Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

          I am happy to join you this morning to officiate the opening of the MARTECH 2004 International Conference and Exhibition, jointly organised by the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Let me first extend a warm welcome to all participants. To those from abroad, let me wish you a fruitful and enjoyable stay in Singapore.

2        Singapore’s maritime industry is a vital pillar of our economy. It contributes some 6 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product and provides many employment opportunities for Singaporeans. We remain committed to grow this sector, not only to ensure that we maintain our pre-eminent position as a hub port, but also to ensure that we can increase the number of jobs the sector can offer to Singaporeans.  Thus today, I will touch briefly on our key strategies to develop manpower in the maritime sector.

Government Support in Developing the Maritime Workforce

3        Firstly, government support for manpower development.  The Singapore Government has long recognised the need to invest heavily to develop the skills of our workers. This explains why we have initiated many programmes to help workers upgrade their skills.  Specifically, within the maritime industry, the Maritime and Port Authority is the key driver of our manpower development initiatives.  Over the last few years, the MPA has initiated many programmes to enhance the quality of the maritime workforce.  A high quality workforce is important if we are to attract and retain shipping companies in Singapore, as they would be assured of being able to hire well-trained workers.

4        For this reason, we launched the $80 million Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF) in 2002.  Thus far, $22 million has been disbursed to support a host of schemes, programmes and scholarships for the maritime sector. These include subsidies for course fees, a Joint Maritime Scholarship Scheme as well as an attachment programme for the industry. In addition, various advanced diploma programmes, degree programmes, and professorships have been started with our local educational institutions.

5        These programmes will serve to benefit those who are already working in the industry to upgrade their skills.  They will also attract new entrants into the industry. We will continue to introduce and tailor more of such programmes according to industry needs. In doing so, MPA and the tertiary institutions will have to ensure that the programmes are sufficiently varied and tailored to the needs of different sectors in the industry.

Need for High Quality Training Facilities

6        Good training programmes and schemes work well when they are complemented by a strong training infrastructure and facilities. This is where technology plays an important role.

7        One example of the use of technology in training is the injection of realism into classroom learning through the use of simulators. In this respect, MPA’s Integrated Simulation Centre (ISC), established in 2002, has proven itself as an important and popular training facility amongst the shipping companies. The ISC will continue to evolve as a useful training facility and now also has courses on anti-piracy, Bridge Resource Management as well as psychological and leadership evaluation assessments.

8        The SMA is also continuously making significant investments to upgrade its training facilities. It has recently upgraded its navigation simulator facility and has also developed a new Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) laboratory, to project the future use of the ECDIS as a tool for navigation. These investments are very valuable in training our maritime students. We must also constantly look out for new training methods and leverage on technological advancements to provide effective and efficient training of a high standard.

Promotion of a Maritime Career to Young Singaporeans

9        Despite the high quality of programmes and training, the attraction of a maritime career today remains unattractive. Many of our youths think of a career at sea as unglamorous, with long working hours and tough working conditions. Given a choice, most would opt for office jobs in a nice air-conditioned environment. While there may be some truth in such perceptions, a career at sea can be very fulfilling and highly rewarding. The maritime industry requires an influx of new blood for self-renewal and to bring the industry forward.

10      To this end, MPA and SMA will be working together to launch a maritime publicity and outreach programme. The programme aims to create awareness and interest about jobs and the prospects in the maritime industry. It will also reach out to specific target groups such as students and parents, teachers and friends of these students who would be able to influence their opinions. The aim is to inform them that the growing maritime industry and the many employment opportunities available, both sea-going and onshore jobs.

11      We are already seeing some encouraging signs in terms of student take-up rate for maritime courses. The number of students, who have scored 15 points or below, applying for the SMA’s diploma maritime courses has increased by more than half over the last two years. The number of applicants applying for MPA’s Tripartite Maritime Scholarship Scheme has also increased by 23 per cent over the same period. These are encouraging signs which we should build on, and I am optimistic about the future.

Conclusion

12      The saying, “To move ahead, and never stand still”, certainly rings true for the maritime industry. As Singapore strives to develop itself as a leading maritime hub, we must constantly evolve our policies, programmes and incentives to ensure that we remain relevant to our stakeholders. 

13      I am heartened by the good turnout today.  Participants should use this opportunity to network with the renowned experts in our midst to tap on their extensive knowledge and learn more about the trends and opportunities in the maritime business.  On this note, it is now my pleasure to declare the MARTECH 2004 International Conference and Exhibition open.