Scholarship awards with a total value of SGD 2.7 million (USD 1.9 million) were presented to 66 tertiary students at the MaritimeONE and Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS) Award Ceremony on Wednesday (31 August), according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 

The 54 MaritimeONE scholarships and 12 TMSS scholarships were sponsored by industry partners in the maritime sector. Senior Minister of State for Finance & Transport, Mr. Chee Hong Tat, graced the event as Guest-of-Honour.

Among the recipients of the scholarships was Ms. Ng Yu Xin Sardonna. The national hockey player did an internship at Chevron while she was pursuing a Diploma in Maritime Business at Singapore Polytechnic where it opened her eyes to the importance of decarbonisation. 

The Nanyang Technological University maritime studies undergraduate wishes to uncover alternative marine fuel options and contribute to maritime’s green transition.

“As the maritime industry is tackling growing concerns around global warming, I wish to contribute by researching alternative marine fuel options that will reduce the industry’s carbon emissions. Being an integral part of international trade, working in maritime offers the opportunity to work with people of different nationalities. It will be an eye-opening experience and I look forward to working in the maritime sector upon graduation,” said Ng, who is the Bernhard Schulte – MaritimeONE Scholar. 

MaritimeONE Scholarship

The 32 sponsoring enterprises this year include companies from a broad spectrum of the maritime industry, such as port operators, shipping companies, maritime service providers, as well as Institutes of Higher Learning. The total value of the MaritimeONE Scholarship disbursed this year stands at S$1.7 million and the number of scholarships awarded is 54, surpassing last year’s record of S$1.1 million, awarded to 46 students.

Recipients of the MaritimeONE Scholarship can pursue tertiary education from a list of 36 maritime and non-maritime degree courses offered by local and overseas universities as well as three courses by Singapore Polytechnic.

Since the launch of the programme in 2007, approximately SGD 14 million in MaritimeONE scholarships have been awarded to 524 recipients. 

Tripartite Maritime Scholarship (TMSS)

This year, 12 TMSS scholarships valued at about SGD 1 million have been awarded. Introduced in 2002, TMSS is a seafaring scholarship awarded to students pursuing a Diploma in Nautical Studies or Diploma in Marine Engineering at the Singapore Maritime Academy at Singapore Polytechnic. The scholarship offers students an opportunity to pursue their aspirations to become ship captains or chief engineers of ocean-going ships and eventually take on leadership roles in Maritime  Singapore. TMSS scholarship recipients will serve a three-year bond in a sea-going appointment upon graduation.

The TMSS is sponsored by MPA, the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, the Singapore Organisation of Seamen and shipping companies. The sponsors this year also included Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Fleet Ship Management Pte Ltd, NYK Shipmanagement Pte Ltd, PACC Ship Managers Pte Ltd, Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd, and Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd, with OSM Ship Management Pte Ltd coming onboard as a sponsor for the first time.

“Talent is the heart of transformation. I thank the industry and the union for the strong support in developing a talent pool to spur the growth of the maritime sector, which is entering an exciting period of change as it embraces technology and sustainability,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation.

Note: The full details of the scholarships can be found here. 

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 2 September, 2022