Attracting Singaporeans to Work in Shipping Industry

Ms Mary Liew asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on what the Ministry has done to attract more Singaporeans to work in the shipping industry, including the harbour craft sector.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: The maritime industry is a key pillar of Singapore's economy. It contributes about 7% of Singapore's GDP and employs over 170,000 workers across more than 5,000 maritime companies. Given its integral role in our economy, the Government takes a long-term view of its development.

Growing a core of local maritime talent is critical to help Singapore advance our interests as a global hub port and International Maritime Centre. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has, therefore, worked closely with the labour movement, industry and educational institutions to put in place a comprehensive manpower development framework for the maritime industry.

Under this framework, MPA has introduced initiatives to attract local maritime talent and develop their expertise, and to encourage maritime companies to invest in human capital development. These initiatives are progressing well. For example, the number of locals participating in maritime training programmes supported by MPA's Maritime Cluster Fund has more than doubled from about 950 in 2009 to over 2,200 last year.

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Ms Liew has asked specifically about the harbour craft sector. Our harbour craft operators provide important ancillary services, such as bunkering, towage, and supporting the transfer of crew and supplies between ships and shore. Together with the hon Members Mr Teo Siong Seng and Mr Ang Hin Kee, Ms Liew had in the past sought stronger support for harbour craft operators to attract more Singaporeans to work as crew on board their vessels.

We are committed to attract and retain a core of Singaporeans who can support the growth of the harbour craft sector and enhance the competitiveness of our Port. To this end, MPA has been partnering the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) through e2i, and WDA to offer training programmes for harbour craft steersman and deck officers and to improve their career prospects. The response to these programmes has been positive, with over 80 harbour craft steersman trained since 2009 and more than 70 deck officer cadets currently undergoing training.

MPA has worked with its tripartite partners to review its training programmes and I would like to share with Members two initiatives that MPA will introduce to attract more locals to the harbour craft sector.

The first is a new programme to train Singaporeans to work as marine engineer officers on board ships that ply near Singapore waters. These marine engineer officers play a key role in operating the ship's mechanical and electrical systems. Similar to the training for deck officers, this new programme for marine engineer officers will match applicants possessing the necessary qualifications with suitable employers, before training commences.

We recognise the trainee officers' concerns about their incomes during the period of training. To ensure that this does not become an impediment, MPA and e2i will provide training allowances for the trainees, in addition to generous course fee subsidies. Upon graduation, the marine engineer officers can look forward to competitive salaries and good career prospects, with opportunities to take on larger responsibilities at sea and on shore. This programme will commence in October this year.

To further enhance the attractiveness of both the training programmes for deck officers and marine engineer officers, MPA will top up the training allowance for cadets undergoing these programmes from October 2012. A cadet in the initial training phase will receive an allowance top-up of $600 which doubles his total monthly allowance to $1,200. The top-up will increase to up to $800 per month in subsequent training phases, raising the total monthly allowance to $1,400. These top-ups will apply to both new and existing batches of cadets in both programmes.

In total, MPA and e2i will commit more than $7 million to support these two initiatives over two years. MPA will be providing more details of these enhanced training programmes.

The MPA appreciates the contributions of e2i in its manpower development efforts, particularly in this latest round of enhancements. We are quietly hopeful that the enhanced support will attract more locals to the harbour craft sector and help to address the harbour craft operators' manpower needs.

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