Singapore Crew Change Ban Extends To Pakistan, Bangladesh, Other Nations In  Asia

Authorities in Singapore has banned crew change for seafarers with recent travel to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

This followed a recent travel and crew change ban for those with travel to India in the previous 14 days due to the country’s sharp spike in Covid -19 cases similar measures were announced at the weekend for those arriving the aforementioned nations.

Recall that Singapore re-opened as a crew change hub in June last year with strict protocols in place. As of 12 April MPA said that it had facilitated over 120,000 crew changes in the country.

According to a circular from  Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) “This includes sign-on crew travelling to Singapore by flight as well as sign-off crew from vessels that have called at Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“Crew with recent travel history to Bangladesh,  Nepal,  Pakistan  and  Sri Lanka within the last 14 days preceding arrival to Singapore.

The ban also covers sign on crew transiting Singapore from the four countries in the last 14 days.

The new measures were effective from 1 May at 23-59 hrs.