Opening Remarks by Minister of State for Transport, Mr Murali Pillai, at the Maritime Manpower Forum

The Modern Seafaring Nation  

Excellencies, 

Distinguished guests and partners, 

Colleagues and friends of the maritime community, 

1.     A very good morning to all.

2.     This week has brought many thought-provoking conversations on pressing global challenges and opportunities. From geopolitics to global governance, decarbonisation to digitalisation, these transformations are fundamentally reshaping the maritime industry. 

3.     Singapore is almost alone among countries, as an island that is nearly completely urbanised. When we say the “city-state” of Singapore, many think of our economy as being powered by high finance and gleaming skyscrapers. The fact is, Singapore is as much a nation of seafarers, a country whose greatest asset is our people - and the geography of oceans in which we lie. 

4.     It is appropriate that we round off each year's Singapore Maritime Week with a focus on the maritime workforce. Yesterday, we held the inaugural Talent@SMW event. It was a chance to see the rich offerings within our universities and post-secondary institutions such as  polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education for those interested in joining the maritime sector.

5.     Together, all of us – educators, maritime companies, international organisations, industry leaders and unions – can work together to develop a maritime workforce that is well-equipped for the future.

Modern Seafarers 

6.     First, I would like to address the critical need to train and upskill seafarers globally to prepare for transformations in the industry. Seafarers are a key pillar supporting seaborne trade and are crucial for keeping the global supply chains flowing. 

7.     With international shipping transiting to alternative fuels, seafarers need to be equipped with skills to handle these fuels and associated new technologies. Singapore has a part to play in this, as it chairs the International Maritime Organization Working Group which develops training guidelines for seafarers on board ships using alternative fuels. The Working Group developed interim training guidelines applicable to all types of alternative fuels and new technologies at the recent 11th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping. It has also started to look into more specific interim training guidelines. This will support the future development of training requirements under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. 

8.     Aside from establishing training standards, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has set up the Maritime Energy Training Facility or METF, which brings together a diverse network of 52 partners worldwide, including global marine engine manufacturers, international organisations, classification societies, trade associations, unions, and institutes of higher learning. The facility will tap on expertise from training partners to train the global maritime workforce to safely handle and operate alternative-fuelled vessels.

9.     In 2024, the METF rolled out first-of-its kind training courses for the safe handling of methanol as fuel for ships through the Singapore Maritime Academy and more than 500 maritime professionals have participated in the courses. I am happy to update that new training programmes for the safe operation of electric harbour craft are being developed by MPA and one of our post-secondary institutions, ITE College Central. The programmes, expected to be launched later this year, will support technicians, engineers and operators in developing the skills and competencies to safely operate and maintain electric harbour crafts. With more electric vessels in the pipeline, the introduction of the accredited and certified course will support the decarbonisation of our domestic harbour craft sector, in line with our national emissions targets. 

10.    We are also preparing the global maritime workforce for future developments in AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity. The MPA-Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) Joint Office for Talent and Skills, established in 2024, coordinates tripartite efforts to upskill the Maritime Singapore workforce, and ensures access to a diverse pool of maritime talents and experts. SMF has partnered with the National University of Singapore to pilot an applied data science and analytics course for maritime professionals, using a continuous education model that can be subsequently built into stackable micro-credentials in future.

Attracting Talent 

11.    Beyond preparing our maritime workforce for the future, we are also enhancing our approach to attracting talent and developing maritime professionals.

12.    For seafarers, I had shared earlier this week that MPA, the Singapore Maritime Officers Union, e2i and SkillsFuture Singapore have come together to enhance training support for the Tripartite Maritime Training Award seafaring trainees. We have shortened the training duration while maintaining the rigour of the curriculum and increased the monthly training allowance support. A structured mentorship programme will also be introduced to support cadets in their transition to a seafaring career.

13.    For shore-based maritime professionals, our approach is to develop them to be well-rounded, with not just deep industry know-how, but also a global perspective and a good understanding of adjacent areas with a strong bearing on their business. This approach begins with our students and is enabled by stronger partnerships between industry and academia. I am pleased to announce two new collaborations. 

a.     First, Bureau Veritas and the Singapore Institute of Technology are launching the Centre for Maritime Electrification. The centre will focus on applied research in emerging electric ship technologies and facilitate knowledge sharing. Students can pursue advanced studies through SIT's Industrial Doctorate and Industrial Masters programmes. 

b.     Second, SIT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, with the American Bureau of Shipping to advance ship and system design. Under the MOU, both organisations will explore research areas such as power system simulation, shore-to-ship charging technologies, and augmented reality applications. The partnership will also provide undergraduate placement opportunities through SIT's Integrated Work Study Programme and Capstone projects which allow students to integrate theory and practice, and develop deep specialist skills in electric ship safety, ship energy efficiency assessment, and maritime decarbonisation.

14.    For working professionals, Workforce Singapore’s Career Conversion Programme, or CCP, for Sea Transport Professionals and Associates facilitates the entry of mid-career individuals into new roles in the maritime sector. It also encourages companies to reskill and place their existing employees in redesigned job roles. The CCP covers not only traditional maritime roles but also emerging adjacent areas such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, and cybersecurity. The programme has been a success, with strong interest and participation from the industry. The Singapore Shipping Association, the Sea Transport CCP’s programme partner, saw a significant surge in uptake for the programme in 2024.  

15.    But a true seafarer, whether modern or of old, has a spirit of adventure and an openness to the world. To provide maritime professionals with a global perspective, Workforce Singapore launched the Overseas Markets Immersion Programme in November 2024. The programme provides funding for companies to send their local employees abroad, and I look forward to more companies from the maritime sector taking part in this effort.

Conclusion

16.    In Singapore, our journey has succeeded so far, due to a sturdy foundation of tripartite collaboration – a beacon that has guided us through both calm seas and stormy weather.  

17.    But the true measure of our success lies not just in the tonnage we move or the technologies we adopt, but in our unfailing commitment to charting new waters and the lives we enrich in the process. Singapore sees our efforts in transforming the global maritime workforce as part of our maritime destiny. Like everyone here today, we too, are proud to count ourselves as members of the community of seafarers and maritime professionals. Thank you.