Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) Singapore has released some key achievements, presenting important moves that support Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF) – Sustainability
According to MPA Singapore, there are various initiatives in relation to ESG. For instance, the Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF) facilitates the growth of Singapore’s maritime industry by supporting the industry’s talent and business development efforts as well as its drive for productivity improvements. Currently, there are three pillars under the MCF – MCF-Manpower Development, MCF-Business Development and MCF-Productivity.
To help the maritime industry tap into new growth opportunities in the green economy, a fourth pillar, MCF – Sustainability has been created, to catalyse first-mover adoption of sustainable solutions in targeted new areas.
Under this pillar, MPA will set aside $15 million till 2030 to co-fund 30% for non-SMEs, or 50% for SMEs, of qualifying adoption costs of pre-approved sustainability solutions, up to $30,000 per solution.
Under MCF-Sustainability, MPA may also fund projects on new sustainability solutions or projects to encourage industry-wide adoption of sustainability solutions.
MPA will release further details by 3rd quarter 2024.
Energy Efficiency Grant
Another initiative that helps MPA Singapore with improv ESG performance is the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) was launched in 2022 to support businesses in their sustainability journey by co-funding investments in energy efficient equipment. As announced in Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Budget 2024 speech, the EEG will be extended to more sectors, including the maritime sector.
The EEG will provide two tiers of support – a Base Tier to provide up to 70% co-funding support for pre-approved energy-efficient equipment up to a $30,000 cap; and an Advanced Tier to support companies that wish to make larger investments to drive greater energy efficiency. Support is capped at $350,000 per company across Base and Advanced Tiers, until March 2026. For the maritime sector, EEG will be applicable to energy efficient domestic port and harbour craft equipment.
Further details on EEG for the maritime sector will be provided by the end of 2024.
Livelihoods – Maritime Talent Development
In September 2022, the Ministry of Transport announced the formation of the Alliance for Future Maritime Talent (AFMT) to equip the maritime workforce with new skills as the industry transforms and help Singapore stay competitive in the face of global competition for maritime talent.
Aligned with the AFMT, the Tripartite Advisory Panel (TAP) was set up in early 2023 to engage industry and union stakeholders to gather feedback and identify emerging and future skills and relevant competencies for the maritime industry.
The TAP has put forth recommendations to prepare, equip, and sustain the upskilling of the Maritime Singapore workforce across shore-based and seafaring jobs, and the development of a hub for future skills to build the maritime workforce of the future.
To build a strong pipeline of skilled maritime workers, we need to identify skills useful for both employers and employees and provide quality and flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for working adults.
… said the Authority
To this end, MPA and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) has established a Joint Office for Talent and Skills. The joint office will work closely with industry partners and local tertiary institutions to facilitate training and upskilling of maritime workers.
As vessels decarbonise and transition to using alternative fuels in the future, the maritime workforce needs to be equipped with skills relating to the safe handling and bunkering of new alternative fuels, including emergency response plans and mitigation measures. MPA will continue working with tripartite partners to develop the infrastructure and facilities to train the maritime workforce to prepare for this transition.
The full TAP report will be published in April 2024. More details would be shared in due course.
Career conversion and mid-career development
Workforce Singapore’s Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for Sea Transport Professionals and Associates provides employers with salary support to support new hires and existing employees in taking up new job roles in Port Operations and Services, Shipping, and Maritime Services.
Since December 2023, the CCP for Sea Transport Professionals and Associates has been enhanced to allow 100% on-the-job training based on industry partners’ and employees’ feedback.
This gives companies more flexibility to structure employees’ reskilling needs in accordance with their business operations training programmes, and employees will be able to apply what they have learnt directly in their new roles.
The refreshed CCP has also expanded to focus on industry jobs redesign and reskilling in maritime digitalisation, decarbonisation, and cybersecurity. Currently, there are two programme partners, namely, Singapore Shipping Association and Association of Singapore Marine & Offshore Energy Industries to assist participating employers in customising training programmes for their employees.
Since 2019, more than 340 individuals have benefited from the CCP for Sea Transport Professionals and Associates administered by Workforce Singapore.
