On 29 January, SMOU gathered close to 50 seafaring members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This is in line with the Singapore Government’s Sea-Air Vaccination Exercise (SAVE) initiative announced on 18 January 2021 and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s efforts to prioritise the COVID-19 vaccination of frontline maritime personnel. The initiative provides better protection offered through the vaccines, giving seafarers a peace of mind as they perform their duties and jobs on board ships that ply international waters.

Of this initiative, ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said that, “Singapore has set an example that the rest of the world should follow.” He commended Singapore’s tripartite collaboration in a letter he wrote to Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, lauding how tripartite partners have worked closely to address challenges transport workers have faced during the pandemic.

The exercise was carried out at the Raffles City Convention Centre where the location was transformed into a vaccination centre to administer the vaccines.