Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends from the maritime community,

Students and potential participants of the maritime industry,

It is my pleasure to be here this evening at the launch of MaritimeONE and the inaugural NetworkONE reception.  I am heartened to see many industry leaders here this evening, in the same room as the many young Singaporeans who have a keen interest in a career in the maritime sector.

2                  The DXO club is a truly refreshing setting for this event.  It is not often that one learns more about career options at a club, but apart from discovering the career opportunities that await you, I hope that you will also let your hair down, enjoy yourselves and have fun.  You will soon discover that the maritime sector is one where you work hard and you play hard.

Maritime Careers

3                  The maritime sector has been a key driver of Singapore’s growth since its founding nearly two centuries ago.  To this day, Singapore remains a leading hub port and a global centre of maritime activity. This forms the backdrop against which the maritime sector provides a compelling career choice.  Let me give you four reasons why I say so - which can be summed up as the A to D of maritime careers – four attributes which make the maritime sector a choice career.

4                  In keeping with the unconventional nature of this event, instead of beginning with A, let me start with D, for Diverse.  The maritime careers’ tagline “sea of opportunities, shore of possibilities” encapsulates the wide range of maritime careers available in the industry, both at sea and on shore.  Many of you would know that Singapore is home to the world’s busiest container port and some of the world’s larger shipping lines.  With the high viewership of the recently screened Mediacorp drama series The Peak (最高点zui gao dian), I am sure there is now greater awareness of the global reach of our offshore and marine engineering sector as well.

5                  However, some of you may not know that there is also a whole host of maritime services which play an equally important role in making Singapore a leading International Maritime Centre.  These sub sectors employ maritime professionals ranging from bankers and brokers to lawyers and insurers.  We are therefore pleased to have with us this evening, representatives from a wide range of maritime service providers.

6                  Next, C, for Crucial, which is what maritime transport is to the world economy, as shipping is still responsible for transporting 90% of global trade.  This brings me to B, for Bright, which reflects the prospects for maritime careers.  As the global economy continues to grow, so too will the maritime and offshore businesses.  Hence the industry will need marine officers, naval architects, marine engineers, ship brokers, insurers, financers, lawyers and other professionals.  And bright individuals will be highly sought after by maritime employers.

7                  Finally, A, for Attractive, which is what the maritime career is, in terms of what it has in store for anyone seeking a challenging job with excellent career prospects and opportunities for professional growth.  With such exciting career opportunities in the maritime sector, I encourage all students to seriously consider investing your future in this fast-growing and truly global industry.  You will find that many jobs are well-paying white-collar jobs, and in the diverse range of options available, each one would have its unique challenges and relevance to the Singapore and global economy.

MaritimeONE

8                  I am especially happy to be here this evening to launch MaritimeONE, which is an initiative for all stakeholders to attract quality manpower to the maritime industry.

9                  MaritimeONE will be guided by a consultative forum chaired by the Singapore Maritime Foundation’s Chairman Mr Teo Siong Seng, involving the government, employers and local Institutes of Higher Learning.  MaritimeONE seeks to publicise and promote opportunities in the maritime industry, and bring interested young individuals into contact with prospective employers, just as we are doing this evening through the inaugural NetworkONE Reception.

10            I am also pleased to note that some companies have already come forward to offer scholarships under MaritimeONE.  They are First Ship Lease (FSL) Trust Management, K Line, Pacific International Lines, and TORM.  The industry has also been very supportive of other MaritimeONE activities, especially the internship programme for tertiary students.  About 45 maritime employers will be offering 10-week internships to the NTU’s inaugural cohort of 59 students from the Bachelor of Science in Maritime Studies course.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank these companies for their commitment to maritime manpower development.  Going forward, MaritimeONE will also encourage talented students in non-maritime courses to also sign up for internships with maritime companies to increase the talent pool for the industry.

11            There are also other activities planned under MaritimeONE, such as tomorrow’s Maritime Youth Day, held in conjunction with the Sea Asia maritime trade event.  I urge more companies to come forward to participate in MaritimeONE, which will boost our efforts to attract talent and nurture tomorrow’s leaders of the industry. 

Conclusion

12            To conclude, I would like to thank our partners in MaritimeONE for their participation in this groundbreaking partnership for the promotion of maritime careers in Singapore.  And to the graduating students, I look forward to welcoming you all to the exciting and challenging careers in the maritime industry.  Thank you.