Two maritime cadet training programmes to receive S$12.6m in 3-year funding

THE SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) are pumping S$12.6 million into two cadet training programmes as part of efforts to further develop talent in the maritime industry.

The three-year funding will go towards the Tripartite Nautical and Engineering Training Award (TNTA and TETA) programmes.

The aim is to groom 200 Singaporeans to become deck and marine engineer officers, SSG, MPA and SMOU said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

SMOU is also contributing S$5,000 to shipping companies it has collective agreements with, for every training placement they offer to Singaporean cadets under the TNTA and TETA initiatives.

To help improve the welfare and general well-being of seafarers, SMOU will contribute S$120,000 over the next three years to The Mission to Seafarers Singapore (MTSS). This will benefit seafarers who visit the International Drop-in Centre at Jurong Port operated by MTSS, which has facilities for seafarers to relax, it said.

SMOU will also work with tripartite partners to reach out to more seafaring members at the upcoming port in Tuas, as part of efforts to improve the services and welfare for seafarers whose ships berth in Singapore.

The maritime industry makes up 7 per cent of the Singapore economy, with some 5,000 maritime establishments employing more than 170,000 people.