Singapore claims to be the busiest port in the world.
About 130,000 ships arrive there each year.
But these days, the problem is many of those vessels are not putting back out to sea.
The usual stay for a cargo carrier is just ten days. That is enough time to offload one set of cargo and take on another load, re-fuel and re-stock supplies.
But, of the 220 container ships arriving in Singapore this year, - excluding the tugs, yachts and bunkering vessels which are permanent port residents - more than half have stayed longer than that.
Another 44 cargo ships have been in port for more than six months.
Time is money
It costs about $1,000 (£614) per day to keep a ship at Singapore port.
Rob Wilkins, general manager, Enviro Force
On top of that, most of these ships would have been bought with multi-million dollar loans that need to be serviced.
They will have a crew that needs to be paid, fed and watered. Engines and machinery that need to be maintained.
All of this is necessary for a ship to maintain its class - the equivalent of an MOT or bill of health.
Being taken "out of class" means a ship cannot trade or earn money and cannot be insured for voyage on the open sea.
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