a private sector-led organisation established to develop and promote Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC).

Transcription

1 About the Singapore Maritime Foundation Photo Courtesy of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) is a private sector-led organisation established to develop and promote Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC). As the representative voice for the commercial players of the maritime industry, SMF aims to forge strong partnerships between the public and private sectors of the maritime industry and spearhead initiatives to raise the profile of the industry. Since its establishment in 2004, SMF has been working with various sectors of the maritime industry to advance the maritime interests of Singapore through collaborations and events. Some of the notable projects include Sea Asia, the iconic maritime event in Singapore, and the Singapore Ship Sale Form (SSF), amongst others. The MaritimeONE (Outreach Network) initiative is another key partnership between SMF, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) and Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) to heighten awareness of the maritime careers, nurture and retain talents for the maritime workforce. Vision SMF strives to be the private sector champion in Singapore s efforts to develop itself as an IMC. Mission The objectives of SMF are: To provide a forum in the private sector for exchanging, generating and developing ideas and proposals to turn Singapore into an IMC To act as the catalyst in fostering mutual cooperation among the various sectors of the maritime industry To serve as the government's partner from the private sector in promoting Singapore as an IMC and developing manpower to support the maritime industry 51

2 SMF Board of Directors The SMF Board is steered by the Board of Directors, which comprises prominent personalities across various specialisations in the maritime industry. Our Board sets the direction and provides strategic advice for SMF s initiatives and programmes. Mr Michael Chia Chairman Managing Director (Offshore), Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd Mr Lam Yi Young Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Mr Erik Borgen Mr Goh Teik Poh Regional Director, Head of Asia & General Manager, DNB Bank ASA, Singapore Branch Mr Patrick Phoon Deputy Managing Director, Evergreen Shipping Agency (Singapore) Pte Ltd President, Singapore Shipping Association Mr Wong Weng Sun President & CEO, Sembcorp Marine Ltd Mrs Gina Lee-Wan Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP Mr Henry C. Mytton-Mills Managing Director, Aries Shipbroking (Asia) Pte Ltd Our Initiatives Industry Co-operation and Development SMF constantly listens and responds to feedback from the maritime community to form working groups to address specific issues which are of interest to the maritime industry. Ship Finance Workgroup (SFWG) Formed in 2004, the Ship Finance Work Group (SFWG) was established to encourage more ship finance activities in Singapore. SFWG is chaired by Erik Borgen, SMF Board and Regional Director, Head of Asia & General Manager of DNB Bank ASA, Singapore Branch. In 2008, SFWG spearheaded a closed door forum titled, Where are the equity markets in the Singapore maritime industry going?. The forum attracted over 40 leading shipowners, shipbrokers and ship financiers to discuss pertinent issues relating 52

3 Photo Courtesy of General Insurance Association of Singapore Photo Courtesy of General Insurance Association of Singapore to the equity markets and trends. A shipping analyst, Dr Martin Stopford was specially invited to Singapore to share his insights about the outlook of the global maritime industry. Participants freely shared their perspectives and discussed the way forward in view of the looming economic crisis. The event was followed by a networking session attended by more than 300 maritime leaders. Marine Insurance Workgroup (MIWG) The Marine Insurance Workgroup (MIWG) was formed to build and enhance Singapore s position as a regional maritime insurance hub. In a bid to heighten the marine insurance and maritime professionals awareness of pertinent maritime issues that are intertwined with marine insurance, SMF has been working closely with the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) to formulate the series of Maritime Knowledge Shipping Sessions. Since the inaugural session in May 2007, leading practitioners in the maritime and marine insurance sectors have been invited to speak on topics that touch on developments and trends in both sectors. Examples of some of the topics covered are damage and risk 53

4 assessment, liability in the ports industry, asset play and dispute resolution, ship financing, future trends, challenges and opportunities of ship management and piracy, amongst others. The free seminars are proudly sponsored by L.C.H. (S) Pte Ltd and have garnered a strong following of participants ranging from insurance practitioners, and maritime professionals to students. Maritime Arbitration Workgroup (MAWG) In 2004, SMF formed the Maritime Arbitration Work Group (MAWG) to chart the roadmap for the future of maritime arbitration in Singapore. Led by then SMF Board and Managing Partner of Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP, Dato' Jude P. Benny, MAWG received invaluable support and endorsement from various arbitration bodies such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Singapore Maritime Arbitrators Association (SMAA), Maritime Lawyers Association of Singapore (MLAS) and Singapore Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (SIARB). Reconstitution of the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) Formerly under the wing of SIAC, the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) was reconstituted in May 2009 as a result of a decision made by MAWG. After its reconstitution, SCMA moved away from the administered model of arbitration and adopted an arbitration framework that is more reflective of the needs of its users and adhere to the same institutional standards as the London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA) rules. Since then, the number of maritime arbitration caseload has been increasing steadily and the acceptance of SCMA Rules is also rising with more than 50 per cent of the parties involved in registered disputes not based in Singapore. For more information on SCMA, please visit 54

5 The Singapore Ship Sale Form (SSF) The Singapore Ship Sale Form (SSF) was launched by SMF on 6 January 2011 in response to Singapore and Asian maritime communities' call for an alternative sale form that would better serve their needs for sale and purchase of second-hand vessels. From the inception to the implementation of the form for use by the maritime industry, SSF was formulated in close partnership with shipping associations as well as maritime players across diverse specialisations. SSF seeks to serve as a viable alternative option next to other widely used forms. SSF features clearly defined clauses which are reflective of current ship sale and purchase practices, thereby reducing the number of changes that would need to be made in a standard form, and saves time and costs for both the seller and buyer. Since its launch, SMF has been working closely with industry partners to raise the awareness of the SSF and encourage the use of the form. On 3 March 2011, SMF launched two translated guidance documents of the SSF, in Chinese and Japanese, to serve as complementary references to allow top management staff, who are more comfortable in their native languages, to better understand the form. Endorsed by the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners Associations (FASA) and strongly supported by the Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF), SSF has been gaining in momentum with more than 100 known shipping transactions that have adopted the form, as of 13 June A digital editable version of the form is also available on the Charter Party Editor (CPE) by SD Software Developers Ltd (SDSD) in a bid to make SSF more readily accessible by shipbrokers and shipowners in the global maritime community. To learn more about SSF, please visit International Partnerships and Promotion Sitting at the nexus of the world s major trade routes, Singapore pulsates to the heartbeat of the global shipping world. Singapore has become the hub port not only for ships but the maritime community as a whole, providing the ideal platform for maritime players around the world to exchange ideas, network and explore new business opportunities in this region. SMF organises and participates in a host of international maritime events. Through these events, we provide avenues for our members to network and remain plugged into the international maritime community. Some of the key events include Sea Asia, Asia's premier biennial maritime event which highlights Asia s pivotal role in the global shipping world and international maritime shows such as Nor-Shipping in Norway and Posidonia in Greece. Sea Asia Held in April biennially since 2007, Sea Asia, is fast becoming one of the leading maritime events to watch out for in the global shipping calendar. Organised by SMF and Seatrade, the three-day event brings together CEOs, presidents, decision-makers and maritime professionals from diverse sectors of the global shipping industry to Singapore to discuss pertinent issues and challenges faced by the maritime industry, in particular, that in Asia. Over the years, Sea Asia has built a trusted reputation with the key stakeholders in shipping, 55

6 government agencies and trade associations, and is supported with official pavilions from across the globe. In 2010, Sea Asia 2009 was conferred the Exhibition of the Year award at the Singapore Experience Awards Ceremony organised by the Singapore Tourism Board. Over 10, 000 participants from 62 countries participated in Sea Asia The fourth edition of the Sea Asia show will take place from 9 to 11 April 2013 as one of the anchor events of the week-long Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) organised by MPA. For more information on Sea Asia, please visit Posidonia and Nor-Shipping Events Together with ASMI, SMF leads the Singapore delegation to two key international maritime shows, namely Posidonia in Greece and Nor-Shipping in Norway. These events are also supported by MPA and other strategic partners. In June 2012, SMF led seven Singapore companies as part of the Singapore Pavilion to the mega-maritime show, Posidonia 2012 in Athens, Greece. With its move to a state-of-the-art venue and the presence of participants from some 80 countries, Posidonia 2012 served as a good platform for participating companies to promote their maritime services and network with the global maritime community. Earlier, from 24 to 27 May 2011, the Singapore Pavilion was also staged at the shipping and maritime trade event in Europe, Nor-Shipping in Norway. Comprising a contingent of 13 established maritimerelated companies, the Singapore Pavilion showcased some of the maritime capabilities and services that Singapore has to offer to our global partners, from emission technologies, equipment, marine and offshore consultancy to shipbuilding, conversion and repair and rig building. 56

7 The Singapore Nor-Shipping networking reception at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel on 25 May 2011 also attracted over 350 guests, comprising senior maritime professionals from the Norwegian and international communities and exhibitors. Through the participation in these two shows, Posidonia and Nor-Shipping, SMF hopes to fly the Singapore flag high and serve as the link bridge for local maritime companies to forge closer partnerships with the overseas maritime community. Maritime Education and Training To ensure that the Singapore s maritime community continues to function like a well-oiled machine, it needs a continuous pool of trained people equipped with relevant expertise. SMF works closely with industry partners and renowned universities to develop scholarships and conduct career and recruitment talks aimed at attracting talented individuals to pursue maritime education and maritime careers. In April 2007, the MaritimeONE (Outreach Network) initiative was initiated by SMF, MPA, SSA and ASMI to provide a key platform for all maritime stakeholders to raise awareness of the maritime industry and attract quality manpower to the industry. In January 2009, SMF assumed the role of the MaritimeONE Secretariat, taking over the helm from MPA. As the Secretariat of the MaritimeONE, SMF works hand-in-hand with strategic partners to organise a variety of initiatives to attract and nurture maritime talents, including promotional campaigns, events and MaritimeONE scholarships. Some of the key programmes include the MaritimeONE Leaders Speaker Series (MLSS) and NetworkONE Reception, MaritimeONE scholarships and MaritimeONE Learning Journey. 57

8 Vision of MaritimeONE A vibrant Maritime Singapore that is recognised as a pillar of Singapore s economic growth and an industry of choice for students and job seekers. Mission of MaritimeONE To raise awareness and understanding of the maritime industry among students and their influence groups, and to interest them in maritime education and careers through various outreach initiatives. MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme The MaritimeONE scholarship programme is one of the key initiatives under MaritimeONE that focuses on nurturing talents for the Singapore maritime industry. Since the inaugural Scholarship Awards Ceremony in 2007, the MaritimeONE scholarships have received enthusiastic response from applicants with outstanding academic results and strong co-curriculum activities records. The number of recipients of the MaritimeONE scholarships has seen a steady increase over the years, from three scholarships in 2007, 13 scholarships in 2008, 17 in 2009, 21 scholarships in 2010 to 34 scholarships in These scholarships are estimated to worth more than $2.5 million and are fully funded by sponsoring companies which span from shipping lines and shipyards to maritime ancillary services companies. SMF is constantly on the look out for likeminded maritime partners to pledge as sponsors for the MaritimeONE scholarships. For maritime companies that are keen to partake in the student outreach initiatives or the scholarship programmes organised under MaritimeONE, please write to scholarship@sgmf.com.sg. Industry and Public Outreach SMF works in tandem with strategic partners, including educational institutions and maritime companies, to raise the hip quotient of the maritime industry and make maritime careers more appealing to youth. 58

9 SMF has partnered Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) including NUS Business School, Singapore Polytechnic, NTU s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information amongst others to see the maritime industry through the eyes of youth. Over the years, students have been tasked to conduct perception surveys, propose maritime campaigns, produce television and radio commercials aimed at attracting youth to pursue maritime courses and maritime careers. By working with schools, SMF hopes to engage these young talents to work alongside SMF to formulate interesting creative projects to make maritime careers and education more appealing to youth. This partnership also provides students with a platform to showcase their creative talents on a reallife case study on the maritime sector. In 2011, SMF collaborated with 80 second-year students from the Business School, Communications and Media Management, Temasek Polytechnic to conceptualise and produce a 45-second maritime commercial that would make key influencers of youths, such as parents, grandparents and teachers, amongst others rethink about maritime careers and direct them to the website, Previously, SMF collaborated with 96 students from the same course to produce a 45-second maritime commercial that highlighted interesting facets of a MaritimeONE scholarship and the exciting career prospects that this industry has to offer to youths. The top two students works were subsequently aired as part of a radio campaign on 98.7FM and 93.8FM in Contact SMF 120 Cantonment Road #02-01 Maritime House Singapore Tel: (65) Fax: (65) corpcomms@sgmf.com.sg Website 59