Intersessional Discussion on COVID-19: Responses of ASEAN Member States to Seafarers’ Access to Crew Change, Repatriation, and National Vaccination Programmes28 May 2021Maritime 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.

Sign-off requirements• 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)

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

Singapore’s Crew Change Safe Corridor

Sign-on crew

Airport

Sign-on to vessel

Testing / Medical

FacilitiesDesignated

Holding Facilities

Quarantine

Facilities Sea

Checkpoints

Repatriated home

Bubble-Wrapped Concept

Sign-off crew

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

1. Abu Dhabi

2. Antwerp

3. Barcelona

4. Hamburg

5. Rotterdam

6. Sines

7. Vancouver

8. Sohar

9. Montreal

10. Port and Harbor Bureau, Kobe City

Government

11. Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama

12. Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama

*Joined on 14 Jan 2021

Committed International Organisations

1. International Maritime Employers’ Council

(IMEC)

2. International Transport Workers’ Federation

(ITF)

3. International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

4. INTERTANKO

Supporting International Organisations

1. Global Maritime Forum Maritime Industry Crew

Change Taskforce

2. Norwegian Shipowners’ Association

3. World Shipping Council (WSC)

Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund

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 facilitatesafe crew change.

• Fund of ~ S$2 million

CrewSafe Audit Programme:

• Enhance facilities and capabilities to establish safeand scalable “corridors” to enable crew change;

• Facilitate safe holding facilities at the home/origincountry and the country where the crew changeoccurs such as the accreditation of quarantine andisolation facilities, COVID-19 PCR testing certificationand “white-listing” of clinics for PCS testing.

Digital solutions for tracking crew change:• Trials of Tamper-Proof, Smart Wearable Digital

Solutions

CrewSafe Audit Programme

The CrewSafe program is similar to aquality system audit based on the‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ methodology.

Facilities operators will need to establishprocedures and plans specifically enhancedto handle situations associated with thepandemic eg enhanced cleaning, socialdistancing measures etc. These documentswill form the basis for the CrewSafe Audit.

Self-assessment checklists are developedto guide sponsors and facilities operatorstowards the Audit.

After completing the Initial Audit, afollow-up audit will be performed within5 weeks for compliance and verification ofobjective evidence.

Holding Facilities

1.ITF/IMEC-St. Giles Makati Hotel

2.Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) / Norwegian Training Centre (NTC) – Manila Marriott Hotel

3.NYK-Bayleaf Hotel – Manila

4.V-Ships-Red Planet ASEANA – Manila

5.Hong Lam-Hotel 89 – Batam

6.NYK-Bellevue Hotel – Manila

7.NYK-Century Park Hotel - Manila

8.Thome-Dusit Thani – Manila

9.NYK-Crimson Hotel – Manila

10.V Ships Red Planet Makati – Manila

11.Hong Lam-Nu Hotel – Kuala Lumpur

12.SeaCare Hotel – Singapore

13.Hotel Re! – Singapore

14.Thome-Herald Suites Solana – Manila

15. Torm – City Garden Grand Hotel – Manila

16.Copthorne King’s - Singapore

Medical/Testing Facilities

1.AMOSUP ‘Seamen’s Hospital Molecular & PCR Laboratory - Manila

2.FHG-Aventus Medical Centre - Manila

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

• 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 Times

Sea – Air Vaccination Exercise (SAVE) Vaccination for Frontline and Essential Maritime Personnel

Sharing our Experiences and Best Practices

IMO Circular Letter No. 4204Singapore Crew Change Guide Book

IMO Circular Letter No. 4383Singapore’s Experiences with

Vaccinations for Key Maritime Personnel

The SG-STAR Taskforce is working on a protocol for the vaccination of seafarers and

will share when ready.

Efforts 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.

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.

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.

*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 2021

Other 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 societies and flag states may have different requirements/practices.

Source: The Strait’s Times

Source: DNV GLSource: Seatrade Maritime News

Thank YouThank you!