In brief:
- The CrewSafe Audit programme is based on Singapore’s crew change model which aims to establish safe and scalable ‘corridors’ for crew change amidst the pandemic.
- This initiative seeks to ensure quality processes and hygiene practices are conducted at quarantine and medical and testing facilities; as to provide assurance to all maritime stakeholders and players.
- The SG-STAR Fund‘s CrewSafe Audit is first implemented on the Philippines, one of the many seafaring nations, before expanding into other Southeast Asian countries.
Visit e-Samudra or Issue 4 (20/21) for more stories.
The Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund, the first global ground-up tripartite initiative with international partners including the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), are working with stakeholders in seafaring nations on concrete solutions for safe crew changes, starting with the Philippines.
A CrewSafe audit programme is in check to ensure that the processes and hygiene practices at quarantine/holding and medical/testing facilities shall be held to a standard to afford a certain level of assurance to all stakeholders.
Credit: MPA
Developed by the SG-STAR Fund Taskforce (SFTF), led by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), with members from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Maritime Officer’s Union (SMOU) and SOS, the programme which is based on Singapore’s crew change model, aims to establish safe and scalable ‘corridors’ for crew change amidst the pandemic.
The SFTF appointed auditors to conduct assessments at the recently inaugurated ITF/IMEC safe quarantine processes and facilities in Manila, Philippines, namely St Giles Hotel and Marriot Hotel, as well as the safe quarantine processes by the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA)/Norwegian Training Centre (NTC) at Marriot Hotel and the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) Seamen’s Hospital Molecular & Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory.
Having audited these facilities, SFTF expressed satisfaction that these facilities fulfil the CrewSafe qualities, complying with Safe Management Measures, among other requirements. They are also looking into enhancing the CrewSafe audit programme, which could include the use of electronic tamper-proof smart wearable devices while the crew are in quarantine, as well as secure document processing for onboarding crew.
Speaking on behalf of the Taskforce, its Chair Nitin Mathur highlighted,
The SFTF aims to have a gradual global recognition of the CrewSafe process that identifies the safe and secure facilities. Such acknowledgements by national governments and international organisations will ensure greater participation and bring a long-term solution to crew movement across national borders.
With the endorsement given by the auditors and in-line with facilitating safe and responsible crew change, MPA will streamline sign-on crews’ application procedures from these accredited facilities boarding ships in Singapore.
“Singapore takes our responsibility to facilitate safe crew change seriously. We are pleased to work with our global tripartite partners to accelerate the development of practical solutions for crew change amid the pandemic. We look forward to welcoming more like-minded partners to join us in this global alliance,” said MPA CE Quah Ley Hoon.
Declared CrewSafe Facilities in Manila
These accredited facilities will be subjected to audit periodically to ensure they are maintained at the standards required under the CrewSafe audit programme
ITF/IMEC-St. Giles Makati Hotel: Makati Avenue, Corner Kalayaan Ave, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila, Philippines
ITF/IMEC-Manila Marriott Hotel: 2 Resorts Drive, Manila, 1309 Metro Manila, Philippines
NSA/NTC-Manila Marriott Hotel: 2 Resorts Drive, Manila, 1309 Metro Manila, Philippines
AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital Molecular & PCR Laboratory: 746 General Luna Street, Intramuros Manila, Philippines
