The Ministry of Health in Singapore reported that a marine surveyor and a harbour pilot had tested positive for COVID-19 infection on 30 and 31 December 2020 respectively, and is now looking for its contacts in order to prevent the spreading.
Following the case involving the marine service engineer, MPA has stopped the company, Master Systems Marine Pte Ltd, from sending any of its personnel to work onboard ships. This will continue until the company can demonstrate that its employees will adhere to safe management measures onboard ships.
In addition, for the case concerning the marine surveyor, Lloyd’s Register Singapore Pte Ltd has suspended all its shipboard survey and audit activities. Lloyd’s Register will be testing all its marine surveyors for COVID-19.
Following the two confirmed cases, MPA Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and MOH have taken a serious view of non-compliance with COVID-19 safe management measures and will not hesitate to take firm actions against the errant companies and individuals.
According to preliminary investigations, the marine surveyor, like the marine service engineer who tested positive for COVID-19 infection earlier on 26 November 2020, consumed food provided by or with the crew onboard the ships, which was against a precautionary measure.
MPA requires all shore-based personnel to give MPA advance notice before they board ships to carry out works or provide services.
The Authority commented that
MPA will take firm action against the ship’s owner, master or agent for non-compliances.
Following the two cases, it is reported that the Authority will tighten the testing regime for all shore-based personnel going onboard ships.
The testing regime includes:
- All shore-based personnel going onboard ships will need to take a COVID-19 PCR test within the next seven days, between 2 and 8 January 2021, to give assurance that they are clear of COVID-19. This will cover more than 20,000 personnel
- All shore personnel will thereafter be subject to a tighter RRT regime; they will be tested every seven days instead of 14 days previously. Those who do not adhere to the RRT regime will not be allowed to board ships to work.
Also, as announced by MOH on 31 December 2020, there will be a special testing operation to test all workers who had boarded the ships that the marine surveyor and harbour pilot, who tested positive for COVID-19 infection, had recently worked on.
Shipyards
Concerning the conditions at shipyards, EDB introduced mandatory precautionary measures on 21 December 2020. Shipyards should only issue shipyard acceptance letters to ships seeking repairs when a ship is compliant with these measures.
Shipyards should only allow shore-based personnel to board a ship for work when all crew have been tested negative for COVID-19 infection on arrival at the shipyard. Failure to comply could result in EDB enforcing work suspensions and/or financial penalties.
Concluding, Singapore also banned the entrance or transition to those who have a travel history to South Africa, following similar restrictions that the country imposed on travellers coming from the UK. To remind, the border restrictions concerning the UK came into effect on December 23, 2020
