Singapore Haze 2026: What MPA's Updated Haze Advisory Means for Crew Changes

Singapore's 2026 haze pushed the 24-hour PSI as high as 199 on 17 October, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) responded with Port Marine Notice No. 140 of 2026 on 21 October.  The notice tells maritime employers to plan outdoor work using the next-day PSI forecast and adjust it hour by hour using 1-hour PM2.5 readings. For ship agents and crew managers, that means every crew transfer, launch boarding and pier wait now needs a haze plan, not just a booking.

What has happened with the Singapore haze in 2026?

Smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan has drifted over Singapore since September. MPA has issued three haze notices this season:

• 4 Sep 2026: Port Marine Notice No. 110 of 2026, a haze advisory for PSI 100 and above.

• 14 Oct 2026: Port Marine Notice No. 138 of 2026, for PSI 200 and above.

• 17 Oct 2026: NEA reported a 24-hour PSI of 130–199 and 1-hour PM2.5 of 106–198 µg/m³, with 150–220 forecast for the next day (NEA).

• 21 Oct 2026: Port Marine Notice No. 140 of 2026 updated the guidance.

• 24 Oct 2026: PSI was still 108–151, in the Unhealthy range, with NEA expecting showers to help (NEA).
  

What does MPA Port Marine Notice 140 of 2026 require?

The notice applies to the shipping, harbour craft and pleasure craft communities. It uses the PSI forecast for next-day planning and 1-hour PM2.5 readings for same-day decisions:

PM2.5 band (µg/m³)	Healthy workers	Vulnerable workers
Band 1, Normal (0–55)	Normal activity	Normal activity
Band 2, Elevated (56–150)	Reduce strenuous work	Avoid strenuous work
Band 3, High (151–250)	Avoid strenuous work	Avoid outdoor work
Band 4, Very High (251+)	Minimise outdoor work	Outdoor work prohibited

"Vulnerable" means the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic heart or lung disease. Employers are asked to review haze management plans, identify susceptible workers, set criteria for restricting outdoor work, and keep at least a one-week supply of masks. Where strenuous work cannot be avoided at High readings, N95 or equivalent masks should be provided.

What it does not change: crew change and immigration rules stay the same. Under Port Marine Notice No. 05 of 2026, crew who disembark must still go directly to the ICA crew office for clearance. Our Sea Crew Immigration Clearance checklist covers those steps.

What does haze mean for crew changes in Singapore?

Most of a crew change happens outdoors: waiting at Marina South Pier or a launch jetty, the launch ride itself, luggage handling, and the walk between the ICA crew office and the vehicle. Haze turns each of these into exposure time.

Crew are often tired, too. Seafarers coming off long-haul flights or months at sea are the people least able to stand on a pier for an hour. And when visibility drops, launch timings and boarding windows can shift, stretching waiting times ashore.

Haze-season crew change checklist for ship agents

1. Check the next-day PSI forecast on haze.gov.sg when confirming tomorrow's movements.

2. Re-check 1-hour PM2.5 readings about two hours before each pickup or launch.

3. Ask the vessel or crewing team to flag crew in vulnerable groups, discreetly.

4. Put N95 masks in crew pickup kits and keep a one-week stock, as PMN 140 advises.

5. Time vehicles to meet the launch, so crew are not waiting outdoors for transport.

6. Book an indoor waiting space for long gaps between a flight and boarding.

7. Add buffer for launch delays and confirm a backup transfer slot.

8. Keep ICA clearance steps unchanged; haze does not alter them.

9. Update times in one booking system so the agent, driver and vessel see the same plan.

For wider disruptions, see our Crew Change Contingency Checklist for Singapore and Safety@Sea Week crew-transfer checklist.

How HLE Marine keeps crew moving during haze season

HLE Marine (Hui Long Enterprise) is a Singapore crew transport provider that keeps outdoor time short:

• 24/7 crew transfers between Changi Airport T1–T4, Marina South Pier, Jurong Port, Pasir Panjang, Brani, Sembawang Shipyard and Tuas, in air-conditioned vans, minibuses and sedans.

• Airport meet & greet, so crew are guided from arrivals straight into a vehicle.

• The HLE Marine Lounge at Kaki Bukit: an air-conditioned rest space with showers, Wi-Fi and CCTV luggage storage, built for 5–7 hour layovers before boarding.

• Short-notice re-timing through our OMS platform, with status tracking and WhatsApp notifications when a launch window moves.

• Flexible billing for agencies with regular crew movements.

  
  

Planning crew changes while the PSI is up? Call or WhatsApp HLE Marine on +65 8447 9283, or send us your movement details and we'll plan transfers around the haze.

Frequently asked questions

What is MPA Port Marine Notice No. 140 of 2026? An updated haze advisory issued by MPA on 21 October 2026. It tells maritime operators to plan outdoor work with the next-day PSI forecast and adjust it during the day using 1-hour PM2.5 readings.

Does haze stop crew changes in Singapore? No. The advisory guides outdoor work; it does not suspend crew changes or change immigration clearance. Expect longer buffers and plan to cut outdoor waiting.

Where can I check Singapore's PSI and PM2.5 readings? On NEA's haze.gov.sg, which publishes the 24-hour PSI, the next-day forecast and hourly PM2.5. MOM's workplace guidance is at mom.gov.sg/haze.

At what PM2.5 level should crew avoid outdoor work? Vulnerable workers should avoid outdoor work from Band 3 (151–250 µg/m³). At Band 4 (251+), outdoor work is prohibited for vulnerable workers and should be minimised for everyone else.