ANNOUNCEMENT : The MERIT Programme will lapse in February 2009. All applications for grants will be accepted up to 28 February 2009.

MERIT is a programme to help maritime enterprises defray costs incurred in modernising and upgrading operations through the use of Information Technology (IT). Any applicant meeting the eligibility criteria set out below may apply for a grant from the MPA under the MERIT programme

• Eligibility 
  • A maritime company or firm registered with the Singapore Registry of Companies and Businesses.
  • A company or firm with a business presence in Singapore.
  • A company with at least 30% local equity.
  • A company or a firm which does not have more than 200 employees.
    (excluding crew members working onboard vessels).*
  • A company or firm with fixed assets (defined as net book value of property, machinery and equipment and excluding floating vessels and crafts) not exceeding $15 million.*
    * Computed on a group basis
• Scope of Assistance
  • Assistance of up to 70% of the cost of developing a new IT system for each company or firm.
  • The development of a new IT system under the MERIT programme (the "Project") may be in the following areas :
    • Automation or computerisation of key business processes including financial management, human resource management, market development, inventory management, ship management, fleet management, customer relationship management, etc
    • Management of information
    • Connection with business partners, e.g. Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI") connections.

How to Apply
All applications for grants under the MERIT programme shall be on the prescribed form (the "MERIT Application Form"), fully completed and received by the MPA before the Project commences. Applications received after the Project has commenced will not be considered.
Applications must be accompanied by all of the following documents :

1. The duly completed MERIT Application Form.
2. A copy of the Registry of Companies and Businesses Instant Business Profile.
3. A copy of the latest financial statements of the applicant.
4. The detailed proposal for the Project in a format acceptable to MPA. Refer to MERIT Project Proposal Template.
5. The brochures and quotations, if available, of the products/services to be utilised in respect of the Project.
6. Such other information as may be required by MPA.

How to Submit Claims
Claims should be sent to the the MPA no later than 1 year from the scheduled completion date of the Project as specified in the applicant's MERIT Application Form, failing which no payments shall be made by the MPA.
The following documents shall be submitted in respect of any claim made pursuant to a grant under the MERIT programme :

1. All relevant invoices and corresponding receipts rendered to the applicant in respect of the Project (including cheque numbers, where applicable).
2. Relevant bank statements of the applicant (to show payment and clearance of cheques, where applicable).
3. The prescribed form of the Project Completion Report, duly completed by the applicant.
4. The prescribed form of the MERIT Claims Form, duly completed by the applicant.

The MERIT Application form and MERIT Project Proposal Template (both Document and PDF versions) may be downloaded from:

-  MERIT Application Form.doc
-  MERIT Application Form.pdf

-  MERIT Project Proposal Template.doc
-  MERIT Project Proposal Template.pdf

For more information, please contact:

MERIT Administration Office
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
460 Alexandra Road #17-00 PSA Building
Singapore 119963

Persons in charge Telephone Email
Ang Teck Heng         +65 6375 1294  Teck_Heng_ANG@mpa.gov.sg
Wendy Toh (Ms)       +65 6375 1269  Wendy_W_L_TOH@mpa.gov.sg

Other Useful Assistance Programmes
Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP)

Useful Links
Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF)