The Singaporean Seafarers, are urging the honorable Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore to take the mantle and implement legislation that will strongly support seafarers’ basic human rights as Essential Key Workers. 

Over a year has passed since the international crew change crisis started, and COVID-19 has been confirmed by the Government that it will not be gone entirely but will transition into an endemic. 

Over 90% of world trade is carried by ship, and around 1.7 million seafarers work to facilitate the way we live, making sure we get everything we need in our daily lives. They too deserve to go home safely after work. Governments need to recognise the important role that seafarers play in society. What if it all stopped? Seafarers Deserve Support.

Especially in this extremely challenging period of Covid-19, the world will not survive without essential supplies such as food and medical equipment transported by seafarers.

We seafarers are contract workers and must travel to/from their ship to live and work (generally ranging from 3 to 11 months). Onboard, we work every single day, battling physical exhaustion, mental stress and anxiety far away from home.

Governments around the world restrict or totally ban crew change as they are understandably concerned about spreading Covid-19 cases, yet these countries rely heavily on seafarers to transport essential cargo to/from their countries. These same governments impose lockdowns and control measures to protect their citizens. But are seafarers not humans too? 

Several Singaporean seafarers have been stuck onboard beyond their normal contract period. In addition, some have shared first-hand experiences of missing out on attending their close family member’s funeral as they were unable to sign off. Are we able to imagine the amount of distress they felt?

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) strongly urges its Member States to designate seafarers and other marine personnel as “key workers” so that they can travel between the ships that constitute their workplace, and their countries of residence, as well as disembark from their ships to seek medical treatment ashore.

We are very grateful that Singapore has already designated seafarers as Key Workers, as per IMO's Circular Letter No.4204/Add.35.​

Hailed as one of the top maritime hubs of the world, other countries highly respected Singapore as the leader in innovation and shipping business. Incidentally, international press coverage of the Singapore Government’s actions is very extensive with far-reaching effects. A key example is the IMO issuing a Circular Letter applauding Singapore’s crew change efforts.

With Singapore taking this important step that demonstrates seafarers are essential key workers in the workforce, our Government will continue to encourage the growth of Singapore’s booming marine industry and our country’s standing internationally.

In view of the continuing worldwide crew change crisis, we strongly urge our honourable Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore to refer to IMO’s Circular Letter No.4204/Add.35 and the specific resolution as follows:

Resolution MSC.473(ES.2) states, in operative paragraph 1.2:

"1 URGES Member States and relevant national authorities to: ...

.2 designate seafarers as “key workers” providing an essential service, in order to facilitate safe and unhindered movement for embarking or disembarking a vessel and consider legal possibilities for accepting internationally recognized documentation carried by seafarers as evidence of their status as “key workers”, and for the purpose of their travel and movement for crew change;”

We are petitioning for the honorable Maritime & Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore as the legal authority to create and implement internationally recognised documentation for Singaporean seafarers and Singapore port limit seafarers, that clearly states we are “Key Workers” to facilitate and expedite sign on/off applications. Especially when Singaporean seafarers have to sign on/off from our ship overseas and need paperwork clearance from the appropriate country/countries.

So we ask for support.

As we work to connect the world, to enable your every day the way you live, the way you play.

We are the people on board the ships that make the world go. It's our responsibility to facilitate your lives. It's the government's turn to look after ours.

Huge credits to Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) excellent video on seafarers' crew change crisis: BIMCO Seafarers Deserve Support