4 April 2007
MARITIME YOUTH DAY @ SEA ASIA DRAWS 1,000 YOUTHS
- Event is Part of Maritime Industry's Efforts to Showcase Career Opportunities
Some 1,000 students from secondary schools, junior colleges (JCs) and tertiary institutions in Singapore participated in the inaugural Maritime Youth Day @ Sea Asia today. The students took part in a specially-planned programme, aimed at giving young Singaporeans a better understanding of the maritime industry's significance, as well as its diverse range of career prospects. The programme is spearheaded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and covers the seafaring, shore-based services and offshore sectors of the maritime industry.
The Maritime Youth Day @ Sea Asia programme includes an exclusive guided tour of the Sea Asia exhibition for the participants. The tour gives the students a better sense of the diversity, dynamism and international nature of the maritime industry, as they visit various company booths and country pavilions. Along the way, the guides shared interesting nuggets of information about Singapore maritime companies and their significant achievements in the global maritime scene.
As part of the programme, representatives from leading maritime companies in Singapore met up with the tertiary students to provide them with a more detailed understanding of the job opportunities available in the industry. For the secondary and JC students, a career exhibition was organised by the MPA, Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), maritime companies and institutes of higher learning. The exhibition sought to generate a better awareness of the diversity, criticality and growth aspects of the industry. The secondary and JC students were also treated to a scenic sea tour.
Said BG (NS) Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive of MPA, "Singapore is gaining significant breadth and depth as an International Maritime Centre (IMC). As the Singapore IMC expands, we will need quality personnel to fill the positions created. Outreach efforts like today's Maritime Youth Day serve to expose our youths to the range of exciting career opportunities available in the maritime industry - not just in seafaring but also in shore-based maritime services and offshore sectors."
There are more than 4,400 shipping and maritime-related companies in Singapore. The industry employs some 100,000 people, with seafarers employed on more than 2,100 internationally trading Singapore-registered vessels. These numbers are expected to grow as MPA and industry partners promote the growth and development of Singapore as an international maritime centre. Page 1 of 2
Maritime Youth Day @ Sea Asia was organised by the MPA, with support from the SMF and industry partners. It was held in conjunction with Sea Asia - a three-day international maritime conference and exhibition held at Suntec City Convention Centre from 2nd to 4th April. Sea Asia provides a platform for the international maritime community, especially key Asian maritime players, to share ideas and views on global maritime issues. Its exhibition gives focus to the exciting new products and services from Asia and around the world.
End of release.
