MPA to prioritise crew change for Singapore-registered ships; ease pleasure craft restrictions

MARITIME and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Thursday said it will accord priority to Singapore-registered ships (SRS) when it comes to crew changes in the Republic.

This means all SRS will be allowed to carry out crew change in Singapore, regardless of their purpose of call, if they meet all prevailing requirements.

Due to restrictions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, SRS may face challenges such as expired crew contracts, crew change and repatriation of seafarers at ports.

On a case-by-case basis, MPA will allow ship owners and managers of SRS to extend the employment agreements of seafarers who are unable to be repatriated due to travel restrictions at ports where their ships call.

During the extension period granted, the shipowner or manager must continue attempting to repatriate the seafarer at all possible opportunities during each port call, MPA said.

MPA, as the flag administration, will also be able to help contact relevant port authorities to request for assistance if SRS face difficulties in repatriating their crew to foreign ports.

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From March 27 to date, MPA has approved around 6,000 crew changes for cargo ships.

For crew change applications made from Friday onwards with special circumstances, MPA has designated two facilities to accommodate crew unable to transfer directly to his/her vessel or flight; these facilities will be their rest area for up to 48 hours.

The two designated holding facilities are Seacare Hotel and POSH Bawean - an accommodation ship by PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH).

POSH said separately on Thursday that the accommodation vessel will be deployed in the Eastern Working Anchorage. POSH Bawean has 52 rooms over four floors, with capacity to provide up to 178 guest beds.

"All transit seafarers onboard will follow health and safety measures set out by MPA, including minimising interaction and having temperature screenings twice a day with deep cleaning and disinfection of rooms upon occupants' checkout," POSH chief executive Lee Keng Lin said in a statement. (see amendment note)

To facilitate crew signing off in Singapore, MPA will also leverage technology such as telemedicine consultations to help issue fit-to-travel certificates for crew.

In line with the Phase Two reopening which starts on June 19, MPA will ease some restrictions on pleasure craft movement and activities in the Port of Singapore.

All MPA-licensed pleasure craft and visiting yachts will need to comply with safe-distancing measures, with gathering onboard the craft not exceeding five persons, excluding the master or crew employed to operate the craft.

The pleasure craft should also institute SafeEntry for contact tracing purposes. If not possible, a record of the passenger and crew on board needs to be kept.

In addition, temperature screening and checks on visible respiratory symptoms must be conducted before any person boards the craft.

Pleasure craft licensed for commercial use operating dining cruises will also need to comply with measures for food and beverage establishments where applicable.

Amendment note: An earlier version of this article misspelt Lee Keng Lin's name due to a typo.