19 24 April 2015, Singapore
The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) is fully committed to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) which will run from 19 – 24 April 2015. The Association will be hosting and participating in a multitude of maritime related events, ranging from high-profile meetings discussing key issues affecting the maritime industry, to business networking and corporate social responsibility.
The SSA’s Young Executives Group (YEG) will kick start the week by volunteering at the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen on Saturday 18 April, prior to the launch of SMW. Some 60 shipping industry volunteers will assist in the preparation, cooking and packing of food to be distributed to the less fortunate beneficiaries across the island that day.
On Monday 20 April, SSA will co-host an industry forum with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) to discuss the issue of Maritime Regulatory Landscape – 2015 and beyond’.
ICS Chairman Mr Masamichi Morooka will be delivering a keynote speech, whereby he will address key concerns of maritime transportation, with a focus on compliance from the shipowners’ perspective. He will also discuss the impact of environmental legislation on shipping and review some of the recent environmental regulations adopted, agreed or under development at the IMO.
Working through the ICS and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SSA has been actively contributing to discussions at the IMO, including the Ballast Water Convention.
A discussion panel will ensue, chaired by SSA Honorary Secretary and ICS Vice Chairman Mr Esben Poulsson. Other panelists include ICS Secretary General Mr Peter Hinchliffe, Chairman of the SSA Maritime Security Sub-committee Capt. George Solomon and Mr Morooka himself.
Immediately following the forum discussion will be a presentation ceremony of the United States Coast Guard’s AMVER Awards. The Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) is a computer-based voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. The AMVER Awards Program recognises those vessels which regularly participate in the AMVER system and awards them coloured pennants in recognition of that ship and company’s commitment to safety at sea. At this ceremony, some 90 Singapore based companies will receive AMVER awards for the 1,250 ships under their care.
On Wednesday 22 April, 80 representatives of SSA member companies will embark on an exclusive “Maritime Learning Journey” to gain further insights into Maritime Singapore. Starting off with a tour of the Singapore Maritime Gallery, participants will go on to visit restricted access areas – such as, Keppel Shipyard’s extensive ship and rig building facilities, as well as a ferry ride to Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu, Singapore’s southernmost island, for a once-in-lifetime climb up its 160-year old lighthouse tower.
SSA President, Mr Patrick Phoon, said: “Singapore Maritime Week is a high profile and influential occasion and the Singapore Shipping Association is pleased to be playing a significant role in ensuring that this wide range of events benefits both the maritime industry and the Singapore community as a whole.”
Source: SSA
