Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) has advised that marine and offshore companies are required to comply with prevailing COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors (Marine & Offshore).

Shipping, harbour and pleasure craft communities are also reminded to comply strictly with the Mandatory Precautionary Measures for shipyard repair calls and waterfront facilities accepting vessels in Singapore.

Since the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced on 19 May 2020 that the Circuit Breaker measures would gradually ease from 2 June 2020, the Marine & Offshore sector was permitted to resume work in phases, but in a safe and controlled manner to minimise the risk of a COVID-19 resurgence. Marine and offshore activities which had been suspended during Circuit Breaker were allowed to resume work with approval from the EDB or Enterprise Singapore on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Marine and offshore companies must comply with additional COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors (Marine & Offshore).

a)       COVID-Safe Workforce: Employers must ensure that the following groups of employees undergo regular swab tests:
i. Employees who work on the Shipyards’ production sites or at Contractors’ workshops; and/or
ii. Employees who stay in purpose-built dormitories, factory-converted dormitories, construction temporary quarters or temporary occupation licence quarters.

b)      COVID-Safe Worksite: TraceTogether or BluePass Tokens must be actively used. Additional COVID-Safe Restart measures must be enforced at worksites to prevent major COVID-19 outbreaks. These include segregating workers by split teams that minimise interaction and have staggered breaks. Safe Management Officers (SMOs) and/or Safe Distancing Officers (SDOs) are to be appointed as part of safe management measures at the worksite.

c)       COVID-Safe Worker Accommodation and Transport: Employers are to segregate workers by split teams that minimise interaction at their places of accommodation and provide dedicated transport for workers living in dormitories to and from their work sites, if workers are not residing at onsite accommodation.

The full listing and details of the COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors (Marine & Offshore) may be downloaded from MTI’s GoBusiness portal at https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg

Other marine and offshore companies (excluding Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors) previously approved by MTI during the Circuit Breaker are to adhere to comply with additional COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors (Marine & Offshore).

Companies must put in place safe management measures, in line with the Ministry of Manpower’s latest advisories and COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors (Marine & Offshore).