Over the past year, the shipping industry has been affected by several workplace safety incidents that took place during crew transfers, which led to tragic loss of lives in some instances. This highlights the need for rigorous safety measures when personnel are transferred during marine operations at Port. One such measure is the mandatory use of life jackets during crew transfers and adherence to onboard protocols, such as using the pilot ladder exclusively. The SSA is also of the view that it is necessary to whitelist craft operators to ensure that only those meeting the highest safety standards can operate, thereby uplifting safety standards and safeguarding the well-being of all personnel.
This call was made during the “Navigating a Safe Shipping Transition” seminar on 22 August 2024, which attracted over 100 SSA members. Organised by SSA as part of the Safety@Sea week, the seminar touched on various topics that fosters a stronger safety mindset in the industry which includes: safe entry into enclosed spaces, best practices for underwater hull cleaning, preventing container falls, and countering maritime robberies. Various industry leaders shared best practices in their presentations and a panel discussion entitled “Safety of Navigation in the Straits of Singapore & Straits of Malacca”. Rounding up the event was a Safety Technology Showcase, where members were introduced to emerging safety technologies poised to make maritime operations safer.
Mr. Ishak Ismail, Chairman of the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council, opened the seminar with a timely reminder on safety, that “It is all hands on deck: government, industry, and community—everyone is accountable to each other. At an individual level, each of us must have a safety mindset, not just for today or this week, but every day, to ensure our people can return to their loved ones at the end of each day.”
The SSA is committed to promoting safer workplaces and will continue to advocate for the implementation of an industry certification scheme for launch boat operators. One possible criterion is the ability to provide certified life jackets. Life jackets are essential personal protective equipment for workers at risk of falling into the water and drowning, and use of appropriate life jackets significantly increases the likelihood of survival in the event of an accidental fall into the water. Moving forward, SSA will collaborate with the relevant regulatory agencies on this initiative and provide the necessary input for certifications of life jackets. We will continue to support the development of resources and solutions to enhance safety across maritime operations.
As announced during this year’s Safety@Sea Week, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and other key industry partners, is developing guidelines on personal flotation devices – life jackets. These guidelines will cover the selection, inspection, usage, and maintenance of life jackets across various work environments. The new guidelines were developed through a comprehensive industry consultation exercise completed in July 2024 and are currently being refined through a four-week public consultation process.
We invite industry stakeholders and members to share your feedback on the draft WSH Guidelines on Personal Flotation Devices – Life Jackets with the SSA Secretariat at ssa.admin@ssa.org.sg. View the WSH draft for public consultation here.
“It is all hands-on deck: government, industry, and community—everyone is accountable to each other. At an individual level, each of us must have a safety mindset, not just for today or this week, but every day, to ensure our people can return to their loved ones at the end of each day.”
Mr. Ishak Ismail, Chairman of the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council