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Maritime Youth Forum 2026 Gathers Tertiary Students and Industry Professionals to Discuss the Future of Shipping for the Next Generation

February 6, 2026
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Singapore, 6 February 2026 — Initiated by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and organised by student leaders from maritime-related societies in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore University of Social Sciences and Singapore Polytechnic, the Maritime Youth Forum is an annual platform for students across Singapore’s tertiary institutions to come together, exchange ideas and build connections with the maritime community. This year, the event hosted over 350 youths and industry professionals, with the youths networking with industry professionals, interacting with peers from different institutions and disciplines, and engaging in discussions on developments in the maritime industry and the impact on careers.

Mr. Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, was the Guest-of-Honour.

A highlight of the forum was a student-moderated panel discussion themed “The Future of Shipping for the Next Generation”, which discussed the acceleration of digitalisation, the growing adoption of AI and sustainability, as well as how youths can tap on new opportunities to build future-ready maritime careers.

The panelists were:

  • Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
  • Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation
  • Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive, Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore
  • Lim Ying Ying, Vice President – Ocean Transportation APAC, Cargill
  • (Moderator) Mr. Eleos Tan, a Maritime Studies student, Nanyang Technological University

The panel discussion was followed by a dinner reception, where student attendees visited the career booths of 17 leading maritime companies to learn more about the diverse career pathways and opportunities in the maritime sector. The list of participating companies can be found in Annex A.

“The Singapore Maritime Foundation initiated the Maritime Youth Forum in 2023 to create a platform for students with an interest in maritime to gather and to interact with industry professionals. I am particularly pleased to see the student leaders taking the lead to organise this with SMF, making this a tradition and an event that all of us look forward to. I thank our partners across the public and private sectors for sharing our commitment to build a talent pipeline for the collective good of the industry,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.

SMF Chairman, Mr. Hor Weng Yew, welcomes more than 350 students and industry professionals to the Maritime Youth Forum 2026
(Right to left) Moderated by Mr. Eleos Tan, the panel on “The Future of Shipping for the Next Generation” comprised Ms. Lim Ying Ying, MOS Baey Yam Keng, Mr. Hor Weng Yew, and Mr. Ang Wee Keong.
MOS Baey Yam Keng connects with attendees following the panel discussion. Photo Credit: Ministry of Transport

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About the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF)

Established in 2004, the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) fosters public-and-private sector collaboration, promotes Singapore as an international maritime centre, and develops a talent pipeline and skilled workforce to position Maritime Singapore for continued growth. For details, visit www.smf.com.sg

Media Contacts:

David Lee
davidlee@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9119 8044

Soh Zheng Xun
sohzhengxun@sgmf.com.sg
+65 8120 2276

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Mr. Lars Kastrup

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LINES

Mr. Lars Kastrup is the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL).

Prior to joining PIL, Mr. Kastrup was CEO of NOL/APL, and subsequently assumed the role of Executive Vice President, Strategy and M&A at CMA CGM Group. A veteran in the global shipping industry with over 30 years of experience, Mr Kastrup’s other roles include Executive Vice President of Assets at CMA CGM Group heading up CMA Terminals, CMA Ships, Container Logistics as well as regional carriers such as MacAndrews, OPDR and Mercosul; as well as Vice President at AP Moller-Maersk.
Mr. Kastrup complemented his tertiary education with leadership and management training at Penn State University and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Angeline Teo

MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD, GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION & OFFSHORE, OCBC BANK

Ms. Angeline Teo is the Managing Director and Head of Global Transportation and Offshore, Global Corporate Banking at OCBC Bank which focuses on the maritime, aviation, land & port ecosystems.
Ms. Teo has spent over three decades in maritime finance. Prior to OCBC, Ms. Teo was working at ING Bank, ABN Amro and DnB in Singapore focusing on maritime and offshore.
Ms. Teo graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Business Administration.

Mr. John Martin

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GARD SINGAPORE

Mr. John Martin began his career in London in 1989 with Richards Hogg Lindley Average Adjusters, and qualified as a Fellow of the UK Association of Average Adjusters in 2000.
At RHL he worked in their offices in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 2003 he joined Gard Hong Kong, as a claims handler. Mr. Martin also worked in Gard Japan, and in 2014 he moved to Singapore to set up the Gard Singapore office.
Besides running Gard Singapore, Mr. Martin also heads the P&I and H&M claims units and is the Senior Claims Representative for Gard in Asia.

Mr. Cyril Ducau

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EASTERN PACIFIC SHIPPING

Mr. Cyril Ducau is the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte Ltd, a leading shipping company headquartered in Singapore for the past 30 years.

He is also currently the Chairman of Kenon Holdings Ltd and a member of the board of directors of Gard P&I (Bermuda) Ltd. and of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation Limited, which was established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. He was previously Head of Business Development of Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited in London from 2008 to 2012 and acted as Director and Chairman of Pacific Drilling SA between 2011 and 2018.
Prior to joining Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited, Mr. Ducau was Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd. in London between 2000 and 2008.
Mr. Ducau graduated from ESCP Europe Business School (Paris, Oxford, Berlin) and holds a Master of Science in business administration and a Diplom Kaufmann.