All aboard: Singapore splurges $7m to train locals for the harbour craft sector

Singaporeans will be trained to work as marine engineer officers on board ships.

According to a release, The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) will commit more than $7 million over two years in two new initiatives to attract Singaporeans to join the harbour craft sector.

The first initiative is a new traineeship programme to train Singaporeans to work as marine engineer officers on board ships that ply within “Special Limits” in and near Singapore. The second initiative is the topping up of training allowances of cadets in both “Special Limits” programmes for Marine Engineer Officers and Deck Officers.

New Traineeship Programme for Marine Engineer Officers

The inaugural “Special Limits” programme for Deck Officers was launched last year, with more than 70 cadets currently enrolled in the programme. The strong take-up rate for the Deck Officer programme, coupled with interest from companies for a similar programme to train marine engineer officers, prompted MPA, WDA, e2i, and the Singapore Maritime Academy to develop a similar programme for marine engineers.

The new traineeship programme for Marine Engineer Officers will be added to the Certificate of Competency (CoC) (Special Limits) training framework, where seafarers can serve on board ships that operate up to the “Special Limits”. (Please refer to Annex A for the map on “Special Limits). The job involves shorter voyages, thus enabling officers to spend more time with their families.

MPA and WDA/e2i will support 90% of the course fees. MPA will also top up the existing allowance provided by e2i and the company, such that each cadet will receive $1,200 a month at the start of the programme and up to $1,400 a month as he progresses.

The 13-month programme will cover marine engineering studies, basic safety skills, and ship board training. The new programme also helps them secure placement with potential employers even before training commences.

“The harbour craft sector is an integral part of Maritime Singapore and it is a key priority for MPA to ensure that the sector continues to attract Singapore workers. To this end, we are pleased to collaborate with our partners, e2i and WDA, through these new initiatives to attract more Singaporeans to join the harbour craft sector,” says Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive of MPA.

“The harbour craft sector offers good salaries and career progression opportunities for Singaporeans. The CoC Deck Officer (Special Limits) programme has successful take-up rates, and e2i is pleased to continue our collaboration with MPA on the Marine Engineer programme. In addition, to get trainees ready for their career out at sea, we also partnered Wavelink Maritime Institute to conduct short preparatory workshops during their semester breaks. These partnerships would create more pathways for Singaporeans to enter the industry and earn higher wages,” says Mr Gilbert Tan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of e2i.

“WDA has been working with MPA and e2i since 2009 to develop a series of manpower development initiatives to build a core pool of Singaporeans for the harbour craft sector. The industry offers viable career opportunities with good pay and job advancement prospects. For the new Marine Engineer Officer scheme, trainees with Nitec qualifications can expect to earn a monthly salary of up to $3,000 upon completion of the programme, with the opportunity for promotion to Chief Engineer after serving two years at sea and passing the relevant examinations. Looking ahead, WDA will continue to collaborate with industry partners to strengthen the manpower capabilities of the maritime industry,” said Mr Wong Hong Kuan, Chief Executive of WDA.

The first intake of the new programme will commence in October 2012. Details of the programme are available in Annex B.

Topping Up the Training Allowances of Cadets in Both “Special Limits” Programmes

To encourage locals to pursue a career in the harbour craft sector, MPA will commit more than $4 million to co-fund the course fees and increase the cadets’ training allowances.

With MPA’s additional funding support, cadets undergoing training in either the CoC Deck Officer (Special Limits) programme or the CoC Marine Engineer Officer (Special Limits) programme will receive a monthly training allowance of at least $1,200, and more as their training progresses. This is at least twice the amount of monthly training allowance currently received by the cadets.

The training allowance top-up will be implemented from October 2012 for two years, and will be applicable to both new and existing batches of cadets.