Tag: vaccine

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported several non-compliance of crew change requirements incidents, especially on crew vaccination status, since 1 April 2022.

In an updated version of ICS practical guide with regards to vaccination, it is highlighted that seafarers are required by the nature of their job to travel across the world to locations which have different levels of COVID-19 infections.

Singapore will be launching the first Vaccinated Travel Lane arrangement via sea (VTL Sea) from Batam and Bintan in Indonesia, as part of its efforts to gradually restore transport connectivity. 

The latest Crew Change Indicator shows that the number of seafarers onboard vessels beyond the expiry of their contract has increased from 3.7% to 4.2% in the last month, while the number of seafarers onboard vessels for over 11 months has remained stable at 0.4%.

Unite Scotland has demanded intervention by the Scottish government in response to offshore contractor Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) International introducing mandatory vaccinations.

Ghana Port Health has now suspended mandatory Covid-19 vaccination and associated fines. 

The Norwegian union representing offshore oil and gas workers, Industri Energi, opposes to the decision by Aker BP to introduce a  Covid-19 vaccine mandate for its offshore employees from 1 February.

The Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator for January shows that the number of seafarers onboard vessels beyond the expiry of their contract has decreased from 4.7% to 3.7% in the last month. However, the omicron variant has resulted in some renewed crew change difficulties.

The North P&I Club refers to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for seafarers visiting Ghana following a recent directive issued by the Ghana Health Service, highlighting that it ''remains unclear if and how it will be implemented and enforced.''

Nautilus International is urging all visiting seafarers to the UK to get vaccinated against Covid-19 amid Omicron variant increase.