Requirements for crew change
1.This circular supersedes Port Marine Circular no. 06 of 2022.
2.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.
3.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 .
4.However, for non-vaccinated signing-on and off, please continue to apply via the Crew Change System. 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 7- Day Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) in the crew’s originating /region in the period immediately prior to /her departure /ferry to Singapore.
•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
/her originating country not more than 2 days1 prior to departure for Singapore.
•Engage Meet and Greet at the airport.
•Dedicated transport2 to be provided for the non-vaccinated crew only.
Sign off
(b)Non-Vaccinated
•Direct transfer from vessel to /holding facility without any detour.
•Pre-departure test (if applicable) to be carried out at dedicated holding facility or onboard vessel. (Please see paragraph 9 and 10).
•Dedicated transport to be provided for the non-vaccinated crew only.
Designated crew change holding facilities in Singapore
5.Non-vaccinated sign-on crew and sign-off crew may only stay at the designated holding facilities in Singapore for up to 24 hours. Please refer to Annex A for details of the designated holding facilities.
Holding areas at Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier
6.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.
7.For non-vaccinated sign-off crew, the dedicated transportation shall be ready and waiting so that the non-vaccinated crew can depart /WCP immediately upon clearing immigration and do not need to crowd up the holding area.
8.Agents and appointed drivers are responsible for ensuring that the non- vaccinated crew remain in the holding area or private vehicle at all times.
COVID-19 Pre-Departure Testing in Singapore
9.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.
10.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 or onboard vessel after receiving approval from MPA. COVID positive crew shall isolate and recover in the dedicated holding facility or onboard vessel, in accordance to prevailing health protocol in Singapore.
Crew Vaccination Application
11.Under the SEAVAX programme, MPA is able to facilitate the vaccination of crew in Singapore. Ship /agents may apply for the crew’s vaccination at the following link at least 3 days prior to the vessel’s arrival in Singapore
12.Ship /agents shall submit applications before the planned crew change.
General
13.This circular is to be read in conjunction with Port Marine Circular;
Port
a)No. 9 of 2015 – Measures To Optimise Anchorages Usage In The Singapore
b)No 34 of 2020 – Guidelines For Safe Transfer of Persons Between Vessels
at Anchorages
14.This circular is effective from 26 June 2022
Designated holding facilities for sign-on and sign-off crew
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