MPA to Invest $65M to Attract Talent to Singapore Maritime Sector

Two task forces were established last year to help fill positions in seafaring, ports and other maritime-related operations.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will invest another SGD $65 million (US$46.8 million) to develop talent in the maritime sector, local media reports. 

The funds will go to the Maritime Cluster Fund-Manpower Development Programme (MCF-MD), which will support two task forces established last year. 

While the Tripartite Maritime Manpower Taskforce for Seafaring will focus on recruiting and retaining talent for seafaring careers using training grants and achievement awards, the Maritime Manpower Taskforce for Shore-based Sectors will help maritime companies with hiring strategies for positions in port operations, ship operations and ship broking.

In total, the MPA has invested SGD $115 million ($82.8 million) into the MCF-MD programme, according to another report. 

One main priority of the program is helping current sea-going workers learn new skills to ease into shore-based jobs, in addition to transitioning workers from non-maritime careers.

"The enhancement to the MCF-MD programme not only lends strong support to the national-level SkillsFuture initiative but also allows us to support more skills-based learning, upgrading, and re-skilling for those who want to switch careers," said MPA Chief Executive Andrew Tan.

The MPA said that an additional SGD $6 million ($4.3 million) will be set aside over the next five years to provide an additional 10 scholarships on top of the 10 already available. 

In 2013, the MPA also helped establish a Maritime Technology Professorship at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) in an effort to promote maritime education.