Welcome Address by Mr Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport, at Singapore Maritime Officers Union & Wavelink Lunar New Year Luncheon

Brother Rahim Bin Jaffar, President, Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU),

Sister Mary Liew, General Secretary,

Brothers and sisters,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.       75 years is a major milestone. SMOU’s history goes back to 1951.

a.       In those days, there were many seafaring unions, but SMOU stood out.

2.       What made this group different was its organisation and discipline.

a.       While some unions relied on strikes, this group focused on negotiating the best possible outcomes for its members.

3.       As Singapore grew from a regional maritime hub to a global one, SMOU also grew.

a.       SMOU was the first Singapore union that joined the International Transport Workers’ Federation in 1971 and also signed the first collective agreement with a foreign shipping line – Transocean Liners.

4.       When things are good, we all celebrate. But there are also occasions when the industry face challenging times. And that is where SMOU stepped up through its mettle.

a.       In 1985, we were badly hit by the global recession.

b.       One third of the ships covered by SMOU’s collective agreements deregistered from the Singapore Registry.

c.        Many maritime officers lost their jobs.

d.       This was where the maritime unions really stepped up, supporting its members through wage freezes and helping to prevent further job losses.

5.       It was around this time that SMOU made a major pivot to focus on training and development, recognising that this was a key value add that it could provide for its members.

a.       SMOU launched a scheme to subsidise members for retraining programmes.

b.       These training efforts were so successful that they continued even after the sector recovered.

c.        This gave SMOU the confidence and the momentum to establish the Wavelink Maritime Institute, which has since trained over 25,000 maritime officers and cadets. This is a remarkable achievement.

Maritime Singapore 

6.       Maritime Singapore contributes about 6% of our GDP and employs over 140,000 people.

a.       It is a key enabler for trade and the rest of our economy – including manufacturing, wholesale trade, and logistics.

b.       Many large multinational companies are here in Singapore.

c.        And when we look for examples of successful global Singapore companies, one of the first names that comes up is PSA.

d.       Singapore’s reputation for being a global hub for goods and services is anchored on our connectivity.

Maritime Workforce  

7.       The key to maintaining the success of the sector is our workers.

8.       Over 12% of our local maritime workforce today is above the age of 60.

a.       Many experienced professionals, who shaped the story of Maritime Singapore, will retire in the next decade.

b.       So, we need more young Singaporeans to enter the sector.

9.       Today, there are many attractive jobs in the maritime sector.

10.      Experienced maritime officers command competitive salaries that reflect the level of responsibility and technical expertise required.

a.       For senior ranks like Chief Engineers, monthly earnings usually exceed US$10,000 or more depending on the vessel class and experience.

b.       A seafaring career also offers strong progression pathways.

c.        Many officers move into shore-based roles that directly build on their sailing experience at sea – becoming fleet managers, marine or technical superintendents.

d.       Sea experience is an important foundation for leadership roles across the wider maritime ecosystem.

11.      The Government has stepped up our efforts to recruit more Singaporeans into maritime – including students and mid-career professionals.

a.       Two years ago, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Foundation established a Joint Office for Talent and Skills, to better coordinate tripartite efforts to strengthen our workforce pipeline.

b.       The Joint Office has launched tailored maritime training courses and connected young talent with maritime employers.

12.      But we need to do even more, so that the sector can continue to grow and thrive.

13.      To some extent, technology can help to address our manpower shortages. But it will not fully close the gap in workforce supply. We will continue to require skilled officers in our industry.

14.      The maritime industry of the future will still depend on capable Singaporeans stepping forward to join our sector.

a.       That is why we must work together to build up the pipeline of maritime workers.

b.       This is a collective effort. And I welcome the ideas and suggestions from the unions to partner the Government to do more.

Conclusion 

15.      Looking ahead, maritime will remain central to Singapore’s future.

a.       We have built a maritime ecosystem that is competitive, reliable, and trusted worldwide.

b.       But the continued strength of Maritime Singapore will depend on our people – their skills, willingness to upgrade, and readiness to step forward.

c.        The task ahead is for us to continue this journey and this evolution, so that our maritime sector remains one of Singapore’s enduring strategic advantages.

16.      Let me end by wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year. 

          祝 大家新年快乐，身体健康。

          马年大吉 ，马到  成功!