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The future of the maritime sector is not just being mapped out at sea, it is unfolding in laboratories and in the conversations of young people eager to leave their mark on the industry.
That energy was on full display at the Young Mariners’ Networking (YMN) event, where nearly 100 students from the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) and ITE College Central gathered alongside young seafarers for an afternoon packed with ideas, technology and real-world experiences.
Held on 13 May 2026 at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) @ Punggol, the event was jointly organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Young SMOU.
The event kicked off with welcome from Young SMOU Chairman Dominic Yong, setting the tone for what would be an engaging and forward-looking programme. This was followed by sharing sessions from MPA Senior Manager Sasa Wong and SIT’s Associate Professor Wang Xin, Programme Leader, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
But the learning did not stay within the four walls of a lecture setting. Participants stepped into SIT’s where maritime innovation moved from concept to reality. Across four different labs, the youth experienced firsthand how technology is shaping the industry they are preparing to enter.
One highlight was the MAKO Submarine Lab, where two SIT students presented models of the MAKO submarine, a human-powered vessel. Watching the students explain how engineering concepts are applied to real-world challenges gave participants a glimpse into how hands-on and creative maritime innovation can be.
The day concluded with a networking dinner at the Singapore Maritime Gallery, where conversations flowed from career journeys to future aspirations, reinforcing what the event set out to do: connect, inspire, and spark curiosity in the next generation of maritime talent.
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