Crew change for cargo ships & application for vaccination

31 Mar 2022 / Singapore

As Singapore moves to streamline pandemic measures to living with Covid-19 as an endemic disease, MPA has also aligned our crew change requirements and continue to safeguard the wellbeing of seafarers undergoing crew change in Singapore as well as Singapore’s populace.

With effect from 1 Apr 2022, fully vaccinated sign on and off crew can enter Singapore under the Vaccinated Travel Framework as Short-Term Visitor.

Applications are to be made directly to ICA CREW system via digitalPORT@SG™.

More information can be obtained from ICA website (https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/general-travel/fully-vaccinated).

However, for non-vaccinated signing-on and -off, please continue to apply via the Crew Change System (https://transact.mpa.gov.sg/Crews). The user guide for the new Crew Change System can be downloaded at this link. The requirements are as follows:

SIGN-ON

(a) Non-Vaccinated

- Required to serve Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) in the crew’s originating country/region in the period immediately prior to his/her departure flight/ferry to Singapore. Please refer to ICA’s website (https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/wphl/SHN-and-swab-summary) for the latest list of countries/regions and their respective SHN period.

- The non-vaccinated crew must have a negative result from a COVID-19 (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) type) or a negative, professionally administered Antigen Rapid test (ART) result taken at his/her originating country not more than 2 days prior to departure for Singapore.

Engage Meet and Greet at the airport.

Dedicated transport to be provided for the non-vaccinated crew only.

SIGN OFF

(b) Non-Vaccinated

- Direct transfer from vessel to airport/holding facility without any detour.

- Pre-departure test (if applicable) to be carried out at dedicated holding facility only.

Dedicated transport to be provided for the non-vaccinated crew only.

Designated crew change holding facilities in Singapore

Non-vaccinated sign-on crew and sign-off crew may only stay at the designated holding facilities in Singapore for up to 24 hours.

HOLDING AREAS AT MARINE SOUTH PIER AND WEST COAST PIER

All non-vaccinated crew that utilises Marina South Pier (MSP) or West Coast Pier (WCP) shall remain at the designated holding areas while waiting to clear immigration. Should the holding area be full, the non-vaccinated crew shall remain in their private transportation.

For non-vaccinated sign-off crew, the dedicated transportation shall be ready and waiting so that the non-vaccinated crew can depart MSP/WCP immediately upon clearing immigration and do not need to crowd up the holding area.

Agents and appointed drivers are responsible for ensuring that the non-vaccinated crew remain in the holding area or private vehicle at all times.

Land transport drivers and launch boat operators shall keep all windows open when ferrying sign-on/off crew, as far as practicable. They shall always maintain safe distancing and shall not handle the non-vaccinated crew’s belongings at any time. The seats and other frequently touched surfaces shall be disinfected after each trip.

COVID-19 PRE-DEPARTURE TESTING IN SINGAPORE

MPA notes that some countries require travellers to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test (PDT3) and present a valid negative test result before they are allowed to transit through or enter. Please be reminded that MPA’s approval shall be sought for non-vaccinated signing-off crew to take PDT in Singapore...

…For crew change applications where the non-vaccinated sign-off crew requires PDT before departing Singapore, medical service provider shall carry out the PDT in the dedicated holding facility after receiving approval from MPA. COVID positive crew shall isolate and recover in the dedicated holding facility, in accordance to prevailing health protocol in Singapore.

CREW VACCINATION APPLICATION

Under the SEAVAX programme, MPA is able to facilitate the vaccination of crew in Singapore. Ship owners/managers/agents may apply for the crew’s vaccination at the following link https://go.gov.sg/mpa-icc-seav... at least 3 days prior to the vessel’s arrival in Singapore.

Ship owners/managers/agents shall submit applications before the planned crew change…

…This circular is effective from 1 April 2022.

(For information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at [email protected])

Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.06 of 2022 dated 30 March 2022

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.