Mega Maritime Event in Singapore
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.
“2015 is a big year with Singapore celebrating its 50th anniversary — key milestones to reflect on the sectors which have helped Singapore become what it is today.”
“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.
Estimates show that Singapore’s container throughput for 2014 achieved another record high – 33.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) — growing by 4% from 2013. Vessel arrival tonnage also rose by 1.9% last year to 2.37 billion gross tonnage (GT) and Singapore continues to be the world’s top bunkering port with 42.4 million tonnes sold in 2014.
“Singapore continues to cement its position as an international maritime centre,” he said.
Seatrade chairman, Chris Hayman, said the new realities facing the industry such as falling oil prices, an unstable Eurozone and the emergence of new cargo generators such as Africa will be discussed in-depth at Sea Asia 2015.