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SINGAPORE – Maritime sector shore personnel will now have to be tested for coronavirus every seven days instead of 14 before they can board ships for work.
This is one of the strictest measures for testing all shore-based personnel aboard ships, in light of two cases in which a marine inspector and a port pilot tested positive for Covid-19, he said. the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. (MPA) on Saturday (January 2).
All of the more than 20,000 employees on the ground here will need to take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test within the next seven days, from Saturday to January 8, to ensure they are free of the coronavirus.
The MPA also said that all personnel ashore must notify the authority in advance before boarding ships to carry out works or provide services. He said firm action will be taken against a ship’s owner, captain or agent if it is determined that he is not complying with the measures.
The authority, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and other agencies will intensify controls to ensure compliance with the safe management measures of Covid-19, the MPA said.
“Individuals and companies found to have violated these measures will be charged. The agencies will also review the need to improve personal protective equipment and infection control measures in the sector,” he said.
The stricter rules for the maritime sector come after the government tightened security measures for the airline’s crew following news that a Singapore Airlines cabin crew member and a pilot had tested positive for Covid- 19.
Authorities are also investigating whether there was any breach of Covid-19 safe management measures between the two positive cases in the marine sector.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the marine surveyor, such as the marine service engineer who tested positive for Covid-19 infection on November 26, 2020, consumed food provided by or with the crew aboard the ships, which was against a precautionary measure. ” said the MPA.
“MPA, EDB and the Ministry of Health have a serious view of the non-compliance with the safe handling measures of Covid-19 and will not hesitate to take firm action against errant companies and individuals,” the authority added.
The authority has also prevented Master Systems Marine from sending its personnel to work aboard the ships after the case involving the marine service engineer was detected. The shutdown will continue until the company can demonstrate that its employees will adhere to safe management measures on board the ships.
Regarding one of the more recent cases involving the marine surveyor, Lloyd’s Register Singapore has suspended all inspection and audit activities on board and will be testing all of its marine surveyors for Covid-19, the MPA said.
He added that further action can be taken against companies and individuals once the investigations have been completed.
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