Virtual Bonds, Real Insights: Young Mariners’ Networking 2020 - SeaVoices - Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) Publication

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18 Dec 2020

3 mins

Virtual Bonds, Real Insights: Young Mariners’ Networking 2020

On 18 November, Young SMOU (YSMOU) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) organised the inaugural virtual Young Mariners’ Networking session, with more than 60 students from Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) and Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

YSMOU Chairman Dominic Yong started the session by introducing the Union followed by MPA’s Low Poh Lyn who gave a detailed presentation on the Tripartite Maritime Scholarship (TMSS) and the career pathway for Singaporean seafarers.

Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI) former seafarers and TMSS scholars also joined in the session to share their experiences on- and offshore. WMI lecturer and former seafarer Muhammad Hisham introduced the Tripartite Maritime Training Award (TMTA) programme and shared how seafaring can be a challenging but rewarding career.

Ong Zi Heng, Vessel Manager, also formerly in the YSMOU Committee, advised the students who will soon embark on their seafaring journey, “Safety onboard a ship is of utmost importance when sailing. Having a positive attitude and teamwork is one of the critical values one must have if you wish to pursue seafaring as a career.”

Chief Officer Choo Jun An, who recently came back ashore, shared, “At the start of my career, I was earning more than my peers and made lifelong friends during my sailing journey.” He concluded his sharing session with a motivational quote, “When you feel like quitting, ask yourself why you first started it.”

The session concluded with a question and answer segment, where speakers addressed questions from the participants. It is through this virtual Young Mariners’ Networking session that participants gained deeper insights and widened their knowledge on seafaring as well as understanding how a union plays an important role in seafarers’ sailing journeys.

“This was my first time participating in the virtual engagement session. I found the event informative as I got to learn more about SMOU and the work they do. I also learned more about the career opportunities within the Maritime Industry from the sharing sessions by former seafarers. I am inspired by their tenacity and passion to do well in the maritime industry.”
– Narendra s/o Muruga, ITE Marine Engineering

“This was my first time attending the virtual Young Mariners’ Networking event. From the session, I got to know more about the benefits of the TMSS scholarships. The sharing sessions by the guest speakers provided us with useful insights especially for students like us who will be embarking on our seagoing journey soon.”

– Pearl Win Htoo, Singapore Maritime Academy