Intersessional Discussion on COVID-19: Responses of ASEAN Member States to Seafarers' Access to Crew Change, Repatriation, and National ...
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Intersessional Discussion on COVID-19: Responses of ASEAN Member States to Seafarers’ Access to Crew Change, Repatriation, and National Vaccination Programmes 28 May 2021 Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Designation of Seafarers as Key Workers & Crew Change and Vaccination Efforts
Policy Responses to COVID-19
• Singapore recognises the vital role of our seafarers and maritime frontline workers in keeping supply chains
open. Singapore has been committed to facilitating crew change and ensuring that they receive priority
vaccination.
Singapore’s Crew Change Efforts
• Since March 2020, Singapore has facilitated more than 138,000 cases of crew sign-ons and sign-offs.
• More than 137,400 cases involved foreign seafarers.
• Balance between public health risk and keeping the global supply chain going.
Source: The Strait’s Times
Calibrating our Crew Change Measures
Port Marine Circular (No. 14 of 2021) (6 May 2021)
• Crew change for cargo ships in the Port of Singapore can still be carried out.
• Signing-on crew are required to serve 21-day (previously 14-day) SHN in the country of origin prior to
departure flight/ferry to Singapore.
• Crew from specific low risk countries/regions* will either not be required to serve SHN or serve a
shorter SHN of 7 days in the country of origin.
• Strict crew change protocol in place to ensure safe crew change in Singapore.
*Low risk countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Mainland China, New Zealand and Taiwan.
Singapore’s Crew Change Safe Corridor
Pre-departure requirements
• Quarantine (0/7/21 days)
• COVID-19 PCR test with negative
result within 72hrs before
departure
• Certified fit-to-travel within 24hrs
before departure Bubble-Wrapped Concept
Sign-on to vessel
Sign-on crew
Designated Testing / Medical Quarantine
Holding Facilities Facilities Facilities Sea
Airport Checkpoints
Sign-off crew
Sign-off requirements
Repatriated home
• 21-days not gone ashore and remain well
• Certified fit-to-travel within 24hrs before
disembarkation
• Seafarers on board have to take a PCR test at the
vessel’s last port of call and test negative before
calling at Singapore
(Only for seafarers whose home country require a
pre-departure test)
Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund
Established by Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU),
Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS), and MPA
• Support from Overseas Port Authorities and International Organisations
Overseas Port Authorities Committed International Organisations
1. Abu Dhabi 1. International Maritime Employers’ Council
2. Antwerp (IMEC)
3. Barcelona 2. International Transport Workers’ Federation
4. Hamburg (ITF)
5. Rotterdam 3. International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
6. Sines 4. INTERTANKO
7. Vancouver
8. Sohar Supporting International Organisations
9. Montreal
10. Port and Harbor Bureau, Kobe City 1. Global Maritime Forum Maritime Industry Crew
Government Change Taskforce
11. Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama 2. Norwegian Shipowners’ Association
12. Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama 3. World Shipping Council (WSC)
*Joined on 14 Jan 2021
Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund
First global ground-up tripartite initiative to bring like-minded international partners from the industry,
unions and government to support seafaring nations on concrete solutions to promote and facilitate
safe crew change.
• Fund of ~ S$2 million
CrewSafe Audit Programme:
• Enhance facilities and capabilities to establish safe
and scalable “corridors” to enable crew change;
• Facilitate safe holding facilities at the home/origin
country and the country where the crew change
occurs such as the accreditation of quarantine and
isolation facilities, COVID-19 PCR testing certification
and “white-listing” of clinics for PCS testing.
Digital solutions for tracking crew change:
• Trials of Tamper-Proof, Smart Wearable Digital
Solutions
CrewSafe Audit Programme Holding Facilities
1.ITF/IMEC-St. Giles Makati Hotel
The CrewSafe program is similar to a 2.Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) / Norwegian Training Centre (NTC) – Manila
quality system audit based on the Marriott Hotel
3.NYK-Bayleaf Hotel – Manila
‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ methodology.
4.V-Ships-Red Planet ASEANA – Manila
5.Hong Lam-Hotel 89 – Batam
Facilities operators will need to establish 6.NYK-Bellevue Hotel – Manila
7.NYK-Century Park Hotel - Manila
procedures and plans specifically enhanced
8.Thome-Dusit Thani – Manila
to handle situations associated with the 9.NYK-Crimson Hotel – Manila
pandemic eg enhanced cleaning, social 10.V Ships Red Planet Makati – Manila
distancing measures etc. These documents 11.Hong Lam-Nu Hotel – Kuala Lumpur
will form the basis for the CrewSafe Audit. 12.SeaCare Hotel – Singapore
13.Hotel Re! – Singapore
14.Thome-Herald Suites Solana – Manila
Self-assessment checklists are developed 15. Torm – City Garden Grand Hotel – Manila
to guide sponsors and facilities operators 16.Copthorne King’s - Singapore
towards the Audit.
Medical/Testing Facilities
1.AMOSUP ‘Seamen’s Hospital Molecular & PCR Laboratory - Manila
After completing the Initial Audit, a
2.FHG-Aventus Medical Centre - Manila
follow-up audit will be performed within
5 weeks for compliance and verification of
objective evidence.
The SG-STAR Taskforce welcomes facilities in
crew supplying countries such as Philippines, Indonesia and
India, to be audited under the CrewSafe Audit Programme
Trials for Digital Solutions for Greater Assurance • SG-STAR Fund had shortlisted two digital solutions providers namely KaHa and Viatick to provide tamper-proof, smart wearable digital solutions that support and enhance overseas crew change processes such as quarantine and health monitoring. • The trial was successfully concluded with more than 170 seafarers participating and using the wearables. • Key elements of the Digital Solutions:
Prioritisation of Maritime Personnel in Singapore’s National Vaccination Programme
Sea – Air Vaccination Exercise (SAVE)
Vaccination for Frontline and Essential Maritime Personnel
• Singapore is one of the first countries to prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations for maritime personnel – Singaporean
seafarers and foreign crew working in our port waters.
• Two phases – Phase 1 is for frontline workers, phase 2 is for essential workers
• Frontline: Personnel who are required to work on board ships in our port
• Essential: Personnel with little or no risk of exposure
• As of mid-May 2021, more than 33,000 frontline and
essential maritime personnel have been vaccinated
(at least one dose) under SAVE,
with more than 25,700 (around 78%) fully vaccinated.
Source: The Strait’s TimesSharing our Experiences and Best Practices
The SG-STAR Taskforce is
working on a protocol for the
vaccination of seafarers and
will share when ready.
IMO Circular Letter No. 4204 IMO Circular Letter No. 4383
Singapore Crew Change Guide Book Singapore’s Experiences with
Vaccinations for Key Maritime PersonnelEfforts to Support the Welfare of Seafarers
Efforts to Support the Welfare of Seafarers
Singaporean Seafarers Relief Package
• Co-fund up to S$800* per month together with Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) and Singapore Organisation of
Seamen (SOS) for eligible seafarers who are unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 May 2020 – 30 Jun 2021.
Achievement Award Scheme
• MPA, the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), SMOU and SOS jointly provided S$10,000 to eligible
Certificate of Competency Class 1 (CoC 1) holders who accumulated at least 6 months of sea experience as Chief
Officers or Second Engineers from Jan – Dec 2020.
Return of Singaporean Seafarers and Job-matching with Shipping Companies
• MPA continues to facilitate the return of Singaporean seafarers who wish to sign off when their ships call at Singapore.
• MPA has been working with Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) to facilitate the safe return of all SMA cadets.
• For Singaporean seafarers unable to secure shipboard employment, MPA will work with SMOU, SOS and the Singapore
Shipping Association (SSA) to match them with shipping companies.
General Initiatives for Seafarers – One-off Increase to Annual Contribution to Seafarer Missions
• MPA provided a one-off increase of S$50,000 to the annual contribution of S$150,000 to the seafarer missions
in May 2020.
*Up to $800 in 2020, for a maximum of 6 months in 2020; and up to $700 in 2021, for a maximum of 6 months in 2021Other Recommendations
Recommendations to IMO
• Developing a protocol and guidance document for States and industry to
deal with future pandemic/emergencies.
• Could take reference from the issues/challenges faced during the
COVID-19 pandemic, e.g. crew change practices, extension of ship
and crew certifications.
• Developing standards and guideline for the conducting remote inspections
and the associated certification.
• More remote inspection are being carried out but classification Source: The Strait’s Times
societies and flag states may have different requirements/practices.
Source: DNV GL
Source: Seatrade Maritime NewsThank you!
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