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Maritime Singapore all-hands-on-deck to equip maritime workforce with future-ready skillsets through the Alliance for Future Maritime Talent

September 23, 2022
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            The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Maritime Foundation are partnering with Pacific Carriers Limited, Pacific International Lines and American Bureau of Shipping, to establish the Alliance for Future Maritime Talent (AFMT).

2          This is one of the key follow-ups by the Maritime Industry Transformation Tripartite Committee (MITTC)[1]. The MITTC was first formed in April 2022 and oversees the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map 2025.

 

Alliance for Future Maritime Talent (AFMT)

3          Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, announced the formation of the AFMT at the Singapore Shipping Association’s 37th Anniversary Gala Dinner in his opening remarks as Guest-of-Honour.

4          The AFMT aims to equip the maritime workforce with new skills as the industry transforms. This will put Singapore in a favourable position in the face of global competition for maritime talent. The AFMT will work closely with industry and unions to implement and review the adoption of emerging future maritime skills in the sector, including key seafaring and shore-based maritime skills, as well as skills needed to enable more effective sea-to-shore transition of seafarers.

5          Please refer to the Annex for quotes from the respective AFMT members and the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union.

 

Tripartite Advisory Panel (TAP)

6          Along with the AFMT, Minister Iswaran also announced the setting up of the Tripartite Advisory Panel (TAP) to support the AFMT in engaging the stakeholders and gathering industry feedback. The TAP will consult unions and industry leaders to identify emerging and future skills, as well as relevant competencies for the maritime industry. Mr Hor Weng Yew, Chairman of Singapore Maritime Foundation and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Carriers Limited, and Mr Nick Potter, General Manager, Shipping and Maritime, Asia, Pacific and the Middle East, Shell, will co-chair the TAP.

7          The AFMT and TAP will enhance existing efforts to build a sustained manpower pipeline and raise the capabilities of maritime talent, ensuring that Maritime Singapore remains reliable, resilient, and ready for the future.

[1] The Maritime Industry Transformation Tripartite Committee comprises six industry representatives across the industry, unions and government – PSA Corporation, Jurong Port Private Limited, the Singapore Shipping Association, Singapore Maritime Foundation, the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

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About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore’s strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore’s port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.

 For more information, please visit https://www.mpa.gov.sg

 

About the Singapore Maritime Foundation

Established in 2004, the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) is a conduit between the public and private sectors to accomplish the twin mission of developing and promoting Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC); and to attract, engage and grow a talent pipeline to position Maritime Singapore for continued growth.

For details, visit www.smf.com.sg

Media Contacts

Ms Joanna Chen

Manager, Corporate Communications Department, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

Mobile: 9154 3781

Email : joanna_chen@mpa.gov.sg

 

Mr Joshua Ong

Executive, Corporate Communications & Development, Singapore Maritime Foundation   

Mobile: 9011 6304

Email: joshuaong@sgmf.com.sg

 

Mr David Lee

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Development, Singapore Maritime Foundation

Mobile: 91198044

Email: davidlee@sgmf.com.sg

Annex – Quotes from the AFMT members and the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union

Mr Hor Weng Yew, Chairman of Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL)  

“Identifying the transition and future skills is foundational to the maritime industry’s transformation. The Alliance for Future Maritime Talent will consult the union and industry widely to prepare the workforce for the changing landscape spurred on by technology and sustainability. At PCL, people and skills development are core to our business strategy; we believe the Alliance will be a strong complement to our effort. In this regard, PCL is proud to be one of the first companies to join the Alliance, and we will give it our full support.”.

 

Mr Lars Kastrup, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific International Lines (PIL)

“PIL is truly privileged to become a founding member of Alliance for Future Maritime Talent (AFMT), which is a good initiative for Singapore. To us, AFMT is an important and timely platform for the key stakeholders of Maritime Singapore to work together in a coordinated way to strengthen the maritime talent pool. The AFMT development is also aligned with our ongoing plan in PIL to adopt a more structured approach to meet the diverse needs for training and development. With the aim of inculcating a continuous learning mindset into our shore staff and seafarers which would propel PIL forward as a future ready organisation.”

 

Mr Christopher J Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)

“Amid the industry’s optimism about the current and future capabilities of all of these new technologies, we must not lose sight of the people we expect to deliver them. It is clear that maritime skillsets will need to rapidly adapt to survive in the new digital normal, and we are all going to have to embrace a new attitude and approach to learning,” said Christopher J Wiernicki, ABS Chaiman, President and CEO. “We are proud to partner with the MPA and the other alliance members to deliver a project which will make such a significant contribution to Singapore’s maritime future.”

 

Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)

“The maritime industry is a key pillar of Singapore’s economy. Therefore, it is critical that we future-proof our workforce with the relevant skillsets to work in an increasingly digital and green maritime sector. The Alliance for Future Maritime Talent can help identify new competencies and work with our tripartite partners to upskill our maritime workers in areas such as maritime cybersecurity and the safe handling of new marine fuels. MPA looks forward to more industry leaders joining the Alliance.”

 

Ms Mary Liew, General Secretary of Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU)

“SMOU welcomes the formation of the Alliance for Future Maritime Talent (AFMT) and Tripartite Advisory Panel to prepare the maritime workforce with new skills and competencies to address opportunities in digitalisation and decarbonisation. The AFMT is the first initiative under the Maritime Industry Transformation Tripartite Committee to drive and implement the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map 2025.”

 

Translated Terms

Alliance for Future Maritime Talent (AFMT)

未来海事人才联盟

Tripartite Advisory Panel (TAP)

海事业三方咨询团

 

 

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