Singapore remains committed to facilitate safe and successful crew changes. As best practice, the Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund was established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU), Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS).

It was joined by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), to work with stakeholders in seafaring nations on crew holding facility and PCR testing centres.

And more.

The initiative gathered more adherents like the Global Maritime Forum Maritime Industry Crew Change Taskforce, INTERTANKO, Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, and World Shipping Council, as well as seven port authorities from Abu Dhabi, Antwerp, Barcelona, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Sines, and Vancouver.

SGD$1.6 million has been committed, SG-STAR Fund being the first global tripartite initiative of like-minded partners from the industry, unions and government to facilitate safe crew changes.

Based in Singapore, SG-STAR will be disbursed for use upstream in countries such as the

Philippines and India where seafarers come from through the SG-STAR Fund Taskforce (SFTF).

In turn, SFTF has developed a CrewSafe audit program to assist crew source nations to bring a higher level of confidence and quality control checks into crew change processes such as quarantine/holding, medical and swabbing facility.

SFTF Chairman Nitin Mathur says two are already operational as CrewSafe: (1) ITF/IMEC-Manila Marriott Hotel, 2 Resorts Drive, Manila and (2) ITF/IMEC-St. Giles Makati Hotel

Makati Avenue, Corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati.

The SFTF will keep the industry updated. Companies interested to get their facilities CrewSafe audited, contact Siti at siti@ssa.org.sg.

POEA approves.

The Phil Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued Advisory 157-2020 which addresses concerns over the authenticity of COVID-19 tests from the Philippines, over the efficacy of pre-embarkation quarantine protocols undergone by joining Filipino crews.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia says the practices are being shared to the public to encourage partners in the manning and seafaring industries.

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