In brief:
- The Seafarers’ Relief Package (SRP) is a financial assistance scheme to help local seafarers—who have had their employment affected due to COVID-19—tide through. It is a joint initiative by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU), and SOS.
- Previously, the eligibility period for the SRP covered was from 1 May 2020 to 31 July 2020.
- Today, it is announced that the SRP is further extended by three months from 1 August 2020 to 31 December 2020.
- Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared: “Seafarers play a vital role in enabling global seaborne trade, and keeping the supply of critical goods flowing. To enhance our safety net for Singaporean seafarers, we will extend the Seafarers Relief Package to provide more help to those whose jobs are affected by COVID-19. We will also support seafarers to go for training and to upgrade their skills.”
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To continue supporting Singaporean seafarers whose employment have been affected by the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Seafarers Relief Package (SRP) will be extended by three months.
Eligible Singaporean seafarers who are unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 May 2020 to 31 Dec 2020 may apply for up to S$4,800 (i.e. S$800 x 6) in financial assistance. Since 1 May 2020, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), together with Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) and SOS, have provided up to S$800 per month in financial assistance to each local seafarer who was unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 May 2020 to 31 July 2020, due to border control measures and crew change restrictions.
In the latest move by MPA, SMOU and SOS, the SRP will be extended by three months (i.e. the maximum support provided to an eligible Singaporean seafarer would be increased from three to six months).
The extended eligibility period for the SRP is from 1 August 2020 to 31 December 2020. The fund is open to active Singaporean seafarers (seamen registered with MPA, in the case of ratings) who have been deployed onboard foreign going vessel from 1 November 2019 onwards and are awaiting assignment or on standby for employment onboard foreign-going vessel or unable to secure shipboard employment for 30 days or more from 1 May 2020 to 31 December 2020 (i.e. not paid seafaring allowance).
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Seafarers are frontline workers who keep essential goods flowing, and they make invaluable contributions to Singapore’s maritime sector. MPA, SMOU and SOS will continue to work with industry partners to support Singaporean seafarers during this COVID-19 period.
Refer to the image below for more information. Submit your application here.
