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Singapore
Following recent cases, more than 20,000 marine sector workers will undergo additional COVID-19 swabs, including routine tests listed every 7 days.
Seagoing vessels are seen anchored in the waters south of Singapore near the Shell oil refineries seen in the background at Pulau Bukom. (Photo: ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities are investigating whether two maritime sector employees who recently tested positive for COVID-19 had violated safe management measures at work.
The two employees are the Lloyd’s Register Singapore marine surveyor who tested positive on December 29 and the Master Systems Marine marine service engineer who tested positive on November 26.
The marine surveyor is among four people in a new group involving two Raffles Girls’ School students, while the marine service engineer dined with 12 family members at a Seoul Garden establishment days before testing positive.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the marine surveyor, like the marine service engineer who tested positive for COVID-19 infection on November 26, consumed food provided by or with the crew on board the ships, which was against a precautionary measure, “said a statement. press release on Saturday (January 2) by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).
“The agencies are also investigating whether there were any violations of the COVID-19 safe handling measures.”
For the case involving the marine service engineer, MPA has prevented the company, Master Systems Marine, from sending its personnel to work aboard ships. This will continue until the company can demonstrate that its employees will adhere to safe management measures on board ships.
For the most recent case involving the marine surveyor, Lloyd’s Register Singapore has suspended all its onboard inspection and audit activities. The company will also test all of its marine surveyors for COVID-19.
“More action can be taken against companies and individuals once the investigations are completed,” authorities said.
ADDITIONAL TESTS FOR 20,000 EMPLOYEES
A port pilot working at PSA Marine was also among the recent COVID-19 cases in the sector. He is one of four cases in a family group, three of which are from the same household in Marine Crescent.
In light of these infections, MPA will tighten the testing regime for all shore-based personnel on board ships, covering more than 20,000 people.
They will need to undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in the next seven days, between January 2 and 8, to make sure they are virus-free.
They will also have to undergo routine tests assigned every seven days instead of 14 days.
“Those who do not adhere to the routine testing regime included in the list will not be able to board the ships for work,” authorities said.
Singapore conducts classified routine tests for groups of workers considered high risk, such as those in the construction, marine and process industries.
READ: COVID-19: Improved crew change procedures, new holding facilities and quarantine for seafarers
The MPA also requires all personnel ashore to give advance notice before boarding ships for construction or service. Strong action will be taken against the ship’s owner, captain or agent for non-compliance, authorities said.
For shipyards, EDB had introduced mandatory precautionary measures on December 21.
“Shipyards should only issue shipyard acceptance letters to ships seeking repairs when a ship complies with these measures,” the press release said.
Additionally, shipyards should only allow shore personnel to board a ship for work when the entire crew has tested negative for COVID-19 upon arrival at the shipyard.
“Failure to comply could result in EDB applying work suspensions and / or economic sanctions,” authorities said.
The agencies said they will intensify controls to ensure that businesses and individuals comply with safe COVID-19 management measures, adding that they will also review the need to improve personal protective equipment and infection control measures in the sector.
READ: Singapore reports 5 community cases of COVID-19, forming 2 new clusters
Singapore confirmed 33 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the highest number since September 15, when 34 cases were reported. All new cases were imported and there were no local infections.
The total number of cases in Singapore is 58,662.
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