Updates as of 02 March 2022

This is to update the Shipping Community on the revised Port Marine Circular 03/2022. Below are some of the changes extracted with comments for easy references:

Crew change criteria

Removal of the criteria for crew change in Singapore.

Sign on (See Annex A Below)

Fully vaccinated crew from “Active Vaccinated Travel lane” may sign on without serving SHN and does not required to take VTL flight.
The crew must have a negative result from a COVID-19 test (PCR) taken at a government-approved or ISO 15189-accredited testing facility at his/her originating country not more than 2 days prior departure for Singapore. (E.g. For example, if the PDT is taken on 1 November 2021, it will be valid for departure (for air/sea checkpoints) or arrivals (for land checkpoint) up to 3 November 2021, 2359 hours,
The crew may also produce a negative, professionally administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) result taken within 2 days prior to departure from Category I/II/III/IV countries/regions
Removing FTT for fully vaccinated crew prior departure for Singapore (ie non vaccinated crew will still need to have FTT within 24 hours prior departure home country)
Vessel should depart port once completion of crew change (to be read in conjunction with PMC 9 of 2015)
Crew who are fully vaccinated and recently recovered (i.e. within 90 days of their last infection) will be exempted from all testing and SHN requirements if they are able to provide appropriate documentary proof. Non-fully vaccinated recently-recovered travellers will be exempted from pre-departure testing requirements, but will still be subjected for SHN.

Sign off (See Annex B Below)

The crew must not have gone ashore in the last 7 days before disembarking the ship and no interaction with shore based personnel at previous port in the last 7 days. (i.e. from 14 reduce to 7 days)

Designated crew change holding facilities in Singapore

Unvaccinated sign-on crew and sign-off crew may stay at the designated holding facilities in Singapore up to 24 hours and fully vaccinated crew can use the holding facility up to 5 days.

Crew change holding facilities

Submission of crew change application can be made at least 3 days in advance, instead of 7 days.

Precautionary measures for service providers facilitating crew change

Removal of RRT for land transporter

PDT in Singapore (See Annex B Below)

Resumption of PDT in Singapore and PDT to be carried out onboard.
No PCR test required from last port and ALL agent/owner must write in to seek MPA’s approval for clinic to board vessel to conduct PDT for sign off crew only.

Crew vaccination application

Application to be submitted at least 3 days prior vessel’s arrival in Singapore.
SeaVax 2 is applicable to all crew when calling port of Singapore.

This Circular will be published on 2 March 2022 with immediate effect.

Annex A (Click to Enlarge the Table)

Annex B

Before arrival Singapore

Arrival Singapore

Type of Scenario

Protocol

Remark

SIGN OFF

- must not have gone ashore within the last 7 days prior arrival Singapore

- must refrain from interacting with shore-based personnel at previous ports in the last 7 days.

Note: PDT from last port stated in PMC 39 will be removed

- PDT to be carried out on board by medical service provider

- to carry out Fit to travel by medical doctor

- crew remain onboard until the result of PDT

Note: Owner/Agent to submit the PDT request with the list of crew who require PDT together with the clinic name and details. PDT shall not be carried out onboard without MPA’s approval

PDT C-ve

- Submit the document including crew who has carried out PDT test onboard for final no objection for crew to sign off

- crew will either proceed directly from vessel to airport or MPA designated holding facility depending on flight availability

PDT C+ve

- C+ve will remain onboard under MOH HRP protocol 1,2 and 3.

- only crew who required urgent medical attention shall be evacuated as per existing protocol

Agent can write in to Kelton_lim@mpa.gov.sg for further information.

Updates as of 05 October 2021

ENHANCEMENTS TO CREW CHANGE FOR CARGO SHIPS IN THE PORT OF SINGAPORE AND APPLICATION FOR VACCINATION

Relative to the new PMC 38, here are some of the important changes:

Sign on

Updated 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
Fully Vaccinated crew from specific countries/regions under the Vaccinated Travel Lane may sign-on without serving SHN.
Sign on crew shall have MPA’s final no objection email prior to departure from his/her home country.

Sign off

The crew must not have gone ashore in the last 14 days before disembarking the ship, must have remained well and not had contact with any known or suspected case of COVID-19 throughout that period.

Precautionary measures for service providers facilitating crew change

Land transport driver/Launch boar operators shall don full PPE (N95 mask, gloves, gown, face shield) when transporting crew.
All crew shall be transferred directly from the airport/ferry terminal to the vessel/holding facility/vaccination centre and vice versa without any detour.

COVID-19 Pre-Departure Testing in Singapore

The COVID-19 PCR test(s) should be taken not more than 48 hours prior the vessel’s departure from its last port before heading to Singapore.

Sign-on Crew Vaccination Application

Under the SEAVAX programme, MPA is able to facilitate the vaccination of sign-on crew in Singapore. Ship owners/managers/agents may apply for the crew’s vaccination at the following link http://go.gov.sg/mpa-icc-seavax at least 7 days prior to the vessel’s arrival in Singapore.

Crew change Application

Kindly note from 4 October 2021, a new Crew Change System with a streamlined application process will replace the current online form portal. The user guide for the new Crew Change System can be downloaded at this link.

This Circular is effective from 6^th October 2021

_____________________________________________________

Related Forms:

DECLARATION FOR CREW CHANGE IN THE PORT OF SINGAPORE

FOR FOREIGN-GOING CARGO SHIPS UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

	Declaration by Crew/Vessel
	Vessel’s last port of call
	Date of last port of call prior to arrival Singapore
	Confirmation that all off-signing crew has not gone ashore in the last 21 days and the crew remains well If no, please explain:	Yes / No
	Confirmation that all crew members are asymptomatic and have not had contact with a known or suspect case of COVID-19 in the 21 days preceding arrival in Singapore. If no. please explain:	Yes / No :
	Master’s declaration that vessel shall not depart Singapore until the off-signing crew confirmed departed by flight and on-signing crew, if any, have boarded the vessel.	Yes / No
	Does the vessel meet its safe manning requirement after the sign off? If no, vessel should obtain dispensation from vessel’s flag State.	Yes / No

Master to sign below to confirm that the details submitted in this declaration are true and accurate and he/she has not wilfully suppressed any material fact from the same.

Name:

Signed and Stamped.

__________

Updates as of 03 August 2021

[For Shipping Community] Spike in non-compliance to crew change in Singapore

In order to ensure Singapore continue to facilitate crew change, we urge the full cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure Singapore’s safe crew change protocol and requirements are strictly complied with at all times.

All crew shall be transferred directly from airport/ferry terminal to vessel/hotel facilities without any detour and vice versa. MPA will carry out checks to ensure strict compliance.

The designated holding area at Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier is a temporary holding area for agent to complete the sign on immigration procedure and is not to hold the crew waiting for departure flight/ship’s arrival.

For sign off, the transport shall be ready and waiting so that the crew can depart MSP/WCP immediately upon clearing immigration.

Agents and appointed drivers are responsible for ensuring that the crew remain in the holding area at all times while waiting for the immigration clearance.

Please be reminded that the agents/drivers are to be in proper PPE while carrying out crew change activities. The agents/drivers must don N95 mask, isolation gown and disposable gloves. In addition, agents/drivers are to don face shield before receiving the sea crew and should only be permitted to doff just before they drive off. MPA will carry out checks for strict compliance.

Updates as of 30 July 2021

[Reminder to Shipping Community] Proper disinfection of the vehicle after each trip with ship crew

Transfer of crew - All crew shall be transferred directly from airport/ferry terminal to vessel/hotel facilities without any detour and vice versa. MPA will carry out checks to ensure strict compliance.

MSP/WCP temporary Holding Areas

i) The designated holding area at Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier is a temporary holding area for agent to complete the sign on immigration procedure and is not to hold the crew waiting for departure flight/ship’s arrival.

ii) For sign off, the transport shall be ready and waiting so that the crew can depart MSP/WCP immediately upon clearing immigration.

iii) Agents and appointed drivers are responsible for ensuring that the crew remain in the holding area at all times while waiting for the immigration clearance.

Vehicles disinfection - All land transporter shall disinfect the vehicle after each trip. Please see advisory on surface cleaning and disinfection for COVID-19 (https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/public-cleanliness/environmental-cleaning-guidelines/advisories/advisory-on-surface-cleaning-and-disinfection-for-covid-19). MPA will carry out checks to ensure strict compliance.

Updates as of 25 July 2021

[For Shipping Community] Frontliner to be on 7 day RRT and Day 3/4 ART regime by 1st Aug 2021

Singapore continues to take a calibrated and risk-based approach in determining the precautions and measures to mitigate the risk of widespread COVID-19 transmission.

The emergence of new variants of concern and locally transmitted cases have reinforced the importance of frequent testing for front line personnel (ie boarding agent, land transporter, and etc) who interacted closely with ship crew. Therefore all front line personnel interacting with ship crew will also be required to take an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) on the third (3rd) or fourth (4th) day of the 7-day Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) cycle. The mandatory ART complements the RRT by enabling early detection and ring fencing, as the test process is significantly shorter as compared to the PCR test.

In addition to 7-day RRT, all frontliner to be on Day 3/4 ART regime as soon as possible and not later than 1st Aug 2021

There are two options for mandatory ART:

Option A – ART by MOH-approved Test Providers (the list of MOH-Approved Covid-19 Test Providers can be found at this website https://www.moh.gov.sg/licensing-and-regulation/regulations-guidelines-and-circulars/details/list-of-covid-19-swab-providers); or
Option B – Employer-led Supervised Self-Swab (ESSS) ART at workplaces.

[Note: At present, individual or unsupervised self-testing with an Over-The-Counter ART kit is not a valid option for mandatory ART.]

As part of efforts to support the industry in the implementation of ART, MPA will fully subsidise the cost of ART at designated Fullerton or Raffles Medical Clinics from 5 July 2021 to 31 August 2021, as well as the government will fully subsidise the cost of training and ART kits under the Employer-led Supervised Self-Swab (ESSS) programme from 5 July 2021 to 30 September 2021.

Fully Subsidised Option A at Fullerton or Raffles Medical Clinics

Option A will be fully subsidised from 5 July to 31 August 2021 and only available at designated Fullerton Health and Raffles Medical Clinics. Eligible workers must book an appointment before going for the ART as the designated clinics will not be able to support unscheduled walk-ins for ART. Please refer to Annex A for details on how to check your eligibility and schedule an ART appointment. From 1 September 2021 onwards, companies and individuals who continue to utilise Fullerton Health and Raffles Medical Clinics should plan and be prepared to bear the full cost of the ART testing services.

Individuals who do not wish to be subsidised may continue to have their ART taken at their preferred choice of MOH-approved Test Providers. However, the cost of the ART will be fully borne by the individuals or their employers.

Employer-led Supervised Self-Swab (ESSS) at Workplace Programme

Option B will be fully subsidised from 5 July to 30 September 2021. The ESSS Programme allows an individual to undertake the ART process themselves in the presence of a trained supervisor from the company. The supervisor must attend a 4-hour ART Training online course conducted via Zoom to be qualified to carry out ART supervision duties in accordance with the MOH guidelines and protocols. Please refer to Annex B for details on the ESSS programme. From 1 October 2021 onwards, companies and individuals who continue to utilise the ESSS programme should plan and be prepared to bear the full cost of the ART test kits and training.

Conclusion

We appreciate your efforts in safeguarding your family and friends by complying with the RRT/ART requirements. Early detection of COVID-19 infections can reduce the risk of community spread. Please feel free to contact us at swab@mpa.gov.sg if you have any queries on the above.

FROM:

Kelton Lim ▪ Assistant Director ▪ Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) ▪ DID: (65) 6375 1908 ▪ Fax: (65) 6375 6231 ▪ www.mpa.gov.sg

Updates as of 23 July 2021

[For Shipping Community] Additional new requirement for crew travelling to China

This is to update on the new requirement for crew travelling to China with effective on and after 27 July 2021 (Tuesday)

Below are the extracts of the additional requirement.

Unvaccinated people (includes those who only got 1 dose of any vaccine)

Negative PCR test to be completed within 48 hours before departure with verifiable QR code
Negative IgM serology test to be completed within 48 hours before departure with verifiable QR code

Vaccinated people with non-inactivated vaccines like Pfizer/Moderna

Negative PCR test to be completed within 48 hours before departure with verifiable QR code
Negative N protein serology test to be completed within 48 hours before departure with verifiable QR code
For those not vaccinated in China or Singapore, provide verifiable vaccinated certificates as per requirements set out in the official websites of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in the place of vaccination
For those vaccinated in Singapore, upload vaccine certificate from Health Hub

Vaccinated people with inactivated vaccines like Sinovac/Sinopharm

Negative PCR test to be completed within 48 hours before departure with verifiable QR code
Negative IgM serology test to be completed within 48 hours before departure with verifiable QR code
For those vaccinated in China or other countries, upload vaccination certificate with name of person, vaccine brand and place of vaccination
For those vaccinated in Singapore, upload vaccine certificate from Health Hub
Upload the Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination

3 You may find out from the following link: http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/eng/gdxw/t1893114.htm

Updates as of 19 July 2021

Spike in non-compliance to crew change in Singapore

All crew shall be transferred directly from airport/ferry terminal to vessel/hotel facilities without any detour and vice versa. MPA will carry out checks to ensure strict compliance.

For sign off, the transport shall be ready and waiting so that the crew can depart MSP/WCP immediately upon clearing immigration.

Agents and appointed drivers are responsible for ensuring that the crew remain in the holding area at all times while waiting for the immigration clearance.

Updates as of 13 July 2021

New Arrangements for Sea Crew arriving from Indonesia wef 13 Jul, 0800H

Flights arriving from Indonesia would be processed separately at the T4 Bus Gate with effect, 13 Jul 0800H.

Under the new arrangements, sea crew would undergo processing at T4. They would then be transported from T4 to the respective terminal coach stand to be handed over to their ship/transport agents. A dedicated handing/taking over area would be set-up at the coach stand (see image below) for ship/transport agents to receive their sea crew. As per SOP, M&G agents would continue to escort sea crew from T4 to T1 or T3 coach stands (dependent on the original flight arrival terminal) and ensure that the ship/transport agent is present to receive them. With the changes, ship/transport agents would now receive their crew from the dedicated area at the coach stands instead of the arrival hall within the terminal.

Sea Crew Handing & Taking Over Area at T1 Coach Stand

For flights arriving from Indonesia at T1

(3K, TR, KL)