Speech by Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment and Transport, at the SNAMES 50th Anniversary Dinner

Dr Ang Joo Hock, President of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Singapore,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.     Good evening. I am happy to join you today for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Singapore, or SNAMES (pronounced “snaymes”). Congratulations on your Golden Jubilee! 

SNAMES’s Contributions to the Maritime Sector

2.     Over the past 50 years, SNAMES has steadily advanced the interests and expertise of naval architects and marine engineers in Singapore, and supported the growth of the broader maritime ecosystem. Through technical masterclasses with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), such as Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, SNAMES has equipped its members with skills to capture opportunities in digitalisation and decarbonisation, including in emerging areas such as offshore wind energy.  

3.     Earlier this year, SNAMES set up a Youth Wing to cultivate interest and attract young professionals to the diverse career opportunities in the maritime sector. This complements efforts by the Singapore Maritime Foundation and MPA’s MaritimeSG Youth Ambassadors programme. SNAMES plans to expand their outreach efforts to students from more IHLs later this year. These efforts are important in sustaining a pipeline of talent that can continue to drive the growth of Maritime Singapore.

4.     SNAMES has also actively expanded its network of local and international partners to include industry experts, IHLs and trade associations. This large network provides opportunities for mentorship and networking for professionals in the sector, which fosters closer collaboration amongst industry stakeholders, academia and the Government to jointly address challenges in the maritime industry.

5.     In December next year, SNAMES and the National University of Singapore will host the prestigious Advanced Maritime Engineering Conference, which is expected to attract over 200 local and international delegates from marine engineering societies to discuss the latest developments in marine engineering and sustainable maritime practices. Such initiatives are important opportunities to exchange expertise and strengthen Singapore’s reputation as a global leader in the maritime industry.

New Opportunities for Collaboration with SNAMES

6.     Looking ahead, digitalisation and decarbonisation will continue to be the twin drivers of transformation in the maritime industry, and SNAMES will continue to play an important role as we navigate this transition. Naval architecture will be a key enabler in designing green ships that incorporate new technologies and run on alternative fuels. Your professional expertise and dedication to innovation will be invaluable as we build capabilities in new areas such as remote and autonomous ship operations and remote maintenance solutions to enhance productivity.

7.     We must continue to secure a strong talent pool to drive the transformation of the maritime industry. MPA has stepped up efforts to attract and retain talent in maritime roles, through redesigning career pathways and providing opportunities to expose more students to the maritime sector.

a.     MPA has worked with local shipping companies to redesign traditional maritime roles. One example is the “assistant technical superintendent role”, which requires fewer years of seafaring experience compared to a technical superintendent role. Through lowering the barriers to entry, the role has become more accessible and attractive to a wider group of workers, including naval architects and marine engineers.

b.     To grow the talent pipeline of naval architects and marine engineers, MPA has partnered SIT on their Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, a three-year direct honours programme that provides students the opportunity to gain in-depth work experience in a variety of areas such as ship management, ship building and offshore renewables. 

c.     MPA also offers the Global Internship Award for students to gain on-the-job training and global exposure at international maritime companies in Singapore and around the world, to deepen their understanding of the maritime industry and enhance their employability. 

8.     With your strong network of partners across the industry and academia, SNAMES is well positioned to work with MPA and like-minded partners to accelerate these talent attraction and retention efforts.

Conclusion

9.     I would like to take this opportunity to thank SNAMES for your strong support for the maritime sector over the past five decades. Collaboration is key to overcome the challenges ahead and drive the transformation of the maritime sector. In the next five decades and beyond, I look forward to our continued partnership to push new frontiers of growth for Maritime Singapore.

10.    Congratulations once again to SNAMES! Have a wonderful evening ahead. Thank you.