Talent of the Singapore Maritime Industry

Mr Niam Chiang Meng, Chairman of MPA, delivered an opening address at the Maritime Manpower Forum, speaking on four areas that will create jobs in the coming years for the Maritime Industry. The first is the next-generation Tuas Port, which will house many digitalised and automated operations, which will require more skilled workers to design and maintain the port’s complex automated systems. Secondly, MPA has targeted bringing in $20 billion in business spending commitment as investments for our International Maritime Centre. The economic spinoffs from this would provide more job opportunities for our workforce.

Thirdly, MPA will support more maritime R&D projects, tripling the number of maritime technology start-ups supported by the programme by 2025, which may spur highly skilled jobs for Singaporeans. And lastly, going green and using alternative energy sources will create jobs that require different skill sets and job types, which will be available for our workforce.

Attracting Talent for the Future

As jobs will be created in the upcoming years, MPA and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) will also intensify efforts to attract and develop talent for these roles. Mr Niam highlighted recent efforts to feature prospects of the Maritime industry in mainstream media and alternative social media through a talent attraction campaign. He added that more will be done in this area to show that the maritime sector is multifaceted, inclusive, and exciting and to make the sector attractive to the young.

The SMF will also be enhancing their Maritime Singapore Connect (MSC) portal to improve functionalities and help job seekers better find job vacancies and individualized job matching. MPA also recently launched a Maritime Leadership Programme which will help junior management staff gain fresh perspective on global maritime issues, develop leadership capabilities, and cultivate industry networks.

In closing, Mr Ong encouraged the maritime sector to draw young potential by getting them to love the sea for our maritime industry to deepen international collaboration. Singapore needs to be committed to collaborating with others and be driven by our love for the sea and the idea that the oceans are our most important global commons, which hold the common heritage of mankind and connect rather than separate the peoples of different lands.