Testing of pilots & safety precautions

03 Jun 2021 / Singapore

As part of the safeguards to ensure risks from COVID-19 transmission are well mitigated, the Singapore government has taken a pro-active approach in the testing efforts of all our Pilots through mandatory Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) every 7 days and the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) on the third or fourth day of the 7-day RRT cycle.

As one of the key stakeholders in the Singapore maritime industry, our Pilots have taken precautionary measures which included completing their COVID-19 vaccination, monitoring of their daily temperature twice a day and avoiding non-essential overseas travelling.

To safeguard the health of the ship crew and our Pilots, all Ship Masters are to adopt the following safe practices before/when our Pilot boards your ship:
a. Inform our Pilot if there is unwell crew onboard or deviation from the health declaration to the relevant authorities
b. Avoid shaking hands and adopt contactless greetings method
c. Receive our Pilot at pilot ladder or gangway by essential crew only (these crew to don N95/surgical masks)
d. Have only essential crew on the bridge and for them to don N95/surgical masks
e. Practise social distancing of at least 1 metre or 2 arm’s length
f. Open bridge’s door for ventilation
g. Sanitise bridge equipment such as binocular, VHF telephony before our Pilot boards the ship
h. Make available hand sanitiser/soap on the bridge
i. Allows our Pilot to use the elevator whenever possible
j. Avoid bodily disinfectant spraying

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

Source: Letter from PSA Marine, Singapore Harbour Pilots, dated 3 June 2021

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