Press Release

Record Turnout for First-Ever Maritime Careers Workshop for Graduates of All Disciplines

Seven Leading Maritime Companies Partner the Maritime Singapore Connect (MSC) Office to Share about Career Opportunities in the Singapore Maritime Industry

Singapore, 18 August 2017 – Over 140 undergraduates from across all disciplines, working professionals with less than two years of work experience and industry partners gathered earlier this afternoon at the Pan Pacific Singapore for the MSC Maritime Careers Workshop. Participants had the rare opportunity to learn from seven leading local and international maritime companies about career opportunities in an industry that contributes to 7% of Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Interest in the Careers Workshop surged this year, with numbers doubling from the inaugural edition. The event started by the MSC Office, an initiative of the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), had focused on maritime and engineering students last year, with an emphasis on job roles in the port and shipping sectors. This year, in response to the industry’s desire to attract talent in both maritime and non-maritime fields, the MSC Office expanded the programme to include graduates of all disciplines as well as working professionals new to the workforce.

The seven companies involved in the breakout sessions to share about their businesses and typical job roles included Jurong Port, Maersk Singapore, Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL), PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH), PSA Corporation, QBE Insurance (Singapore) and Western Bulk.

We are encouraged by the strong interest in this year’s event and it is noteworthy that more than half of the signups are from graduates of a non-maritime discipline. As the world’s leading International Maritime Centre (IMC) and premier global hub port, there are over 5,000 companies in Maritime Singapore which will need talent from all disciplines.

Mr. David Chin, Executive Director of the Singapore Maritime Foundation

This event aims to show our graduates why Maritime is an industry of choice, and provide entry-level jobseekers an idea of what they can expect by being part of the workforce,” continued Mr David Chin, Executive Director of the Singapore Maritime Foundation.

“I found out about the Maritime Careers Workshop online and wanted to find out more about the industry. As a fresh graduate, I was keen to learn about the various jobs available that would benefit me, commented Ms Ang Yen Ting from SIM/University of Birmingham, a graduate in International Business Studies. “The interactive session provided insights from people from all walks of life and who are all now in the maritime industry. It was an eye-opener and it now gives me an avenue in finding the right job. I will definitely attend more MSC events in the near future.”

Mr Lim Ziyi, Zac, a Year 4 SMU Maritime Economics Track student tells us of his experience after attending this workshop, “This workshop is well-structured and it is great to be able to interact with speakers from such well-known companies. I was given a lot of insights into the maritime industry from the professionals, making me more confident to pursue a career in this industry.”

“Our talent pool is a critical success factor in our drive to becoming the next generation multipurpose port operator. We are always keen to share with interested parties the exciting career opportunities within Jurong Port. The MSC Maritime Careers Workshop provides us with an engaging platform to reach out to a diverse group of talented jobseekers,” said Ms Venny, Deputy Manager of Human Resources from Jurong Port.

“The maritime industry is evolving as with many other industries these days, and we need to be able to tap into pools of talent not traditionally associated with shipping. We are happy to partner with the Maritime Singapore Connect Office for this event to showcase the wide range of opportunities of employment this great industry can offer; we need everything from traders and programmers to lawyers and risk managers!” said Ms Sigrid Schrødter Teig, Chief Process Officer and General Manager of Western Bulk Pte Ltd, a leading dry bulk shipping operator headquartered in Oslo, with offices in Singapore, Seattle and Santiago.

The MSC Maritime Careers Workshop follows on from the recent launch of the new Maritime Singapore Connect website (www.maritimesgconnect.com) last month, as a one-stop resource for information of interest to students and jobseekers. Individuals could upload their resumes as an indication of their interest in internships or jobs, and maritime companies in Singapore would use the website to contact interested candidates whenever a suitable role arises.

  • About Singapore Maritime Foundation

    The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) was established on 27 January 2004 to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among maritime stakeholders from the public and private sectors. As the bridge between the public and private sectors, SMF aims to provide the industry with a clear and representative voice, and spearhead projects to boost its development.

    SMF also organises and participates in a host of maritime events to strengthen the Maritime Singapore brand. To date, SMF has significantly benefitted from strong support from all sectors of the industry which has enabled the organisation to reach out directly to the community for new areas of work to improve the current maritime ecosystem.

    For details, please visit www.smf.com.sg.

  • About Maritime Singapore Connect Office

    Maritime Singapore Connect (MSC) was set up in 2016 to elevate profiling efforts of the maritime industry, connect students and jobseekers to maritime opportunities, and provide Singaporeans with easy access to maritime careers, education and training opportunities.

    As a unit under the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), MSC serves as a central node connecting maritime employers, industry associations, schools and government agencies with students and jobseekers. It offers maritime-related education and career guidance, links the industry with schools for internship and job opportunities and organises outreach events and publicity campaigns.

    For details, please visit www.maritimesgconnect.com.

Media Contacts

  • Right Hook Communications

    Debbie Pereira
    Account Manager
    debbie@righthook.com.sg
    (65) 6291 1393

  • Singapore Maritime Foundation

    Regina Lim
    Senior Manager
    reginalim@sgmf.com.sg
    (65) 6325 0117