Singapore Maritime and Ports Authority issues guidelines for crew change

Overview

Following a significant number of enquiries related to the recent relaxation of restrictions on crew change, the Maritime and Ports Authority (MPA) in Singapore has issued a guideline and FAQ with the aim to facilitate crew change.

In order to increase the chances for a successful request for crew change it is highly recommended to study the guidelines and FAQ prior to forwarding the request. Port Marine Circular 26 lists the following circumstances under which crew change can be facilitated:

  • The crew has served the maximum time on board, and no further extension of the employment contract is granted by the flag state. Carefully study the details on extension to the SEA
  • Compassionate grounds (e.g. death of a family member)
  • The crew is no longer medically fit to work on board the ship. Carefully study the details on extension to the medical fitness certificates

The following circumstances would also be considered in the crew change request:

  • The employment contract of the crew has expired
  • Off signing crew would not affect the safe manning of the ship
  • Crew change is due to sale/purchase of ship
  • The off signers are supernumeraries

If the off signing crew meets the above listed requirements, application to the MPA for crew change must be forwarded at least 14 days in advance of the planned crew change. However, crew change is only permitted if the following requirements are met:

  • On- and off signers must be in 14 days quarantine before disembarkation or departure from home country
  • The off signer must have a fit-to-travel document issued by a Singaporean doctor
  • The on signer must have a fit-to travel medical certificate issued by a doctor his or her home country and have taken a Covid-19 test with negative result not more than 48 hours prior to departure from home country
  • Details on travel arrangements must be in place before disembarkation – both on- and off signer must travel directly between the airport and ship.

Kindly notice the ship will not be allowed to depart before the off signing crew is on board the plane.

BIMCO receives a number of reports regarding the impact to the shipping industry in the wake of Covid-19. For further details we kindly refer to the following pages:

 

Johan Conrad
in Copenhagen, DK

Coronavirus

Access BIMCO's COVID-19 related articles and advice.

Read more

VPS Bunker Alerts

Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.

The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.

Latest piracy reports

 

Latest industry releasable threats

 

Latest Related News

No related news was found

View All News
 

ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO

Contracts & Clauses

All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.

Learn about your cargo

For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.

More about cargo

BIMCO Publications

Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.

About a new business partner

We can help members check new business partners. We also help to recover millions of USD (undisputed) funds every year.