Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF)

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) set up the Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF) in 2002 with an initial budget of S$80 million. Aimed at facilitating the growth of the maritime cluster in Singapore, the fund is available for the development of manpower, local training infrastructure and capabilities within the maritime industry.

Accessible to both companies and individuals within the maritime sector, the programme focuses on developing and enhancing the pertinent skills of your existing or prospective employees.

MCF schemes and programmes

A wide array of schemes and programmes are available under the MCF:

• The Course Fee Subsidy provides funding support to participants at maritime-related courses.
• The Maritime Attachment Programme (MAP) reimburses companies sponsoring an employee on an overseas training attachment.
• The Maritime Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (MPS) jointly sponsors an employee to attend a full-time foreign maritime postgraduate course or full-time/part-time local maritime postgraduate course.
• The Overseas Trainer Attachment Programme (OTAP) reimburses companies that invite trainers from foreign offices to train their local staff.
• The MPA professorships bring visiting professors and distinguished visitors within the maritime community to Singapore universities.
• The Maritime Industrial Attachment Programme (MIAP) gives students added incentive to experience work in the maritime industry.

As of Budget 2009, an additional $45 million has been injected into the MCF to support new business developments. This is a new component of the MCF. New maritime businesses planning to set up in Singapore, or existing maritime businesses planning to expand into new lines of businesses, can tap into this fund to defray eligible start-up costs

MCF-supported sectors

Within an industry as diverse as the maritime sector, the Maritime Cluster Fund aims to cover the entire spectrum of value-added and knowledge-based areas, including ship management, ship financing, ship brokering/chartering, maritime law/arbitration, marine insurance, marine engineering & offshore technology and seafaring.

Specific scholarship schemes, course fee subsidies and attachment programmes are available under the MCF. The fund also supports postgraduate and professorship studies.

For more information on the Maritime Cluster Fund and how you can benefit, contact us at the MCF Secretariat online or by telephone:

Email: mcf@mpa.gov.sg

Mdm Aidil Suraya: Tel: (+65) 6375 1903

Ms Jean Ong Tel: (+65) 6375 1922