Singapore Maritime Foundation News

The Singapore government has recounted the achievements of Maritime Singapore to date to highlight the nation’s successes as a maritime hub in 2023:Total business spending by key maritime companies overseen by MPA exceeded S$4.8 billion, up from S$4.3 billion in 2022. Twenty-five maritime companies established or expanded their operations in Singapore last year. These included maritime services companies and companies setting up sustainability desks in Singapore as part of their…

Chee Hong Tat, Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport, announced a record year in 2023 at a Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Conversations event.The annual vessel arrival tonnage in the Port of Singapore crossed three billion gross tonnage (GT) for the first time, increasing by 9.4% over 2022 and setting a high of 3.09 billion GT in 2023. This reflects growth in all segments, including container ships, dry bulk carriers, liquid bulk and chemical tankers, ferries and specialised vessels…

DNV has published a study co-sponsored by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), examining the key drivers transforming the maritime industry and their impact on ship management and seafarers.The study was officially handed to SMF Chairman Hor Weng Yew during the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo.The research draws on a comprehensive methodology combining a literature review, expert consultations, and a survey of over 500 seafarers responsible for operating dry bulk, tanker, and container vessels globally.

The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) has launched a Maritime Workforce Transformation Guidebook which offers a practical approach for companies in the maritime sector to embark on job redesign to better attract talent to the industry.The Guidebook is distilled from key findings of a job redesign pilot conducted in 2022 by SMF in partnership with Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL) Pacific International Lines (PIL). The pilot, which focused on the roles of a Technical Superintendent and a Vessel Operator…

Singapore's Ministry of Transport announced that Teo Eng Dih will take over as chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), succeeding Quah Ley Hoon, who will step down on September 5, 2022.Teo Eng Dih, currently Deputy Secretary (Policy) of the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF), is responsible for MINDEF’s defense policy and diplomacy, strategic and public communications, and Total Defense. He oversaw the expansion of defense cooperation with international partners and strengthening of collaborations at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) platform.

Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health, launched the Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map (ITM) at the annual Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Cocktail Reception. Developed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in partnership with the industry, unions and other government agencies, the Sea Transport ITM builds on MPA’s strategic long term plans to develop Singapore’s next-generation port and strengthen our international maritime centre (IMC). Specific initiatives have been laid out under the Sea Transport ITM to catalyse innovation, drive productivity improvements, as well as enhance the skills of the maritime workforce.

Amid structural and cyclical changes brought about by over-capacity, mega-alliances, increasing digitisation, as well as economic and geopolitical uncertainties, Singapore remains a premier global hub port and leading international maritime centre that held steady growth in 2016. In the face of headwinds, Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2017 – organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) – will rally the global maritime industry for a week of discussions and networking to address critical issues impacting the regional and international maritime scene today. Into its 12th year, SMW will feature a record number of 34 events, including 20 business forums, eight networking receptions and six community outreach events.

OSV@Vivo has been taken to the heart of the Singapore public with an anticipated 4,000 visitors, expected to throng the two state-of-the-art Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) “Pacific Legacy” and “VOS Prince” moored at local shopping mall Vivocity Waterfront Promenade from 21 to 23 April 2016. Local institutes of higher learning are lending their support to this inaugural event with some 600 students from the Institute of Technical Education and Ngee Ann Polytechnic already registered to attend. This industry-led project, spearheaded by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) and held in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week, is designed to create awareness of the offshore marine sector – a key sector in the Singapore maritime industry.

Playing an active role and making meaningful contributions to the workings and development of the Tripartite Maritime Manpower Taskforce initiatives for both seafaring and shore-based jobs will be one of the major priorities for the new Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) Council, its recently elected President has announced. Addressing a press briefing in Singapore yesterday, Esben Poulsson said the initiative, spearheaded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)…

Singapore is gearing up to host more than 14,000 participants from over 60 countries, this month, at Sea Asia 2015 — one of the region’s largest maritime conferences and leading forum for analysis and debate on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Singapore Maritime Foundation chairman, Michael Chia, said this year’s Sea Asia recognizes Singapore’s position as an international maritime centre and highlight the role the industry has played in the country’s growth. “The maritime industry, which employs some 170,000 people in Singapore and contributes around 7% of Singapore’s GDP, has played a key role in driving Singapore’s development and this trend is set to continue,” he said in a press release.

Maritime industry leaders have called for greater collaboration and consolidation in Asia to tackle challenges such as the rise over capacity, talent shortages and environmental sustainability, which are impacting the potential of the industry. Speaking at an industry insights briefing today ahead of the launch of Sea Asia 2015, the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore Assistant Chief Executive (Development) Tan Beng Tee; PIL Managing Director and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) Chairman S.S.

The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) said it has underlined its commitment to investing in the future of the Singapore and global shipping industry by sponsoring S$50,000 through three scholarships during the 2014/2015 academic year. The scholarships will come under the the MaritimeONE Scholarship Program administered by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and will be offered to students attending the Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore Maritime Academy at the Singapore Polytechnic. Applications for MaritimeONE scholarships will be from April 1-May 31, 2014.

As the global economy slowly returned to growth, the Port of Singapore says it maintained its global lead in bunker sales, and achieved good growth in annual vessel arrival tonnage, container and cargo throughput in 2013. Singapore informs it is now home to about 130 shipping groups. The maritime cluster employs more than 170,000 people and contributes some seven per cent to Singapore's Gross Domestic Product, facts that were reflected in the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's advance estimates of port indicators announced by Minister for Transport…

Singapore will continue its drive to be a leading international maritime center and will work even more closely with countries and shipping associations in the region to realize its goal of creating a unified ‘Asian Voice’ in the shipping industry. This was the message given by Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) President Patrick Phoon at a press conference held at the start of Singapore Maritime Week. “World shipping is moving east, that is clear, so it is important for the SSA to work more closely with other organisations in Asia to ensure the Asian message is heard internationally.

China’s shift towards a domestic consumer demand-oriented economy could provide a significant boost to the global shipping industry, as the world’s second largest economy targets more sustainable growth. “2013 will be another peak year of new vessel deliveries. Oversupply of capacity is still an obstacle for the shipping industry to overcome, but with the improvement of the world economy, the shipping sector is expected to experience moderate growth,” said Mr Xu Lirong, President of China Shipping (Group) Company. Mr Xu will examine this key issue affecting China, and the nation’s pivotal position in the international maritime arena, in a conference summit at Sea Asia, the region’s leading maritime event, in Singapore next April.

Sea Asia 2011 ended on a high note this evening with a clutch of records broken at what is now confirmed as Asia’s leading maritime conference and exhibition. As Sea Asia closed at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, it was revealed by the organisers that 12,167 people attended the three-day event this week. Over 90% of visitors surveyed agreed that Sea Asia 2011 is a leading and prestigious industry event. The number, comprising visitors, exhibitors, conference delegates, speakers and media, was announced as the dates for the next Sea Asia were confirmed.

Focus on the Bulk Sectors – Facing a Crisis or Ample Opportunities? The Sea Asia conference focused on the bulk markets this afternoon with a lively debate among panelists on where the tanker and dry bulk shipping markets are heading. The session was the highlight of the afternoon’s proceedings which followed on from the opening session on container market trades this morning. The show, which articulates the Voice of the Asian maritime communities, has captured the imagination of the global shipping community.