On 17 November 2023, the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (“SCMA“) and the Singapore International Commercial Court (“SICC“) announced, via a joint media release, the introduction of the SCMA Jurisdiction Model Clause.
The SCMA Jurisdiction Model Clause can be accessed on the SCMA website here. Parties wishing to resolve disputes by means of arbitration may use this model clause when they intend to designate SICC as the supervisory court in respect of any court proceedings in Singapore that are commenced under the International Arbitration Act 1994.
The new model clause highlights to users of the SCMA arbitration rules the express option of selecting SICC as their choice of court. Established in 2015, SICC is a division of the Singapore High Court and is a leading and trusted neutral forum for effective transnational dispute resolution. Its panel comprises eminent international and local jurists with expertise in commercial disputes, including specialised fields such as shipping and maritime law. Practically, the specialised remit of SICC lends itself to cases of an international and commercial nature, for instance, where a dispute is an “offshore case” with no substantial connection to Singapore.
Earlier this year, SICC introduced a generic jurisdiction model clause for any international arbitration seated in Singapore, which can be accessed on the SICC website here. Parties may incorporate this clause into their initial contracts or at any other time, including after a dispute has arisen.
Click on the following link for more information:
- SCMA and SICC Joint Media Release titled “Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration introduces model clause to provide for maritime and international trade arbitration matters to be heard by the Singapore International Commercial Court” (available on the SICC website at www.sicc.gov.sg and the SG Courts website at www.judiciary.gov.sg)
