Singapore allows shore leave for vaccinated seafarersSingapore allows shore leave for vaccinated seafarers

With Singapore dropping quarantine requirements for all vaccinated travellers, shore leave will now also be granted for seafarers in vessels calling at one of the world’s busiest ports.

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore MPA circular said that fully vaccinated ship’s crew visiting the port would be granted shore leave from 1 April 2022. Proof of full vaccination and negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) within the previous 48 hours will be required.

With the good news for seafarers, who have unable to take shore leave in Singapore during the least two years of the pandemic, drop-in centres will also be re-opening. The Mission to Seafarers Singapore (MtSS) run centre at Jurong Port will be re-opening on 15 April.

“We’re delighted that things are opening up for seafarers,” said Toh Soon Kok, Port Chaplain for MtSS.

“It is the accessibility for shore leave that would affect the re-opening of our drop-in centres. MPA has approved seafarers to come to our drop-in centres with the conditions they possessed an ATL pass (allow to land pass). They will need to produce a negative supervised ART result 48 hours before disembarkation.”