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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

Four Dutch seafarers charged for alleged roles in causing Singapore oil spill

Four men on Netherlands-flagged dredger “Vox Maxima” were charged under Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on 6 November and will appear in court again on 4 December.

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Martin Klingsick / MarineTraffic

Singapore has brought charges against four crewmen who were working on Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima for their alleged role in causing the disastrous bunker spill into the republic’s sea, according to a report by The Straits Times on Wednesday (6 November).

Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour was hit by Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima at Pasir Panjang Terminal on 14 June, which resulted in an oil spill in Singapore waters.

The dredger reportedly lost engine and steering control before crashing Marine Honour.

The four men, all Dutch nationals, – Merijn Heidema, 25; Martin Hans Sinke, 48; Richard Ouwehand, 49; and Eric Peijpers, 55 – allegedly failed to ensure that emergency steering was carried out when emergency power was supplied to the vessel’s steering gear pumps, resulting in the allision. 

They were each charged under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on 6 November. 

Heidema and Peijpers, who were responsible for the engineering watch, were accused of failing to ensure a sufficient reserve of power was available for Vox Maxima’s steering gear when the engine room was put in a standby condition.

Their cases have been adjourned to 4 December.

Manifold Times previously reported Vox Maxima was found to have serious deficiencies relating to fire safety and life-saving equipment aboard. 

A total of 13 deficiencies were flagged during the 15 June inspection of the dredger. Three out of the 13 warranted detention of the vessel which indicated serious deficiencies that required repairs before it could be permitted to leave the port. 

Related: Thirteen deficiencies flagged during inspection for dredger involved in Singapore oil spill
Related: Singapore oil spill: Minister refutes claim that contractor was slow in preventing further spillage
Related: MPA: Claims exceeding liability of “Marine Honour” owner will be made against international fund
Related: MPA: Owner of bunker tanker involved in Singapore oil spill is liable for pollution damage
Related: Malaysia to look into demands of Johor fisherman affected by oil spill from Singapore
Related: Singapore oil spill: Clean-up enters next phase of cleaning rock bunds
Related: MPA: Clean-up ops continue following oil spill in Singapore, affected beaches closed
Related: Singapore: Oil spill cleanup after allision between dredger “Vox Maxima” and bunker tanker “Marine Honour”

 

Photo credit: Martin Klingsick / MarineTraffic
Published: 7 November, 2024

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Biofuel

GoodFuels ceases bio bunker fuel deliveries in Singapore after near three-year run

‘Whilst the GoodFuels team will continue its efforts to decarbonise global shipping from the Amsterdam office, we will be stopping all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect,’ says Jing Xieng Han.

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Goodfuels

Biofuel supplier GoodFuels, FincoEnergies’ sustainable fuels brand, has stopped all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect, according to Jing Xieng Han, General Manager of GoodFuels Asia Pacific, on Wednesday (6 November). 

GoodFuels first announced the opening of its first office in Singapore in February 2022. The Singapore office was GoodFuels’ second office and its first outside of Europe. 

At the time, GoodFuels said Singapore was chosen as the target for its first international expansion because of its importance to the global shipping industry and its leading position as a key bunkering hub, with mature bunkering infrastructure that will support the delivery of marine biofuel.

Jing said FincoEnergies has decided to consolidate GoodFuels operations in the Asia Pacific and ARA regions. 

“Whilst the GoodFuels team will continue its efforts to decarbonise global shipping from the Amsterdam office, we will be stopping all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect,” she said in a social media post. 

“Our Amsterdam team remains dedicated to furthering the decarbonization of global shipping 'the Good Way' and I wish them continued success.”

Jing also announced that she will be departing GoodFuels Asia Pacific, effective 6 November as well. 

“It has been a privilege to contribute to the integration of biofuels into the bunkering sector in Singapore over the past three years,” she said.

“The rapid evolution of the industry has been mind-blowing, and I fondly recall addressing numerous queries on the technical feasibilities of biofuels as bunker fuels when I first launched our Singapore office in early 2022.”

Related: GoodFuels opens first Singapore office to meet growing biofuel demand

 

Photo credit: GoodFuels
Published: 7 November, 2024

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

CPN supplied 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for “YM WITNESS”, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Wednesday (6 November) completed the supply of 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for YM WITNESS, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October. 

“This also embarks on CPN’s new journey to arrange supplying marine biofuel in Singapore,” the firm said in a social media post. 

B24 marine biofuel is a blend of 24% B100 biodiesel and Marine Fuel Oil, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and lowers its carbon footprint. Such product aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reduces environmental impact. 

“CPN is committed to be the frontrunner in the transition towards more sustainable marine fuel options. This biofuel delivery reinforces CPN’s commitment to realizing eco-friendly port energy solutions and global decarbonisation goals,” it added. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 November, 2024

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