MPA Singapore released a new circular on the enhancement to their crew change requirements, in order to safeguard the wellbeing of seafarers undergoing crew change in Singapore.
As informed, the new requirements which kick in from 4 October 2021 will include:
- A new streamlined application process which will replace the current online form portal
- Online application form
What is more, the Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience Fund Taskforce (SFTF) has developed a CrewSafe audit programme that endeavours to assist crew source nations to bring a higher level of confidence and quality control checks into crew change processes such as quarantine/holding, medical and swabbing facilities. Following the situation, MPA will consider the following circumstances related to crew change for applications:
- crew whose employment contract has expired;
- additional crew on board whose sign-off would not affect the safe manning of the ship;
- change of crew due to the sale or purchase of ship;
- personnel who are not part of the ship’s crew such as superintendents and service engineers;
- compassionate grounds e.g. death of family member; or
- the crew is no longer medically fit to work onboard the ship.
