30 September 2005

Friends and colleagues of the maritime community,

Ladies and gentlemen.

 

Good evening and a very warm welcome to the 2005 World Maritime Day Reception, jointly hosted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS). I would like to thank you all for joining us in the celebrations tonight.

 

This year, the International Maritime Organisation has selected "International Shipping - Carrier of World Trade" as the World Maritime Day theme. The aim, and I quote from the IMO Secretary-General's message, is to "draw attention to the vital role that shipping plays in underpinning international commerce and the world economy as the most efficient, safe and environmentally friendly method of transporting goods around the globe".

 

Indeed today, no country seeking to progress economically can rely solely on its own domestic resources. The globalisation of trade has made countries more interdependent and more inter-connected than ever before. With more than 90 per cent of global trade being carried by sea, ships, ports and the larger maritime industry, form the intricate "life support system" that keeps world trade alive and kicking.

 

Particularly for Singapore, the maritime industry has played an important role in its economic progress. In recent years, almost every sector of Singapore's maritime cluster has done well. We have repeatedly achieved records for vessel calls, bunker volumes sold and containers handled. We have the world's fifth largest merchant fleet, with more than 3,000 vessels and over 30 million gross tons registered. We are a leading player in the world's ship repair business, commanding about 20 per cent of the total repair market for ocean-going vessels. Singapore yards have also secured more than 80 per cent of the world's jack-up rig orders and 70 per cent of the market share in the conversion of Floating Production Storage & Offloading (FPSOs) units. Just a few nights ago, we awarded 27 shipping companies the Approved International Shipping Enterprise (AIS) or the Approved Shipping Logistics Enterprise (ASL) status for 2005.

 

These are very positive achievements and the outlook for the maritime industry remains good with abundant business opportunities in this region. While there is much to cheer about the shipping industry, we should also remember another key thrust of the IMO Secretary-General's message and that is the industry has not been given its due prominence. The industry should, be it collectively or individually by companies, proactively seek to share positive stories of the sector's dynamism and promise to the public. It is our responsibility to help change the negative public perceptions about the industry and to work together to lead more of our future generations to consider the industry as a career choice.

 

I am happy to note that some in the Singapore maritime industry have already begun to tell our success story. As announced by our Minister for Transport during the MPA International Maritime Awards, the Singapore Maritime Foundation, SMF, has commissioned Channel NewsAsia to produce a documentary series to showcase the different segments of the maritime sector. The series will feature leading industry personalities, as well as some of our fresh young faces. I would like to invite you to give this project your full support; either by accepting a starring role in the series if called upon to do so, or simply by spreading the word around your families and friends to watch it.

 

Besides the SMF, other industry players have also taken up the challenge to help re-shape public perception. I understand that a television drama serial on the maritime industry is in the pipeline.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, we are here this evening to celebrate the maritime industry and the many contributions that it has made to mankind, from the exploration of new lands to carrying the resources that we need for our very survival. Let's not keep this celebration to ourselves. Let us share our passion and optimism for the industry with everyone else out there. I will end on this positive note. May I wish you an enjoyable evening of good company, food and drinks.

 

Thank you.