Singapore, 8 April 2016 | For immediate release

 

Maritime Singapore Positions for Future Growth with
11th Singapore Maritime Week 
SMW 2016 to rally global maritime industry to overcome headwinds

Singapore remains a premier global hub port and leading international maritime centre in spite of the choppy conditions of the shipping industry, which is facing headwinds due to the softening global economy, oversupply of capacity and depressed freight rates. 

2    In the 11th edition of the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW 2016), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) aims to address the many ways Singapore can maintain its competitive advantage on a global scale. In conjunction with the theme of SMW, “Positioning for Future Growth”, this year’s programme has been designed to address the critical issues impacting the maritime industry.

3    Discussions will surround key concerns in the industry, trends and opportunities over a week-long series of maritime events; including a thought-provoking keynote maritime lecture and high-level forum, dialogues, social events and public showcases that will bring Maritime Singapore closer to the masses. 

4    Over the last decade, SMW has grown in size and significance. As new activities are added to the line-up, participants can look forward to experiencing something new each year. This year, SMW 2016 will feature 31 events, out of which 16 are new. 

5    Anchoring SMW 2016 is the Singapore Maritime Lecture. The Lecture will mark its 10th edition with a high-level forum, with around 400 senior maritime professionals from across the globe in attendance. These industry experts will gather to discuss critical issues and offer their expert opinion on the future of shipping. Keynote speaker Mr Kristian Siem, Chairman of Siem Industries, a diversified industrial grouping with interests in oil and gas services, ocean-transport of refrigerated cargoes, automobiles, shipyard, and finance among others, will lead a panel discussion of luminaries such as; Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of BW Group, Mr David Carbon, Managing Director of Economic and Currency Research, DBS Bank and Mr Teo Siong Seng, Managing Director Pacific International Lines. 

6    Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “Given the uncertain market outlook, SMW 2016 will be about sharpening competitiveness in the industry by addressing the economic challenges and identifying unexplored areas for growth. By creating awareness, building interest in the sector and enhancing understanding vis-a-vis our line-up of events, we hope to foster a stronger, more cohesive maritime community that will weather the headwinds and be well-positioned for growth opportunities that are inevitable when the tide turns.” 

7    From 8th to 22nd April, the public can visit the Visual Arts Centre at Dhoby Ghaut Green to view an art exhibition titled, “Memoirs of City Port Scenes”, which aims to preserve today’s images of our ports. And from 16th to 24th April, the public can visit the SMW 2016 Exhibition which is an interactive showcase of maritime technologies that will provide immersive learning experiences as visitors learn how to “pilot” a ship, and take part in other fun and engaging fringe activities. 

8    In addition, students and the general public will go on SMW MPA Learning Journeys that include a port tour to Jurong Port and a sea tour to the Raffles Lighthouse. Youths, industry professionals and the general public can also choose to take part in the Amazing Maritime Challenge 2016, an adventure race where teams compete mentally and physically across Singapore to complete a series of games designed to help them discover more about Maritime Singapore. 

9    In another first, the general public will get a chance to learn more about the offshore marine sector at the OSV@Vivo event that will run from 21 to 23 April 2016. Organised by the Singapore Shipping Association, the event will see two high-technology offshore support vessels (OSV) berthed at the waterfront promenade of Vivocity. There will also be a display of offshore marine equipment on board the vessels. A vessel tour will be available to the public upon pre-registration at www.osvatvivo.org. Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Transport, Mrs Josephine Teo, will grace the launch of OSV@Vivo as Guest-of-Honour on 22 April 2016.

10    The 2nd Offshore Marine Forum will bring industry leaders together against a backdrop of challenging and complex operating environments. In this exclusive half-day, high-level industry forum, CEOs and COOs from the offshore industry will come together to discuss their views and outlook on the industry. Chairman of BW Group Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao will helm the forum as Chairperson, while experts such as Jarand Rystad, Managing Partner, Rystad Energy, will present at the keynote session.

11    The Moore Stephens - BNP Paribas Singapore Shipping Forum 2016 will cover topics ranging from the changing geopolitical scene, impact of China’s “One Road One Belt” strategy, the industry’s reaction to the decline in commodity prices, impact of the steep fall in oil prices, to how shipowners are adapting to a new regulatory environment and the view of investors and financiers on the future of the industry. 

12    To highlight the important economic role shipping plays in the global arena, MPA is holding a half-day inaugural Maritime Administrators’ Forum to discuss shipping’s role in supporting and sustaining our global society. Focusing on the Afro-Latin Americans region, the forum  will be attended by heads of maritime administrations from Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. 

13    As the industry demands new maritime technologies, companies are required to keep up in order to maintain their competitive edge. Hence, platforms like the Maritime Sustainability forum and SMI Seminar 2016: Smart Ships will explore potential R&D opportunities and technologies for the next generation of ports and ships.

14    Another key event is the Maritime Cyber Security Seminar, a new technology event set out to promote greater awareness on cyber threats among key stakeholders in the maritime community. The forum will provide a platform to facilitate information sharing on strategies and solutions to be adopted to mitigate cyber security risks in the maritime ecosystem.

15    Senior management of maritime and offshore services companies are also invited to the inaugural SGX-MPA Capital Markets Roundtable where SGX CEO, Mr Loh Boon Chye, will share his insights on Singapore’s capital market, as well as the opportunities it will bring to the sector.

16    At TOC Asia 2016, key stakeholders with interest in containerised cargo will come together to learn, debate and network. The conference-led event will feature the complete container supply chain show for Asia, bringing together shippers, logistics providers, third-party logistics providers, shipping lines, ports, terminals and other key audiences.

17    The SMW Opening Reception, for example, is a by-invitation only business networking reception introduced by MPA. Bringing together more than 200 partners and industry peers, the reception will serve as an exclusive platform for maritime leaders to network and collaborate. It will be held at Zafferano @ Ocean Financial Centre.

18    Likewise, Lloyd’s List Asian Networking Drinks will bring together key editors from Lloyd’s List and over 150 industry executives to discuss the recent expansion of news and editorial content focused on Asia. The event will provide readers and potential clients an opportunity to discuss strategies with staff of Lloyd’s List, Lloyd’s List Intelligence and Lloyd’s Law Reports to gain insights on upcoming developments and editorial plans. Meanwhile, the International Bunkering Industry Association (IBIA) Gala Dinner will gather major players from the bunkering and shipping industry in Asia for networking and sharing of views.

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 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, please visit www.smw.sg.