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SMOU organised its third Kopi Session with more than 70 participants from over 35 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) companies. Joined by personnel from the SG-STAR Fund Taskforce (SFTF), the online Kopi Session served as a platform to update CBA companies on developments to facilitate crew change and the advantages of CrewSafe-verified facilities.
SMOU General Secretary Ms Mary Liew welcomed participants and speakers from MPA and the SFTF, acknowledging that “our maritime tripartite partners were quick to come together last year at the start of the pandemic to cooperate and develop solutions for the issues that arose due to the pandemic—such as crew change.” She added that with the SG-STAR Fund, tripartite initiatives were brought beyond the national level to channel collaborative efforts into the region.
Mr Kelton Lim, Assistant Director (Port State Control) from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, kicked off the session by giving an update on the facilitation of crew change. He shared what being CrewSafe verified meant to shipping companies and how it can benefit them in the crew change process.
Mr Nithin Mathur, Chair of the SFTF, shared on the importance and the need for a global tripartite initiative. As part of the SFTF’s efforts, the task force has developed a CrewSafe audit program that endeavours to assist crew source nations to bring a higher level of confidence and quality control checks into crew change processes such as quarantine/holding, medical, and swabbing facilities. Mr Mathur also gave a rundown on the audit procedures that are carried out at the facilities and how the SFTF are looking to increase the number of CrewSafe facilities.
Lastly, Mr Viknesh G., a representative from SFTF, gave an insightful presentation on how the maritime industry can move forward by strengthening the digital front door of crew change.
The SG-STAR Fund efforts to support the seafarers would have only been possible #BecauseOfYou—our shipping companies and our national and international tripartite partners. It is with the partnership of our tripartite partners and maritime players that our industry will continue to move ahead.
About SG-STAR Fund:
The SG-STAR Fund is the first global tripartite initiative bringing together like-minded international partners from industry, unions, and government to facilitate safe crew changes. The fund, based in Singapore, will be disbursed for use upstream in countries such as the Philippines and India, where seafarers come from. An SG-STAR Fund Taskforce (SFTF) has been formed to push ahead with these efforts.
Read more about the SG-STAR Fund here.
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