26 January 2012

A Dash of Colours for Singapore Maritime Week 2012

As one of the busiest ports in the world, maritime containers are a common sight on our shores. Containers are very much part of our lives and they bring colours to our lives by bringing us goods from all over the world. Now you have the chance to bring colours to these containers by taking part in the 'Your Colourful World of Containers' design competition.

Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in partnership with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), the design competition is part of the pre-activities for this year's Singapore Maritime Week (SMW).

Participants are invited to showcase their creativity by creating designs on maritime containers. Interested participants can download a submission template from www.smw.sg/competition.html and design it by drawing inspiration from the myriad of goods transported via containers. A total of more than $10,000 in cash prizes awaits the top entries in the open category and the special NAFA category for NAFA students. Top entries will also be exhibited at the SMW Exhibition at Vivocity from 17 to 22 April 2012.

Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive of the MPA explained that containers were chosen as the theme for this year's pre-SMW competition in celebration of 40 years of containerisation in Singapore. Back in the 1960s, when containerisation was still a relatively new concept in Asia, Singapore embarked on a bold journey to build a container port. Forty years ago, on 23 June 1972, Singapore welcomed its first container ship, the MV Nihon. Singapore has since come a long way to be one of the top container ports in the world.

Amazing Maritime Challenge
Besides the design competition and the SMW Exhibition, this year's Singapore Maritime Week outreach activities will also include the Amazing Maritime Challenge, where members of the public can form teams and take part in various challenges and games. The Challenge will be held in and around the new Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium and is jointly organised by MPA, the Singapore Maritime Foundation, the Singapore Shipping Association and the Association of Singapore Marine Industries. More details of the Challenge will be released in March.

Mr Lam explained that "through the various outreach activities before and during the Singapore Maritime Week, we hope to enable more people to discover Maritime Singapore and learn more about the exciting maritime industry in a fun and engaging manner."

Singapore Maritime Lecture 2012
Into its seventh edition, this year's Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) will be held from 22-27 April 2012 and will feature an exciting line up of conferences, seminars, meetings and networking and social events.

A key highlight of the Singapore Maritime Week is the Singapore Maritime Lecture. This year, we are very privileged to have Mr Koji Sekimizu, the new Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization to speak at the Lecture. The Lecture will be held on 25 April at the Fullerton Hotel and is strictly by invitation only.

<End of Release>

Issued by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

 

About the Singapore Maritime Week (22 - 27 April 2012)
Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is the leading maritime event in Singapore. Driven by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SMW gathers the international maritime community in Singapore for a week of conferences, dialogues, exhibitions and social events in celebration of all things maritime. The range of activities and events organised by MPA, the industry, and research and educational institutions, as well as the cosmopolitan profile of participants, reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Singapore as a major international maritime centre.

SMW has grown in size and significance since the inaugural event in 2006, and is attracting more participants and event organisers from around the world. Participants can experience something new every year, as activities are added to the line-up, and as eminent speakers share their insights and participate in dialogues on topical maritime issues. This dynamism and the good range of issues discussed during SMW are major draws for maritime decision-makers, as are the many business networking platforms. This is why Singapore Maritime Week is all about PEOPLE, IDEAS and OPPORTUNITIES for the maritime community.

For more information and the full calendar of events, visit (www.smw.sg).

About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.