Singapore to host pilot for potential crew crisis solution

Singapore will host a pilot of ‘CERTUS myHealth Pass, a technology-based solution from SICPA, to enable crew changeovers amid COVID-19 restrictions.

SICPA, a specialist in authentication, identification and secure traceability solutions, said the trial is in partnership with CrewAssist, a Hong Kong-based non-profit organization.

It will look to address travel restrictions preventing almost half a million seafarers leaving their vessels while at port.

CERTUS myHealth Pass, according to the company, will make it easier to authenticate paper-based and digital World Health Orgnisation (WHO) approved COVID-19 tests. Seafarers will be able to carry their authenticated digital health pass on their smartphone.

The trial is supported by the wider shipping industry, including the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), according to the company.

As well as Singapore, the trial will be conducted in the Philippines, home to the largest pool of seafarers in the world. The solution will be rolled out to other countries if the pilot is successful.

Eastern Pacific Shipping and Thome Group, two Singapore-based shipping companies will participate in the trial.

“SICPA and its partners are committed to working with government agencies, companies and other organisations to provide network security and ensure the reliability of sensitive data,” said SICPA Regional Managing Director of Marketing Security Solutions in Asia, Alain Augsburger.

“We are keenly aware of the challenges facing the world’s seafarers and are excited to work with Crew Assist to offer a solution in line with SICPA’s motto of ‘Enabling Trust’, protecting seafarers private information while providing governments with a trustworthy way to verify and identify any abnormalities that may prevent free passage of seafarers,” he continued.

Crew Assist CEO Jonathan Jones also commented: “Since the onset of the pandemic, the industry has been battling the bureaucracy and fluctuating regulations preventing seafarer changes.

“CERTUS myHealth Pass offers a technology-based solution that can potentially eliminate a major concern, allowing us to focus on other aspects of facilitating a cre change to get our colleagues home.” The trial is due to be begin on 1 September 2020.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/singapore-to-host-potential-crew-crisis-solution-pilot/