Singapore observes 'Day of the Seafarer' to thank seafarers
In celebration of the Day of the Seafarer, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS), will jointly distribute 600 hampers to ships that call at Singapore, reaching out to some 9,000 seafarers, MPA said in its press release.
During the hamper distribution ceremony held today, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Transport, presented the hampers to 30 representatives from the shipping industry.
"Seafaring is a challenging profession due to the nature of the job and the harsh conditions at sea. Singapore is committed to address seafarers' welfare needs. Over the years, we have put in place various facilities, welfare programmes and year-round recreational activities," said Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, to the 200 guests who attended the ceremony.
MPA's Assistant Chief Executive (Operations), Captain M Segar, presented a financial grant of S$100,000 to the Mission to Seafarers. The grant will be distributed to the Norwegian Seamen's Mission, the Danish Seamen's Church, and the International Lutheran Seafarers' Mission. The annual grant supports a wide range of welfare services for seafarers, ranging from ship visitations to counselling services and pastoral care at the mission centres.
There is an array of welfare benefits such as educational grant and retirement award available to Singaporean seafarers. MPA works closely with the industry and the unions to attract young and talented Singaporeans to take up seafaring careers and provide opportunities for them to upgrade their skills. To promote continuous learning and encourage young officers and seafarers to pursue a seafaring career, MPA presented book prizes to the top students who are studying for Certificate of Competency (CoC) and maritime diploma courses in Singapore.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), designated the 25th of June as the Day of the Seafarer in 2010, an occasion to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the 1.5 million seafarers worldwide. With more than 90% of world trade being carried by sea, seafarers provide a vital service that drives the shipping industry and, more importantly, keeps the global economy going.
