51 Students Receive Over S$1.4 Million in Scholarships Awarded by the Singapore Maritime Industry for Local & Overseas Studies

Singapore, 14 August 2014 - A total of 51 scholarships worth more than S$1.4 million were awarded this year, as part of continuous outreach and talent development efforts to meet the manpower needs of the growing Singapore maritime industry - an area which contributes to some 7 per cent of the nation's economy. Sponsored by maritime companies and organisations, the MaritimeONE (Maritime Outreach NEtwork) scholarships and Tripartite Maritime Scholarship Scheme (TMSS) support various local and overseas diploma and degree programmes. In all, 40 MaritimeONE and 11 TMSS scholarships were presented at the MaritimeONE Scholarship Awards Ceremony held at the M Hotel Singapore this evening.

MaritimeONE scholarships
Funds for the MaritimeONE Scholarships are pledged by sponsoring maritime companies, which span from shipping lines, shipyards to maritime ancillary service companies. This year, 18 companies sponsored 40 MaritimeONE scholarships valued at more than S$815,000. Sponsoring companies this year include "K" Line Pte Ltd; American Bureau of Shipping; Fednav Singapore Pte Ltd; Global Maritime Talent Pte Ltd; Haider Nawaz (personal sponsorship); IMC Industrial Group; Jurong Port Pte Ltd; Lloyd's Register Foundation; NORDEN Shipping (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Sembcorp Marine Ltd; Singapore Maritime Academy - Singapore Polytechnic; Singapore Maritime Officers' Union; Singapore Shipping Association; SMTC Global (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd; The Chua Chor Teck Memorial Fund; Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd and X-PRESS FEEDERS.

MaritimeONE scholars are able to choose from a wide spectrum of 22 courses - 19 business, law and engineering degrees offered by eight local and overseas universities, as well as three maritime diploma programmes at the Singapore Maritime Academy in Singapore Polytechnic.

Since 2007, a total of 200 MaritimeONE scholarships worth more than S$5.2 million have been awarded to outstanding students to pursue courses in Singapore and overseas. Details on the MaritimeONE Scholarships and courses supported can be found in Appendix A.

"Growing the maritime talent pool in Singapore is key to building a future-ready Maritime Singapore as we develop our International Maritime Centre and Next Generation Port. We are encouraged by the unwavering support and commitment by our maritime community - our MaritimeONE partners, the maritime companies, unions, and institutes of higher learning, to strengthen our maritime manpower development efforts," said Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, who delivered the welcome address at the awards ceremony.

Quotes from new MaritimeONE Scholars
Ms Koh Ke Hui, 18, a SSA - MaritimeONE Scholar, is amongst the new batch of scholars who received their awards this evening. Although she was diagnosed from birth with Achondroplasia (a bone growth disorder that causes disproportionate dwarfism), she never allowed her physical condition to stand in her way. In fact, her passion to lead and serve led her to becoming class chairperson twice in secondary school. A cheerful go-getter, Ms Koh set her heart on joining the maritime industry, and she aimed to enrol in the Diploma in Maritime Business (DMB) at Singapore Polytechnic, when she researched her options after the "O" levels. Currently in her first-year in the DMB course, Ms Koh has this to say, "After the first month of school, I was even more convinced that I had made the right choice in taking up Maritime Business after learning more about how the maritime industry works. I know I will enjoy my future work, and I want to be part of Singapore's maritime industry in the years to come."

Another new scholar this year is Mr Benny Tan, 24, a "K" Line - MaritimeONE scholar. Mr Tan decided to make the switch to the maritime industry and take up the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Maritime Studies at the Nanyang Technological University, after completing his diploma programme in Optometry. He said, "Having done my research and after speaking to people, I am convinced that there are great opportunities for me in the maritime industry after I graduate, given the importance of shipping to world trade, and the pivotal roles that Asia and Singapore play. I am looking forward to the possible travel and work opportunities overseas in my future maritime career."

TMSS scholarships
A total of 11 TMSS scholarships were also awarded at the ceremony this evening, valued at over S$600,000, for students enrolled in the Nautical Studies and Marine Engineering diploma programmes offered at the Singapore Maritime Academy in Singapore Polytechnic.

The TMSS scholarships are jointly awarded by MPA, shipping companies, the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS). This year, the shipping companies co-sponsoring the TMSS scholarships are APL Co Pte Ltd, PACC Ship Managers Pte Ltd and Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd. For details on the TMSS scholarships, please refer to Appendix A.

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Attached Appendix A: Scholarship Details for MaritimeONE Scholarship Awards Ceremony 2014
-MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme
-Tripartite Maritime Scholarship Scheme (TMSS) scholarships

For media queries, please contact:

Regina Lim
Senior Manager
Corporate Communications
Singapore Maritime Foundation
Tel: (65) 6325-0227
Mobile: (65) 9119-5840

Cheryl Lim
Executive
Corporate Communications
Singapore Maritime Foundation
Tel: (65) 6325-0226
Mobile: (65) 8118-3098

About MaritimeONE
Launched in April 2007 by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) and Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), MaritimeONE (Outreach Network) is a key platform for all maritime stakeholders to synergise efforts to raise awareness of the maritime industry among students and their influence groups, and to interest them in maritime education and careers via various outreach initiatives. As the Secretariat of the MaritimeONE, SMF works in tandem with strategic partners to organise a variety of initiatives, including promotional campaigns, events and MaritimeONE scholarships. Funds for the MaritimeONE Scholarships are pledged by sponsoring maritime companies, which span from shipping lines, shipyards to maritime ancillary services companies, and administered by SMF. Other MaritimeONE activities include industry awareness talks, scholarship offers, student outreach events and regular networking events for employers and tertiary students. For details, visit www.maritimecareers.com.sg.

About Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF)
Established in 2004, the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) is a private sector-led organization that seeks to develop and promote Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC). As the representative voice for the commercial players of the maritime industry, the Foundation seeks to forge strong partnerships with the public and private sectors of the maritime industry. SMF spearheads initiatives to promote the diverse clusters of the maritime industry in Singapore and at international frontiers, and to attract young talents to join the sector. SMF is directed by its Board of Directors which comprises prominent leaders in the Singapore maritime community. For details, visit www.smf.com.sg