ASEAN

1. MALAYSIA:
Intersessional Discussion on
COVID 19: Responses of ASEAN
Member States to Seafarers’
Access to Crew Change,
Repatriation, and National
Vaccination Programmes
Mr. Nurrul FAIZ
Marine Dept. Malaysia

2. FLEET
& MLC
20 Aug
2013
15 Dec
2016
7
18
12.5
5,200
MALAYSIA
Stats: Jan ’20
Source: Marine Dept. Malaysia
million
thousand
Total ships
registered
Total
tonnage
In force
Law Gazetted
Major
ports
Local
seafarers

4. Crew Change:
Open to ALL ship
for ALL crew
at ALL ports
(since May 2020)
Seafarer Certification:
Automatic short extension
period of SID, COC, and COP
+
Online Class Learning
Medical Assistance:
Open to ALL ship
for ALL crew
at ALL ports
(since June 2020)
COVID-19 case
hospitalization:
Irrespective of nationality
and ship’s flag – full medical
access

5. 1. Malaysia recognizes seafarer as KEY WORKERS.
2. ALL seafarers are ALLOWED to carry out crew change activities at any Malaysia port
irrespective of their citizenships or their ship’s flag since May 2020.
3. Seafarers irrespective of their citizenships or ship’s flag may request at any time for a
MEDICAL EVACUATION & TREATMENT at any ports in Malaysia.
*Taking into consideration of the latest public health & National Security Council order in relation of sudden
high spike of COVID-19 new varriance cases in Malaysia: ships entering Malaysia ports from India, Sri Lanka,
Nepal or Pakistan within 14 days is PROHIBITED to do crew change except Malaysian off-signers.

7. 1. Malaysia has a dedicated SEAFARERS’ QUARANTINE CENTER for ship’s crew entering/departing
the country via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport including a special lane at all major
ports for them to get health screened.
2. Our ITF-affiliated NATIONAL SEAFARERS’ UNION in collaboration with the Marine Department
Malaysia are playing an active role in supporting medical needs, provisions and repatriation.
3. The Central Mercantile Marine Fund (CMMF) of Malaysia is openly receive any Malaysian
seafarers requests especially in financial assistance and medical needs at any time especially
during COVID-19 pandemic.
4. There is no restriction for agents and Union to send PROVISION AND PERSONAL NEEDS to the
ship at berth or anchorage area.

8. 5. An AUTOMATIC EXTENSION of the seafarer documentation in accordance to the
national and international requirements.
6. Malaysia allows any ships irrespective of their flag to LAY-UP TEMPORARILY in Malaysia
water for any further assistance requested especially repatriation of the crew.
7. In collaboration with foreign consular offices in Malaysia and flight/ferry charterers,
REPATRIATION of stranded ship crew is carried out actively.

10. 1. The Central Mercantile Marine Fund (CMMF) is established since 1984.
2. The automatic extension of seafarer documentation was in forced on 1 December 2020.
3. Malaysia has included Malaysian seafarer to be prioritized in the National COVID-19
Vaccination Programme on February 2021.
4. Collaborative partners for the repatriation of stranded ship crew have been in place since
April 2020.
5. Established a public hotline for supporting the MENTAL HEALTH condition/consultation which
handled by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

11. 2017:
Foreign Officers
customized online
training prior joining
Malaysia flagged ship
2021-2025:
Seafarer Centres and Drop-
Off Points at major ports
(current: 2 ports)
2021:
Revisiting Official National
Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA)
2022:
Mental Health mandatory
national curricular syllabus
in COC courses

13. 1. Quick CORRESPONDENCE/ACTION from the foreign ship’s flag competent authority for investigating crew
wages, rights and medical issues.
2. Seafarer vaccination: difficulties in scheduling seafarers for the VACCINATION APPOINTMENT due to the
health authority requirements of the first and second dose of vaccines.
3. There is no standardization of SEAFARER DOCUMENTATION EXTENSION during this exceptional
circumstances by the IMO Member States.
4. Movement/lockdown pandemic restriction: the assurance of reliability for Malaysia seafarers and Malaysia
ships’ crew in revalidating their Medical Examination Certificate by UNRECOGNIZED MEDICAL
PRACTITIONERS abroad.
5. Positive COVID-19 cases of foreign seafarers from foreign flagged ships in Malaysia water: DEVIATION &
DIVERSION to available ports.

15. 1. Repatriation / seafarers’ rights: Establishing regional/international cooperation correspondence
group among MLC Competent Authorities ensuring effective and efficient actions.
2. COVID-19 suspects onboard: Relaying health information and precautions of all the suspected/explicit
symptomatic ship crew to the ship’s next port of call.
3. Seafarer vaccination: Promote and implement the single-dose vaccination to all maritime keyworkers
including seafarers and port workers.
4. Medical Examination Certificate: Guided by the recommendation of any established/recognized
International Medical Associations to increase realibility/integrity of the seafarers’ medical
certificates.
5. Seafarer documentation/certification: provide a standard of internationally recognized
extension/equivalent method in relation to regional/national exceptional COVID-19 situations and
restrictions.

16. THANK YOU
Mr. Nurrul FAIZ
nurrulfaiz@marine.gov.my
Shipping & Seafarer Development Division
Marine Dept. Malaysia
Ministry of Transport