Multi-skilled workforce critical to Singapore’s maritime competitiveness

SINGAPORE - A multi-skilled workforce is a “critical factor” in sustaining the Republic’s competitiveness in the maritime industry, said a committee set up to chart the future development of Singapore’s port and maritime sector.

In its International Maritime Centre (IMC) 2030 Strategic Review released on Friday, the 23-member committee highlighted the need to improve the quality of maritime education and training, and enhance the standards of professionalism of the workforce. It also said the profile of the maritime industry has to be raised in order to attract talent.

The review pointed to a recent study commissioned by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore as part of its efforts to better understand the drivers of manpower growth in the industry and develop policies to address future manpower challenges. The study, Singapore Maritime Cluster Manpower Demand and Supply Study, identified digital literacy and data analytics, environmental engineering and green technologies, and soft skills such as communication and resource management as important core skills for the industry in the future.

With increased digitalization, it is time to design a future-ready maritime talent curriculum, said Ms Annie Koh, Finance Professor at the Singapore Management University and the academic director of the International Trading Institute that runs the Maritime Economic Track.

“The future maritime human talent will need to go beyond having core skills, knowledge and competencies in the maritime industry to acquire digital skills that will help in much-needed maritime business transformation in the digital era,” Prof Koh said.

They should be empowered to apply their digital skills in tailoring solutions to customers’ needs, she said. “This new young blood serves to inspire and propel a traditionally change-resistant maritime industry into the digital era.”

She added that it is also important to have a pool of dedicated teachers and educators.

“You need teachers and educators to interest the younger generation in the maritime industry. These educators need to be inspirational to the next generation, gaining their curiosity to find out more about the industry.”

“The difficulty is always in attracting people to join the shipping industry,” said CIMB economist Song Seng Wun. Although the port and maritime industry is a critical part of the Singapore economy, it is hardly featured prominently, he noted.

Mr Song said there could be an “image problem”.

“People may feel that it’s a dirty job. Just like engineering, which requires going into tunnels.” However, as technology plays a larger role in the industry, the image is likely to improve in the future, he added.