysia — the world’s first officially gazetted lay-up anchorage. This distinction is not a marketing claim; it reflects a formally designated, government-recognised status that gives ISC and its clients unmatched operational certainty, legal standing, and physical security.

Brunei Bay — The World's First Gazetted Lay-Up Anchorage

Brunei Bay was gazetted in 2008 — the first anchorage in the world designated exclusively for lay-up operations. This gazetted status means:

The anchorage exists solely for lay-up purposes — no competing vessel traffic
All entry is strictly regulated — only authorised boats and personnel are permitted
Operations are subject to full compliance with applicable maritime rules and regulations
The anchorage is governed under the authority of Sabah Ports & Harbour

The area is continuously monitored and secured by Malaysian Enforcement Authorities, including:

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA / Coast Guard)
Royal Malaysian Marine Police
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Royal Malaysian Navy

No other lay-up provider in the world can offer this level of governmental recognition and multi-agency security.

Anchorage Specifications

Parameter	Details
Location	Brunei Bay, Sabah, Malaysia
Governing Authority	Sabah Ports & Harbour
Gazetted Year	2008
Maximum Vessel Capacity	152 vessels simultaneously
Vessel Spacing	Minimum 1.5 nautical miles between vessels
Recognised Status	One of the safest anchorages globally
Peak Historical Occupancy	150 ships (2015)
Current Vessels (as of 2026)	29 vessels

The 1.5 NM spacing between vessels eliminates collision risk and provides adequate sea room for safe anchoring operations.

24/7 Vessel Monitoring & Communications Centre

ISC’s shore-based communications centre operates continuously, providing round-the-clock monitoring of every vessel at anchor.

VHF Communication Quality ISC’s prime location within Brunei Bay delivers excellent VHF signal reception, enabling reliable communication with all vessels at anchorage at all times.

4-Hourly Check-Ins The duty officer communicates with each vessel every 4 hours — confirming vessel condition, crew status, and any developing issues. This frequency of contact far exceeds standard industry practice and enables rapid escalation when needed.

24/7 Operations Base The communications centre is manned at all times with trained first responders. Emergency flow charts, duty engineer rosters, and escalation procedures are immediately accessible.

Emergency Preparedness All ISC personnel are trained as first responders. The duty engineer can be contacted immediately to activate the Emergency Response Team for any incident category.

Dedicated Offshore Boat Fleet

SC maintains its own fleet of dedicated offshore service boats, providing full operational independence. Vessels in the ISC fleet include:

ISC Palladium
ISC Jaguar
ISC Panther
ISC Lynx
ISC Cheetah

The fleet includes one fully equipped.

All boats are:

Fully equipped for offshore lay-up operations
Maintained in-house to ensure constant readiness
Available 24/7 for crew transport, cargo delivery, and emergency response
Staffed by standby boatmen on rotation basis (8 boats available 24/7)

Owning and operating its own boat fleet — rather than chartering third-party vessels — gives ISC complete control over deployment speed and emergency response capability.

Emergency Response at Anchorage

ISC’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) is made up of experienced seafarers who have sailed on LNG carriers as Chief Engineers, 2nd Engineers, and Electrical Technical Officers (ETOs). They are trained and ready to respond to the full range of anchorage emergencies:

Anchor Dragging Emergency
Collision Emergency
Parting of Anchor Chain
Fire Emergency
Severe Weather Emergency
Water Ingress Emergency
Intruder Emergency
Medivac Emergency

ISC has developed formal emergency response procedures for every scenario, tested through regular safety drills conducted in collaboration with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

Anchorage Services vs Vessel Berthing — What's the Difference?

Anchorage refers to a vessel holding position at a designated anchor point in open water, typically away from port infrastructure. It is commonly used for lay-up, waiting periods, and short-term idle periods where port facilities are not required.

Vessel berthing refers to a vessel mooring alongside a quay, pier, or jetty — typically for cargo operations, crew changes, or maintenance access.

For vessel lay-up, anchorage at a gazetted, professionally managed location like Brunei Bay is preferred over alongside berthing because:

Significantly lower cost than port berthing fees
No exposure to port traffic and collision risk
Controlled, regulated environment with dedicated lay-up management
Unlimited duration without port congestion pressure

Why ISC's Anchorage Is Unique

Every lay-up provider can claim to offer an anchorage location. ISC’s Brunei Bay anchorage is categorically different:

Gazetted status — the world’s first and only lay-up-specific gazetted anchorage
Government security — active multi-agency enforcement presence, not private security
50 years of operational continuity — ISC has operated from this location since 1975
Proven peak capacity — 150 vessels successfully managed simultaneously in 2015
Lloyd’s Register alignment — lay-up procedures developed with Lloyd’s Register
ISO 9001 quality management — all anchorage operations documented and auditable

Frequently Asked Questions — Anchorage Services

Q: What is a gazetted lay-up anchorage?

A gazetted anchorage is one that has been formally designated and legally recognised by government authorities for a specific purpose — in this case, vessel lay-up. Brunei Bay was gazetted in 2008, making it the world’s first anchorage of this type. Entry is restricted, operations are regulated, and the area is actively monitored by Malaysian enforcement authorities.

Q: How many vessels can ISC accommodate at Brunei Bay?

Brunei Bay can accommodate up to 152 vessels simultaneously, with a minimum spacing of 1.5 nautical miles between vessels. At peak occupancy in 2015, ISC managed 150 vessels concurrently.

Q: Is the Brunei Bay anchorage safe during adverse weather?

Yes. Brunei Bay is recognised as one of the safest anchorages globally, benefiting from its sheltered geographic position and the combination of professional lay-up management and active enforcement authority presence. ISC also has formal Severe Weather Emergency Response procedures in place.

Q: What types of vessels can use ISC's anchorage?

ISC has anchored and managed lay-up for bulk carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, FPSOs, anchor handling tugs, offshore support vessels, and tankers. ISC’s flexible programme design accommodate all commercial vessel types.

Q: How does ISC ensure security at anchorage?

Security is provided at multiple levels: Malaysian enforcement authority patrols (Coast Guard, Marine Police, Air Force, Navy), strict entry controls limiting access to authorised personnel and vessels only, 24/7 ISC communications centre monitoring with 4-hourly check-ins, and permanent ISC watchkeepers onboard each vessel.