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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) announced on Friday (August 28) a series of measures to facilitate crew changes and ensure safe port operations, including shorter stay-at-home advisories for some seafarers and the creation of a dedicated warehouse and quarantine facility for the ship’s crew.
“This has been a difficult time for seafarers,” Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a statement provided by MPA.
“They have been working tirelessly to keep the flow of goods around the world. But due to health and safety concerns, many have found it difficult to call at ports and change crews, which has seriously affected their well-being. therefore, it is very important for all stakeholders to come together to ensure safe port operations and safe crew changes, “he added.
SHORTNESS FROM HOME TO HOME FOR SOME ENROLLMENT TEAMS
Generally, all recruiting staff are required to provide a 14-day stay-at-home notice in their home country or region before arriving in Singapore.
However, according to the risk management approach adopted by the COVID-19 multi-ministerial working group for travelers arriving in Singapore, seafarers from specific low-risk countries or regions will no longer have to hand over their notice to stay at home or give a shorter notice than seven days prior to departure for Singapore.
(Table: Singapore Maritime and Port Authority)
Mr. Kam Soon Huat, Chairman of the Singapore Seafarers Organization, said: “SOS is pleased that MPA has taken a step forward to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of seafarers and the addition of new crew on board. .
“Optimized crew change procedures and a dedicated facility for registration crews are practical solutions to keep the supply chain open and protect the rights of seafarers.”
READ: Singapore to waive stay-at-home notice for New Zealand and Brunei travelers, test them for COVID-19 upon arrival
In addition to the stay-at-home notification requirement, if a crew member was previously diagnosed with COVID-19, the date of the first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test must be greater than 21 days from the date of departure from your home country for Singapore.
The crew member must also have a negative COVID-19 test, taken no more than 48 hours before departing for Singapore, and be certified as fit for travel by a doctor in their home country no more than 24 hours before the flight .
Finally, crew members can only arrive in Singapore to join their ship no more than two days before the ship leaves Singapore, MPA said.
CREW AUTHORIZATION TO REMAIN ON THE SHIP FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE LANDING
In the case of the seafarers making the dismissal, they must not have disembarked in the last 14 days before disembarking from the ship. Before disembarking from the ship, the crew must also be certified for travel by a doctor in Singapore no more than 24 hours before disembarking.
“In order for crew changes to take place safely, MPA continues to expect all owners, agents, vessels and individuals to ensure that COVID-19 preventive measures are strictly followed.
“Any non-compliance will be taken seriously,” said MPA.
Ship owners, managers or agents must request a crew change in Singapore by completing an online form on the MPA website.
For foreign flag ships, crew changes will be considered if the ship meets all current requirements and is in Singapore for cargo operations, fueling or other maritime services, MPA added.
READ: Comment: COVID-19 Makes Waves for International Shipping
NEW OPERATING AND QUARANTINE FACILITIES AT THE TANJONG PAGAR TERMINAL
MPA also said on Friday that starting on September 1, an autonomous Crew Facilitation Center (CFC) will be established at the Tanjong Pagar terminal to facilitate more crew changes in a sustainable manner and with minimal risk to the health of the population. usually.
Three existing floating facilities in the CFC will be designated as retention or quarantine facilities. These will house the login crew who are waiting for their ships to arrive for up to 48 hours, and a quarantine facility to house close contacts of seafarers who test positive for COVID-19.
There will also be a medical center on site in the center.
“During COVID-19, many ships were unable to dock at ports for crew disembarkation and embarkation. Unfortunately, an estimated 250,000 seafarers are now stranded at sea. There is an urgent need to help them ‘change shifts. ‘”Ong said. in a Facebook post.
“A dedicated area for them means reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission on land,” he added.
Mr. Ong Ye Kung in a room inside the new crew facilitation center at the Tanjong Pagar terminal. (Photo: Facebook / Ong Ye Kung)
In the meantime, the laid off crew will proceed from Singapore or remain in the existing designated holding facilities at the Seacare Hotel or on the POSH Bawean accommodation vessel for up to 48 hours, and will be strictly segregated from the community.
As an international port, many foreign-flagged ships call in Singapore.
MPA told CNA on August 16 that 15 Filipino crew members working on a ship that arrived in Singapore from India on August 8 for repairs and refueling had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Bahamas-registered ship has 22 crew members.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry reported that another Filipino seaman working on the ship also tested positive for COVID-19.
Two technicians who boarded the ship also tested positive.
MPA said in its statement on Friday that the new measures will allow the crew change to proceed safely.
“Seafarers play an important role in maintaining international trade and global supply chains and therefore MPA will take further steps to enable the crew change to take place in Singapore safely,” he said.
Ms Mary Liew, Secretary General of the Singapore Maritime Officers Union and President of the NTUC, said: “With the new initiative of a dedicated crew facilitation center that will involve crew segregation in floating accommodation, we will be able to improving the crew changes the protocol in a safer way for seafarers and a more sustainable solution for shipping companies. “
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