Singapore has launched a new initiative designed to encourage more citizens to take up a career in marine engineering.
The SGD 1.2m ($880,000) Tripartite Engineering Training Award (TETA) programme was launched on Tuesday evening by Minister of Manpower Lim Swee Say.
The initiative is being run by the Singapore Maritime Officers Union (SMOU) in collaboration with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and is backed by the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) and a number of shipping companies.
The TETA launch coincided with the 10th anniversary celebrations for the Singapore Maritime Training Fund (SMFT).
“This pilot programme is launched to address the acute shortage of marine engineers faced by the maritime industry and after gathering feedback from the shipping companies,” said the SMOU.
“An entry-level 5th or 4th marine engineer can earn an average of SGD 4,000 per month while a chief engineer can earn close to SGD 10,000 per month. It is a good career with an excellent progressive wage model.”
The pilot programme is conducted by SMOU’s training arm, Wavelink Maritime Institute. Cadets are offered training berths by a shipping company even before they embark on their training, receiving between SGD 1,200 – SGD 1,400 training allowances during the approximate 31-month programme.
The SMOU said the programme is the latest in a series of initiatives to attract Singaporeans to switch to a seafaring career through the continuous education and training (CET) route.
“Over the years, we have noticed the manpower issues, in particular the dwindling number of Singaporean seafaring officers and marine engineers willing to embark on this career,” said SMOU General Secretary Mary Liew.
“Therefore, we initiated various programmes with the help of our tripartite partners that adopt the CET route, to give Singaporeans a second opportunity to choose seafaring as a career.
“It has not been an easy path because our selection process is stringent but seeing lives being changed for the better has been highly encouraging for all of us involved.”
