MPA Singapore, SMOU ad SOS will jointly distribute 600 hampers to ships that call at Singapore
In celebration of the World Maritime Day, 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.
This initiative, which started since 2003, recognises the important contributions of seafarers in the maritime industry, and demonstrates the strong cooperation between MPA and the seafarer unions in promoting the interests and welfare of the seafarers. This year, the hampers, containing food items, movie DVDs, and towels, will reach some 9,000 seafarers.
To mark the event, Mr Lucien Wong, Chairman of MPA, presented the hampers to some 30 representatives from the shipping industry. Also present at the ceremony were representatives from the shipping community, seafarer unions, and seafarer missions.
“Seafarers play significant roles, as more than 90 per cent of world trade are carried by ships. The hampers serve as a small token of our appreciation to seafarers for their dedication and service. MPA is committed to, and will continue to work in close partnership with the industry, unions and missions to enhance the welfare of seafarers and to attract new talents to the industry,” said Mr Wong.
During the ceremony, MPA’s Assistant Chief Executive (Development), Ms Tan Beng Tee presented a financial grant of S$100,000 to the four seafarer missions in Singapore – the Mission to Seafarers, 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.
World Maritime Day is an annual celebration, initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The celebrations focus on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment with a different theme each year that emphasises a selected aspect of IMO’s
Source: MPA Singapore
