Singapore is to tighten Covid-19 testing requirements for shore-based staff after two people were found to have contracted the virus after flouting government advice designed to combat its spread.
Personnel will now have to be tested every seven days, instead of 14, before they are allowed to board ships for work, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) had earlier reported that a marine surveyor and a harbour pilot had tested positive for Covid-19 on 30 and 31 December, respectively.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the marine surveyor, like the marine service engineer … consumed food provided by or with the crew on board the ships, which was against a precautionary measure,” the MPA said.
“We take a serious view of non-compliance with Covid-19 safe management measures and will not hesitate to take firm actions against the errant companies and individuals.”
Surveys and audits halted
The MPA said Lloyd’s Register Singapore had “suspended all its shipboard survey and audit activities” and that it would be “testing all its marine surveyors for Covid-19”.
For the case involving the marine service engineer, the MPA said it had stopped the company, Master Systems Marine, from sending any of its personnel to work on board ships.
“This will continue until the company can demonstrate that its employees will adhere to safe management measures on board ships,” it added.
The MPA said further action may be taken against the companies and individuals after investigations were completed.
In light of the two recent cases, the MPA said it would tighten the testing regime for all shore-based personnel going on board ships.
The more than 20,000 people affected will now need to take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test by 8 January to give assurance that they are clear of the virus.
The MPA said those who do not adhere to the rostered routine testing regime will “not be allowed to board ships to work”.
The maritime regulator said that it and the relevant agencies would be “stepping up checks to ensure compliance of Covid-19 safe management measures by companies and individuals”.
“Individuals and companies which are found to have violated these measures will be taken to task,” it added.
