Requirements for vessels arriving during COVID-19

17 May 2021 / Singapore

Owners, agents and masters of vessels arriving in the Port of Singapore are reminded of their responsibility to implement and comply with all prevailing requirements and measures of the Singapore authorities to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in Singapore, in particular safe management measures directly applicable to vessels in the Port of Singapore.

Owners, agents and masters of vessels must ensure that all operations (e.g. cargo operations, bunkering, ship’s supplies and stores, and other marine services) are carried out contactless or contactless with segregation protocol (see below).
a) Contactless operation means no boarding of the vessel by any person other than MPA-licensed harbour pilots, authorised government officers, and persons approved by the Port Master of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
b) Contactless operation with segregation protocol means that enhanced safe management measures must be implemented to minimise interaction between the vessel’s crew and shore-based personnel…

…The owner, agent or master of the vessel in port must establish and apply procedures and adequate controls to ensure the safety of shore-based personnel and the vessel’s crew... ...Failure to comply with the requirements may result in a breach of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations or the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

All vessel’s crew must comply with the following while in the Port of Singapore:
a) Wear a mask at all times (unless the work activity requires that no mask be worn);
b) As far as is reasonably practicable, keep a distance of at least one metre apart from each other;
c) Take and record temperature twice daily;
d) Observe good personal hygiene by washing your hands regularly and refrain from touching your face;
and
e) Maintain good hygiene in the vessel’s accommodation areas by cleaning frequently touched surfaces (e.g. desk, chart tables, dining tables, bridge/engine room consoles, door handles, handholds, switches, telephones/VHF handsets, faucets).

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at [email protected])

Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No.19 of 2021 dated 15 May 2021

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