SMOU’s standing in ITF was reinforced when Liew was elected as its Vice President – the first woman VP from Asia-Pacific. Affectionately known by ITF comrades as the “Tiger of Asia”, Emeritus GS Thomas Tay, who was the former Executive Board member and the First Vice Chairman of the ITF Seafarers’ Section in Asia, gave SMOU another reason to celebrate when he was awarded the ITF Gold Award, the Federation’s highest honour. This was the first award that Mr Thomas Tay was awarded by the ITF.

To top it off, Young SMOU Chairman Dominic Yong was also elected into the ITF youth committee to represent the Asia Pacific region, assuring the Union of a continued voice in the international body. 

Ong Yen Her, who was National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary for Industrial Relations and an adviser to SMOU in the 1980s, credits SMOU with putting Singapore on the maritime map through its dealings with ITF, elevating the local sector by establishing itself as a trustworthy and effective advocate.

“The contributions of the Union to industrial relations, to international relations, to the whole industry and economy, are very significant. It’s very clear. And always underappreciated. People ignore or don’t really pay attention to our relationships with the international organisations, but it’s very important, particularly in this (maritime) area,” said Ong.

Besides advancing Singapore’s interests, SMOU also plays an unofficial mediating role in ITF when there are member disputes. For example, when an Asian country’s shipping federations had disagreements among themselves, it was Singapore and SMOU that offered to broker peace, rallying other neutral affiliates to hold dialogues.