Lifetime achievement award for SSA chief
SHIPPING veteran and president of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), Patrick Phoon, was given the 2014 Seatrade Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the maritime sector here.
Mr Phoon's shipping career has spanned over 40 years. Since 1980, he has been handling Evergreen Marine's interest in Singapore. He is the deputy managing director of Evergreen Shipping Agency (S) and director of the RTW Group of Companies.
Announcing the award at the annual Seatrade Asia Awards, Seatrade chairman Chris Hayman said: "In 40 years' service in shipping, Patrick Phoon has been a major contributor to the development to the maritime community here in Singapore and across Asia. Seatrade is delighted to recognise his achievements and dedication to the shipping community."
Mr Phoon is the SSA's longest serving council member. He has served the SSA for 23 years, since being elected to its council in 1991.
In 1996, Mr Phoon headed SSA's restructuring committee to support Singapore's vision of becoming an international maritime centre. In 2005, he headed the working group involved in the purchase of the SSA office building.
Besides the SSA, Mr Phoon sits on numerous local and regional industry committees and workgroups.
He has been a board member of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) since 2011. He was on the advisory panel of the Singapore Maritime Foundation in 2004-2009 and has been a board member since 2010.
Mr Phoon also sits on the executive committee of the Federation of Asean Shipowners' Associations and serves as chairman of the safe navigation and environment committee, one of the five committees under the auspices of the Asian Shipowners' Forum. He is one of the key members who lobbied for the Asian Shipowners' Forum to set up its permanent secretariat in Singapore.
He received the award from sponsor Ravindranath Raghunath, global head of chartering, Noble Chartering, on Monday. Mr Phoon said: "I am very honoured to have received this award. I could not have accomplished what I did without the support of so many people out there who unselfishly, shared their passion, their thoughts and their experiences with me. More than that, they gave me their friendship to which I am most grateful."
