Over the two days, the meetings addressed the agenda centered around the challenges faced by shipping companies and encouraging more companies to do more for the Singapore Core.

MPA provided an overview of Singapore’s maritime landscape and shared what schemes companies can use to flag their vessels under Singapore and training funds that can be tapped upon to encourage Singaporeans to take up a career in maritime. SMOU Assistant General Secretary Gwee Guo Duan presented the union’s schemes and initiatives to build the Singapore Core and was also updated on the recently concluded International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Congress held in Singapore. With an emphasis on sustainable shipping and global threats, shipping companies voiced their concerns and discussed how the Singapore maritime industry can be improved in terms of efficiency and flexibility of its services.

The meetings provided a platform for all participants to have a more profound understanding of the needs of social partners, share their challenges, take stock of the current challenges in the maritime industry, and strengthen tripartite relations. Through the discussions, tripartite partners sought ways to work together to help one another in building the Singapore Core, training and helping shipping companies grow their fleets so that workers in the maritime industry can have better jobs and lives.

In this historical meeting where tripartite representation and voices were addressed, the common goal can only achieve a triple win for all, for a vibrant future of maritime in Singapore.