2 Covid-19 cases in marine sector may have flouted measures; action taken against employer

2 Covid-19 cases in marine sector may have flouted measures; action taken against employer
January 02 2021 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/2-covid-19-cases-marine-sector-may...

SINGAPORE — Authorities in Singapore are investigating if two employees from the marine sector who recently tested positive for Covid-19 had breached safe-management measures at work.

The two employees are the marine surveyor at inspection services firm Lloyd's Register Singapore who tested positive on Dec 29, and the marine service engineer at Master Systems Marine who tested positive on Nov 26.

The marine surveyor is among four people in a new cluster involving some of his family members.

"Preliminary investigations reveal that the marine surveyor, like the marine service engineer who tested positive for Covid-19 infection earlier on Nov 26, consumed food provided by or with the crew on board the ships, which was against a precautionary measure," said a joint statement on Saturday (Jan 2) by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).

"The agencies are also investigating if there had been any breach of Covid-19 safe-management measures."

For the earlier case involving the marine service engineer, MPA has stopped the company, Master Systems Marine, from sending any of its crew to work on board ships. This will continue until the company can show that its employees will adhere to safe-management measures on board ships.

For the latest case involving the marine surveyor, Lloyd’s Register Singapore has suspended all its shipboard survey and audit activities. The company will also be testing all its marine surveyors for coronavirus.

"Further actions may be taken against the companies and individuals after investigations have been completed," said the authorities.

ADDITIONAL TESTING FOR OVER 20,000 WORKERS

In light of recent cases involving workers in the marine sector, MPA will tighten the testing regime for all shore-based personnel going on board ships, covering more than 20,000 people.

They will need to take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test within the next seven days, between Jan 2 and 8, to ensure that they are clear of the virus.

They must also undergo Rostered Routine Testing every seven days, instead of 14 days previously.

"Those who do not adhere to the Rostered Routine Testing regime will not be allowed to board ships to work," said the authorities.

Right now, Rostered Routine Testing is conducted for workers at greater risk of contracting the virus.

MPA will require all shore-based personnel to give it advance notice before they board ships to carry out works or provide services. It will take firm action against the ship's owner, master or agent for non-compliance.

As for shipyards, EDB introduced mandatory precautions on Dec 21 last year. "Shipyards should only issue shipyard acceptance letters to ships seeking repairs when a ship is compliant with these measures," the agencies said.

In addition, shipyards should allow shore-based personnel to board a ship for work only when all crew have tested negative for the virus on arrival.

Flouting the rules could result in EDB enforcing work suspensions or financial penalties, or both.

MPA, EDB and other government agencies will also step up checks to ensure companies and individuals comply with safe-management measures.

The authorities said they would also review the need to enhance personal protective equipment and infection control measures in the sector.

As of Saturday, the two Covid-19 clusters in Singapore each have four cases.

They include two Raffles Girls' School (RGS) students. One of them is a friend of the earlier RGS case whose infection was confirmed on Dec 31, a day after her family member — the marine surveyor — tested positive.

The cluster involving a harbour pilot who tested positive on Dec 30 is made up of his family members, three of whom are from the same household at Marine Crescent.

Singapore recorded 33 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, all of which were imported.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore stands at 58,662. CNA