MPA Singapore has developed a framework for the lifting of Not-to-Land (NTL) status and granting of shore leave for crew working onboard visiting vessels (i.e. vessels in shipyards and pleasure craft) in the Port of Singapore.
This procedure will apply to vessels which have been in port for at least 14 days and will continue to stay in port for at least another 14 days.
The clearance process will involve all vessel crew undergoing cohort isolation for up to 14 days and the crew are required to take 2 negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab tests during this period. Specifically, no crew shall be excluded from this clearance process.
Vessels in port for at least 2 months will be given priority for lifting of NTL and granting of shore leave.
The owner/operator/agent of the vessel can submit the application via FormSG from 01 December 2020.
Upon approval of the application, the person in charge (owner/operator/agent) will receive an email to proceed with the COVID-19 PCR swab tests. Then, they can engage the seaport medical service providers or any other MOH-approved clinics to carry out the swab tests onboard the vessel.
All crew must take the swab test on the same day, and both swab tests must be taken on board the vessel. MPA Marine Safety Control Centre must be informed immediately if any crew tests positive for COVID-19.
The cohort isolation shall commence on the day of the first swab test.
During the period of cohort isolation, there shall be no new crew signing on or transferred to the vessel. All crew must remain on board the vessel. The crew are recommended to be isolated in different rooms where possible, and all physical interaction with non-vessel crew must be avoided.
For vessels in shipyards for repairs/maintenance, the work may continue with shore personnel and shipyard workers boarding the vessels. Pleasure craft with crew carrying out cohort isolation are not allowed to cruise in port.
The second swab test can be taken after at least 11 days of cohort isolation (e.g. if first swab was taken on 01 Dec, the second swab test can be taken on 12 Dec) but not later than the 14th day. MPA MSCC must be informed immediately if any crew tested positive for COVID-19.
Shore leave conditions
In addition, the vessel crew are required to comply with the following conditions before, and when going for shore leave:
a) The period of shore leave is limited to between 0900hrs and 2100hrs each day.
b) The crew must install the TraceTogether application. Crew who fail to show the TraceTogether application on their handphones when ask by the immigration officers will not be issued with LP.
c) The number of crew allowed shore leave each day shall be capped at 50% of the vessel’s total crew or 30 crew, whichever is lower, subject to compliance with minimum manning for onboard emergency response.
d) The crew must take temperature prior to leaving the vessel; crew with temperature more than 37.5 degrees Celsius should seek medical attention immediately.
e) The crew must observe all COVID-19 safe management measures including:
- Checking in/out on SafeEntry;
- Wearing masks at all times;
- Observing 1m safe-distancing; and
- No gathering of more than 5 persons at any time
f) The crew are required to avoid certain high-risk and vulnerable places. These are:
- Religious sites,
Pubs along popular entertainment spots e.g. Boat Quay and Clark Quay, - Mustafa and the rest of Little India,
- Large-scale events like soccer matches, concerts etc,
- Places where our elderly congregate, e.g. hawker centres, wet market, and
- Schools and childcare centres, nursing homes, foreign worker dormitories.
g) Finally, the crew must commute via private-hire vehicles or taxis. No public buses or MRT is allowed.
Find further details in MPA Singapore’s Port Marine Circular No. 43 of 2020:
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