When he was a deck cadet in 1999, Capt Xie became a beneficiary of SMOU‘s Cadet Scholarship Scheme which was launched a year earlier. Competition was stiff as only 3 cadets were selected. Even though it was not a full scholarship, the award amounted to $3000 a year for three years.

“My family was not well off. My father was a taxi driver and my mother was working in a Seagate factory then. Without the financial help, it would have been a lot tougher to get by,” Capt Xie, the eldest of three siblings, highlighted.  

In 2008, SMOU stepped in and offered timely help when Capt Xie was pursuing his COC 2. Since his company did not sponsor him, he was deemed not eligible to benefit from the Maritime Cluster Fund.

“Fortunately for me, SMOU recognises my struggle. Under the SMTF initiative, my financial burdens were lightened because the scheme helps to finance a portion of my course. I am very grateful to the union for this and it was only with the help that I continued pursuing my career and eventually obtain my COC 2,” he pointed out.

This is the reason why Capt Xie is a strong supporter of skills upgrading and the Sail Milestone Achievement Programme (SailMAP).

The program, launched by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and tripartite partners (unions and industry) including SMOU, offers each local seafarer up to S$50,000 when they attain key career milestones, including a sign-on bonus of S$10,000 when they sign-on their first vessel as a Certificate of Competency (COC) Class 3 (deck officer) or 5 (marine engineer) holder.

“SailMAP is such a good step forward to build the Singapore core. With SailMAP, seafarers receive some income when they are studying and not sailing. They can focus on upgrading their skills and knowledge without which they can’t get promoted. Help is always welcome by the seafarers,” Capt Xie spoke out.

To pay it forward, Capt Xie serves as a SMOU General Council member. “It is important to have a younger person’s voice represented in the leadership. We face all the challenges that come with a maritime career at sea and know the support seafarers need.”

He commends the Union for going the extra mile to send food from the Lighthouse Bistro to seafarers who needed to serve quarantine in the different hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every form of encouragement goes a long way and the Union’s support given to seafarers is important,” Capt Xie said.

“The help from SMOU smoothened the bumpy road to me becoming a Captain. So press on. It is an achievable feat but it takes grit and requires you to have your eyes firmly fixed on the goal.”