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Energised by a shared passion for the maritime industry, close to 150 youth attended the bi-annual Young Mariners’ Networking – Maritime Insights Forum on 14 May 2025. Jointly organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU), the event welcomed maritime students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA), as well as young seafarers and youths in the maritime sector.
The forum kicked off with an engaging workshop titled “Building Connections in Maritime,” led by Ms Yasmin Abdeen, an experienced trainer from the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). Participants learned the essentials of networking—developing strong interpersonal communication, building rapport, and applying the SHIP method (Start conversations, Help whenever possible, Initiate follow-ups, and Practice consistency). Ms Yasmin also provided actionable tips such as using positive body language, ending conversations with a question, and creating common ground.
A series of impactful sharings followed, offering participants valuable perspectives from various corners of the maritime industry. Mr David Lee, Deputy Director of the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), shed light on the wide range of career opportunities available in the maritime sector. He also introduced the MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme, while emphasising the increasing relevance of soft skills, digital competencies, and maritime domain knowledge in today’s evolving industry landscape.
Mr Noor Hafiz, Principal Marine Surveyor at MPA, spoke about the nation’s ongoing decarbonisation efforts. He highlighted key initiatives that support the transition to alternative fuels in shipping, reinforcing Singapore’s commitment to sustainable maritime practices.
Rounding off the session was 4th Engineer Yin Jinghong, who delivered a heartfelt sharing of her seafaring journey. She recounted the challenges and achievements she experienced at sea and the pivotal role that SMOU played in supporting her professional development.
Lively Q&A sessions and quizzes kept participants actively engaged. To thank the speakers for their valuable contributions, tokens of appreciation were presented by Mr Sasa Wong (Senior Manager, Seafarers, Policy, Development, and Welfare of MPA) and Ms Siti Nellisa (Vice President of SMOU).
The evening continued with a networking dinner and interactive booth activities, such as
The forum not only equipped young mariners with valuable insights and practical skills but also fostered meaningful connections—charting a strong course toward the future of Singapore’s maritime industry.
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