Singapore in Push for More Harbour Craft Operators

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday April 16, 2014

 Singapore agencies say they are launching a programme to attract Singaporeans to jobs as tug masters in the harbour craft sector at the world's largest bunkering port.

The initiative, organised by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) is part of an effort to bring awareness of job opportunities in the maritime industry to local residents.

The 15-month Port Limit Tug Master Programme will be the first structured training programme for helmsmen for tugboats, who typically spend more than two years in on-the-job training with towage companies.

Tug masters can move up in their careers, becoming shore-based operations controllers or trainers, or completing further training to become Special Limit Deck officers.

"The harbour craft sector is an important part of the maritime industry and a good source of employment for Singaporeans," said MPA Chief Executive Andrew Tan.

"It offers viable career opportunities with good pay and job advancement prospects."

The first session of the new programme will start in the third quarter of 2014, and it is expected to train 50 tug masters over the next two years.

MPA is involved in a number of workforce development initiatives, including a Maritime Economics Concentration (MEC) programme at Singapore Management University (SMU) and a maritime technology programme at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).