The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said vessel arrivals totalled 1.04 billion gross tonnes during 2004, up 5.7 percent and passing one billion tonnes for the first time.

"The Singapore port retained its position as the world's busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage, establishing a historic milestone in the process," the MPA said in a statement.

The rise in tonnage came despite the number of vessel calls dropping to 133,185 in 2004 from 135,386 in 2003.

Container throughput grew 15.9 percent to 21.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), while the total amount of cargo handled rose 13.1 percent to 393 million tonnes.

"In terms of bunker (fuel supply) sales, Singapore retained its position as the number one bunkering hub in the world by setting a new benchmark of 23.6 million tonnes sold in 2004," the MPA said, adding this was a 13.3 percent rise from 2003.

The MPA said there were 3109 ships with 27.7 million gross tonnes under the Singapore flag by the end of 2004, up 8.4 percent.

This meant Singapore retained the largest merchant fleet in Asia and jumped one position to sixth on the world's list of biggest fleets.

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