Singapore is looking to vaccinate foreign seafarers against Covid-19 when they call in the country's port, but it has declined to tap its own national stockpile to supply the jabs.
The city state is working out protocols for the vaccination programme.
The move is in support of the International Maritime Organization’s global programme to vaccinate vessel crew members.
“We will need the IMO or the shipping industry to secure allocation of vaccines for oceangoing seafarers, as these supplies must come from a separate pool beyond our national stockpile,” senior minister of state for transport Chee Hong Tat said in an International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) webinar on Wednesday.
He said unvaccinated seafarers could receive their jabs as part of crew change sign-on protocol when their vessels call at the port of Singapore.
Chee added that the maritime industry needs to take the lead in working out the indemnity arrangements for each vaccine type that is used, based on commercial arrangements.
“These vaccine types for oceangoing seafarers can differ from what we have approved under our national vaccination programme,” he said.
“Our shipping association, port operator and maritime unions are currently working out the protocols and concept of operations together with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, based on the above approach.”
As a global hub port and international maritime centre, Chee said Singapore strongly supports the IMO’s vaccination initiative. He said the vaccination programme is important as it adds an additional layer of protection for seafarers against the virus and reduces the risk of exposure for port workers and shore-based personnel working onboard vessels at ports.
“It enhances global supply chain resilience, by allowing ports to remain open and ships to continue sailing,” he said.
