AsiaOffshore

Singapore deploys floating accommodation in fight against Covid-19

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has partnered with terminal operator PSA Singapore, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Bibby Maritime and hotel chain Ascott to bring in and manage two floating accommodations to temporarily house foreign workers as part of the national effort to contain the spread of Covid-19. The floating accommodations, usually deployed for offshore work, will be used to house up to 500 healthy foreign workers from next week.

The essential needs of the occupants, including the delivery of catered meals, will be taken care of. A medical facility, manned by nurses and doctors from Fullerton Healthcare, will be set up nearby on land, to ensure that medical support is available. Isolation facilities will also be set up.

Elsewhere around the world floating hospitals are being used in the fight against coronavirus with some passenger ferries being converted into medical facilities while one ship at the port of Sete in southern France has become a factory churning out tons of hand sanitiser.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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