It is one of the nations where seafarers can certainly feel appreciated
Singapore has commenced its participation in the Sea Crew Vaccination Initiative (Seavax), a global vaccination drive for seafarers. Foreign seafarers will have the option of receiving Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines while staying for more than 30 days, and working in the supply of essential goods or ferrying passengers.
An opportunity for shipowners and employers
Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat, said at the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) annual International Safety @ Sea Week conference: “As a global hub port and international maritime centre, Singapore will also support the global vaccination drive for seafarers. This will add an additional layer of protection for them against the virus, and enhance supply chain resilience. Such seafarers may interact with our local community in the course of their work, so protecting them through vaccinations is part of our national effort to become a COVID-19 resilient nation.”
Singapore to date has done a good job living up to its reputation as a global hub and international maritime centre. Its skillful pandemic management has earned the country a name as a case controller by McKinsey. MPA’s initiative to offer vaccine shots to seafarers is a good opportunity for shipowners to reciprocate seafarers’ commitment to sustain world trade. Not to mention, convince the seafarers and activists at large positive change is coming. To date, MPA has vaccinated 82 per cent of the 7,500 seafarers working in Singapore.
It is rare to come across employers at large extending such benefits to seafarers, confirmed by hordes of reports about the latter’s countless protests and rallies against mistreatment. High profile shipowners came under fire for a wide array of dubious acts ranging from not paying the crew, withholding benefits from seafarers even after salary freezes, and ship abandoning. Relief only took place after the cases got arbitrary, or at the bare minimal, intervention from multiple maritime activists. The next scoop to look forward to is the number of foreign seafarers vaccinated in Singapore.
Crewing Online News Team
Please email us at marketing@marineonline.com to contact the author for this article.
