Challenges to set up Singapore’s seafarer vaccination programme

With Caroline Yang, President, Singapore Shipping Association’s appointment as the Singapore Ambassador of the Global Maritime Club created by Seatrade Maritime, we are taking the opportunity to share the experiences that SSA has had in setting up the Sea Vaccination (SeaVax) programme for international seafarers onboard vessels calling at the global hub port for cargo operations, bunkering and repairs.

While operational matters concerning seafarers are not something that SSA would normally involve itself, the SSA anticipated that if this wasn’t addressed, it will lead to repercussions for the shipping trade and also affect the entire maritime industry in Singapore. The SSA moved quickly and led a workgroup to in 2020 to develop a protocol to facilitate safe and responsible crew changes during the pandemic.

Importantly, the association’s work on crew change was solidly supported by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). By 2021, as crew change process stabilised over a backdrop of both government and industry alignment in compliance based on a proper regime of preventing and minimizing infections within the seafarers, the SSA quickly moved to crafting a proposal for vaccinations for seafarers.

“Uncertainties abound during the initial period in 2020. Every industry sector was ‘shell-shocked’ at the pace of disruptions. We knew we cannot afford to wait for the pandemic to be over. We knew from the onset that establishing a trusted protocol on crew change was not enough. When 2021 came and we saw no abatement in the pandemic, we had to move fast to secure the health of the seafarers. The SSA did not just see itself as a shipping industry advocate, and so we decided to take stewardship for the entire maritime industry because we feel it is the right thing to do.,” Yang shares.

Coming together

Galvanized by the momentum of steady crew change, the MPA initiated and quickly gathered a meeting of minds among the SSA, the local-based seafarers’ unions (SMOU and SOS) and established a Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience Fund (STAR Fund) in order to resource efforts in addressing the challenges of crew change and vaccination. That STAR Fund would later grow to include international organizations such as the International Transport Workers’s Federation (ITF) , International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) and International Chamber of Shipping.

In early first quarter of 2021, The SSA was initially brought into discussions on seafarer vaccination in Singapore by the MPA in a presentation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and ITF. Then SSA took on the task for developing seafarer vaccination procedures in Singapore, something it envisaged as one for several such hubs in each region of the world.

The journey to setting up the SeaVax programme was not a simple one with a number of speed bumps on the road.

One task was simply sourcing the vaccines. Non-government organisations and private enterprises were not able to purchase WHO-approved vaccines directly from the Pharma and drug companies. The SSA took two different routes. One was through the UN COVAX scheme, but SSA realised this route may take too long, since even recipient countries under the UN COVAX scheme were not getting enough vaccines or having vaccines shipped on time.

The second route was to source domestically and engage the Singapore government, which was already making good progress with its public vaccination programme, and the industry only required a small portion of around 100,000 doses.

One point was clear though – SSA would pay for any vaccines if it was able to procure from the Singapore government.

However, a Delta variant outbreak in Singapore meant a delay in getting plans off the ground through May to July.

Green light for pilot programme

But the SSA soldiered on and by August 2021, had the green light to pilot the programme. However, using public vaccination centres in Singapore was a no-go due to fears over cross infection from visiting seafarers. Looking at multiple potential locations, an inactive building inside Tanjong Pagar Terminal was settled upon. Moreover, it was owned by an SSA member company – PSA. The PSA was supportive of the endeavour and behind the scenes, they worked quickly and began to update and upgrade the un-used facility to meet Ministry of Health requirements for a vaccination centre to operate.

“We were fortunate that one of our SSA member, PSA, understood what our endeavour was for. They were 100% supportive, and assigned resources to get the facility up to specifications. The devil is in the details, and you cannot underestimate the amount of background work we had to do to, and that was just one aspect of the overall SeaVax programme,” Yang says.

Other aspects included procuring cold storage facilities, to preserve the temperature sensitive vaccines. Appointing a healthcare provider was equally important because the SeaVax protocols included possibilities to have medical provider be familiar with the shipping industry operational procedures and understood the added complexities to operate a vaccination centre in a secured and controlled facility and how the medical provider would contribute in the clinical protocols.

Working with the Immigration & Customs Agency (ICA) was equally crucial, as seafarers may need ICA clearance to land to receive their vaccinations. The MPA and ICA worked the SSA and crafted a special protocol that would allow smoother disembarkation and embarkation process, where crews were coming from ships to receive their jabs. There was coordination across other government agencies that included Port Health agencies, and the hospital groups to agree on any medical emergency routing of ambulance to the A&E services.

And these aspects above are just a few of the many jigsaw pieces that the SSA had to put together and send the final Seavax proposal to the Singapore government, where it was carefully reviewed and finally granted with a list of restrictions to be complied with. Vaccines were sourced and purchased from the Singapore government in the shape of the Moderna jab.

“We built upon the experience of establishing the Crew Change process, and SSA went through every step and process to piece together the SeaVax Program”, Yang further shared

The initial launch of the SeaVax programme in September hit another speed hump though as the restrictions placed on it meant shipping companies were unable to meet the criteria and hence unwilling to send their seafarers for vaccination. After five days SSA decided on a reset. The list of qualifying criteria was understandably crafted to minimise any cross infections to the local community. After holding an industry briefing to solicit feedback, SSA re-engaged the government to remove the restrictions or seek workable concessions.

“We went back to the government, and at the table, we reassured them that the SSA will do our utmost to minimise any cross infections. We presented every imaginable situation and how we will manage it. We had to reiterate the idea that we’ve got a solid track record in being able to facilitate crew change and had enabled Singapore to carry out 25% of the world’s crew change transactions safely without any cross infection. So, our protocols are fairly watertight.”

Refined qualifying criteria

In late September 2021, the SeaVax program was relaunched with a refined qualifying criteria and is open to seafarers on vessels at anchor, in port for cargo operations, and vessels in shipyards for repair. Seafarers simply need to take an ART test prior to leaving the vessel and are transported to and from the centre. First, second and booster shots are provided.

“The Seavax programmr was delayed. In the relaunch, we were determined to allow accessibility to vaccinations to as many crews as we can. We were confident our protocols were tight, and we re-launched Day 1 where we boldly opened up all the pathways for crew to be able to be vaccinated, as long as they were able to meet a simplified criteria. Senior Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat visited onsite to see how the operations were at the Seavax centre. He was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it was without any major drama or hiccups. So that really underscores the robustness of the protocol we have in place,” Yang states.

Vaccination is charged on a not-for-profit cost recovery basis. It costs shipping companies US$150 per seafarer. “We have no discrimination, every nationality is provided for as long as the agency companies are going to apply for them,” Yang says.

So, has it all been worth it? Clearly the answer is yes, with the gratitude seafarers a palpable reward. One example is a crew of 24 Myanmar nationals who were almost moved to tears and printed a thank you note, held by all the crew. While in another separate episode, a Filipino crew described it as “the best Christmas present they’d ever received from a foreign country”.

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Overcoming challenges to set up Singapore’s seafarer vaccination programme

Coming together

Green light for pilot programme

Refined qualifying criteria