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SINGAPORE MARITIME SERVICES GUIDE 2017/2018
incorporated in Singapore and engaged in R&D or are using Singapore’s facilities as a test-bed for their innovations. Under the fund, the MPA subsidises up to 50% of project costs.
Since its inception, the fund has supported over 290 R&D projects in a number of different focus areas. These have resulted in innovations such as a novel ballast water treatment process and a real-time under-keel clearance monitoring system to prevent grounding of ships and improve navigational safety in port waters. In the area of maritime operations and logistics, a project to automate container yard operations has enabled an operator to remotely control multiple yard cranes.
Developing Human Capital
A strong Singaporean core is a key enabler for the further growth of Maritime Singapore, and MPA is setting aside S$12 million over two years to attract, develop and retain local talent. Rolled out progressively from 1 May 2016, the manpower schemes are expected to benefit some 5,000 Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs).
One example includes the Internship Reimbursement Scheme (IRS) which seeks to encourage maritime companies to continue
to provide Singaporean and SPR
students in maritime courses
with internship opportunities.
The MPA is co-funding 50% of
internship allowance, capped at
S$400 a month per student. Over
two years, up to 1,600 students
from selected maritime courses in
the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and local universities are expected to benefit from the IRS internship opportunities.
The MPA has also enhanced co- funding under the Maritime Cluster Fund for Manpower Development (MCF-MD), which supports maritime companies in the development of manpower, training initiatives and capabilities. It has increased the level of co-funding by up to 90% for selected short courses and certifiable courses in order to encourage maritime businesses to continue to upskill their employees.
The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) also contributes to the growth of Maritime Singapore through various initiatives, such as the MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme and the Maritime Singapore Connect (MSC) Office.
The MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme is driven by SMF alongside its partners – MPA, the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) and Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), to groom future leaders for the maritime industry. The programme supports a total of 24 maritime and non-maritime-related degree courses from local and foreign universities and four maritime-related diplomas from the Singapore Maritime Academy in Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. To date, the MaritimeONE Scholarship has been given out to 275 scholars, amounting to a total of S$7.3 million.
Another initiative under SMF is the MSC Office. The MSC Office is a S$4-million commitment from the MPA as part of efforts to profile and promote maritime careers aligned with SkillsFuture-related initiatives under the Transport (Sea) Sectorial Tripartite Committee. The MSC Office focuses on education and career guidance, as well as recruitment for the maritime industry.
Promoting Responsible Environmental Practices
As a leading international maritime centre, Singapore has been working closely with various partners in order to reduce the impact of shipping and port activities on our environment. In 2011, MPA launched the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI), a S$100-million programme that seeks
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