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MPA issues revision of crew change requirements for cargo ships and vaccination application

With effect from 1 Apr 2022, fully vaccinated sign on and off crew can enter Singapore under the Vaccinated Travel Framework as Short-Term Visitor.
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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday (24 June) issued Port marine Circular No. 14 of 2022 which explains crew change requirements for cargo ships in the port of Singapore and applications for unvaccinated and vaccinated crew to enter the republic.

Requirements for crew change

This circular supersedes Port Marine Circular no. 06 of 2022.

As Singapore moves to streamline pandemic measures to living with Covid-19 as an endemic disease, MPA has also aligned our crew change requirements and continue to safeguard the wellbeing of seafarers undergoing crew change in Singapore as well as Singapore’s populace.

With effect from 1 Apr 2022, fully vaccinated sign on and off crew can enter Singapore under the Vaccinated Travel Framework as Short-Term Visitor.

Applications are to be made directly to ICA CREW system via digitalPORT@SG™.More information can be obtained from ICA website (https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/general-travel/fully-vaccinated).

However, for non-vaccinated signing-on and off, please continue to apply via the Crew Change System (https://transact.mpa.gov.sg/Crews). The user guide for the new Crew Change System can be downloaded at this link. The requirements are as follows:

Sign-on

(a) Non-Vaccinated

  • Required to serve 7- Day Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) in the crew’s originating country/region in the period immediately prior to his/her departure flight/ferry to Singapore.
  • The non-vaccinated crew must have a negative result from a COVID19 (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) type) or a negative, professionally administered Antigen Rapid test (ART) result taken at his/her originating country not more than 2 days1 prior to departure for Singapore.
  • Engage Meet and Greet at the airport.
  • Dedicated transport to be provided for the non-vaccinated crew only.

Sign off

(b) Non-Vaccinated

  • Direct transfer from vessel to airport/holding facility without any detour.
  • Pre-departure test (if applicable) to be carried out at a dedicated holding facility or onboard vessel. (Please see paragraph 9 and 10).
  • Dedicated transport to be provided for the non-vaccinated crew only.

Designated crew change holding facilities in Singapore

Non-vaccinated sign-on crew and sign-off crew may only stay at the designated holding facilities in Singapore for up to 24 hours. Please refer to Annex A for details of the designated holding facilities.

Holding areas at Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier

All non-vaccinated crew that utilises Marina South Pier (MSP) or West Coast Pier (WCP) shall remain at the designated holding areas while waiting to clear immigration. Should the holding area be full, the non-vaccinated crew shall remain in their private transportation.

For non-vaccinated sign-off crew, the dedicated transportation shall be ready and waiting so that the non-vaccinated crew can depart MSP/WCP immediately upon clearing immigration and do not need to crowd up the holding area.

Agents and appointed drivers are responsible for ensuring that the non-vaccinated crew remain in the holding area or private vehicle at all times.

COVID-19 Pre-Departure Testing in Singapore

MPA notes that some countries require travellers to take a COVID-19 predeparture test (PDT) and present a valid negative test result before they are allowed to transit through or enter. Please be reminded that MPA’s approval shall be sought for non-vaccinated signing-off crew to take PDT in Singapore.

For crew change applications where the non-vaccinated sign-off crew requires PDT before departing Singapore, medical service provider shall carry out the PDT in the dedicated holding facility or onboard vessel after receiving approval from MPA. COVID positive crew shall isolate and recover in the dedicated holding facility or onboard vessel, in accordance to prevailing health protocol in Singapore.

Crew Vaccination Application

Under the SEAVAX programme, MPA is able to facilitate the vaccination of crew in Singapore. Ship owners/managers/agents may apply for the crew’s vaccination at the following link https://go.gov.sg/mpa-icc-seavax at least 3 days prior to the vessel’s arrival in Singapore.

Ship owners/managers/agents shall submit applications before the planned crew change.

General

This circular is to be read in conjunction with Port Marine Circular;

  1. No. 9 of 2015 – Measures To Optimise Anchorages Usage In The Singapore Port
  2. No 34 of 2020 – Guidelines For Safe Transfer of Persons Between Vessels at Anchorages

Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to [email protected].

This circular is effective from 26 June 2022.

Note: The complete Port Marine Circular No. 14 of 2022 together Annex A can be downloaded here. 

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 27 June, 2022

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Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

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July 21, 2026

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RESIZED Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July). 

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions. 

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Related: Singapore: Hin Leong Founder OK Lim gets jail term slashed to 13.5 years

 

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

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17 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

  • That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

  • that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
  • that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
  • that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd. 

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Related: Singapore: Director declares Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping’s inability to continue business
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping in court over DBS Bank bunker tanker loan
Related: Singapore: Bunker tanker “Coastal Neptune” arrested
Related: Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping, Coastal Logistics tankers enter S&P market

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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