Precautionary measures extended amidst COVID-19

MPA has also put up health advisories at the sea checkpoints to inform travellers and ship crew on the precautionary measures to take when travelling, as well as to remain vigilant and adopt good hygiene practices.

The MPA will extend the precautionary measures to include the following:

1. All arriving vessels with crew/passengers with recent travel history to mainland China, Iran, northern Italy [the 8 administrative regions: Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol] or the Republic of Korea in the past 14 days.
2. All arriving vessels that have called at ports in mainland China, Iran, northern Italy [ports located in the 8 administrative regions: Marina di Carrara, La Spezia, Genoa, Savona, Ravenna, Porto Levante, Chioggia, Venice, Porto Nogaro, Monfalcone and Trieste] or the Republic of Korea in the past 14 days.

Ships can continue to berth at terminals to carry out operations.

MPA advises the shipping community to adhere closely to the health advisory. The National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Port Health requires the following vessels to submit the Maritime Declaration of Health Form:

• All arriving passenger ships (with the exception of ferries operated by MPA-licensed regional ferry service operators).
• All arriving vessels with crew/passengers with recent travel history to mainland China, Iran, northern Italy or the Republic of Korea in the past 14 days.
• All arriving vessels that have called at ports in mainland China, Iran, northern Italy or the Republic of Korea in the past 14 days.

MPA also urges all crew members onboard to have their temperature taken twice daily. There are also guidelines on how to isolate unwell crew and passengers. If any of their crew or passengers are unwell, they should report the incident to the Marine Safety Control Centre at 6325 2488/2489.

Ship owners, managers, operators, agents and masters of Singapore-registered vessels should monitor the health of their crew closely. Masters of such vessels are required to report to their company, MPA and destination port authorities, if their crew are unwell, experience respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose, shortness of breath) or feel feverish. They should also make the necessary arrangements to seek medical attention.

Since 8 February 2020, cruise and ferry terminal operators have implemented centralised outbound temperature screening for departing passengers. This is an additional precautionary measure by the terminal operators to ensure the health and safety of all passengers and crew.

Cruise and ferry operators have also stepped up their cleaning and disinfection regime on board the cruise ships and ferries, especially in common or public areas to help prevent the widespread transmission of COVID-19.

PSA and Jurong Port are also taking precautionary measures for employees returning to Singapore. Some of these measures include allowing eligible staff to telecommute and providing frontline staff with paid leave of absence where they are unable to work remotely.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/dry-bulk/04032020/precautionary-measures-extended-amidst-covid-19/