MPA Singapore published a new circular, updating the easing of COVID-19 restrictions for vessels in the Port of Singapore.

Contactless Operations

Owners, agents and masters of vessels are strongly encouraged to conduct all port operations (e.g. cargo operations, bunkering, ship’s supplies and stores, and other marine services) are carried out contactless or contactless with segregation protocol.

In circumstance where a contactless operation is required, no person is to board the visiting vessel except MPA-licensed harbour pilots, authorised government officers, and persons approved by the Port Master.

Parties involved in a contactless operation must minimally ensure the following:

• Communicate and/or send documents by telephone text message or email.
• If items must be transferred from one vessel to another (e.g. securing of mooring, ship supplies; certain documents like bunker delivery note etc), disinfect these items and equipment thoroughly before and after the transfer.

For transferring of supplies, the owner, master and/or agent of visiting vessels and the services provider involved must ensure the following:

• The supply boat’s crew must not board the visiting vessel;
• Disinfect equipment used for the transfer of supplies thoroughly before and after the transfer;
• Communicate and/or send documents by telephone text message or email.

Credit: MPA Singapore

Contactless Operations with Segregation Protocol

If it is necessary for shore-based personnel to board the vessel, segregation protocol should be in place to minimise interactions between the vessel’s crew and shore-based personnel. Examples of contactless operations with segregation protocols are bunkering, cargo operations and tank cleaning. Owners, agents and masters of vessels are required to work with the destination terminals to agree on the segregation protocol before the operations commence.

Parties involved in a contactless operation with segregation protocol should ensure the following:

• Communicate and/or send documents by telephone text or email.
• If items are to be transferred from one vessel to another (e.g. securing of mooring, ship supplies etc), disinfect the items and equipment used for the transfer, before and after the transfer;
• Vessel’s crew to remain in crew accommodation except to keep gangway watch or to carry out essential activities such as tending to mooring ropes;
• If vessel’s crew are required to go on deck, their movements are to be restricted to the seaward side of the deck.

What is more, all non-fully vaccinated crew arriving in Singapore from 28 August 2022, 2359 hours will no longer be required to undergo a 7-day Stay Home Notice (SHN) prior to departing for Singapore.

Seafarers will continue to be required to take a pre-departure test within 2 days before departure for Singapore, as well as carry a valid travel insurance for non-fully vaccinated Short-Term Visitors (STVs).

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Originally Appeared Here