Think about the things that you use every day \u2013 your smartphone, the coffee beans that go into your morning brew, or the chair that you are sitting on. Chances are, they travelled thousands of miles by sea before reaching Singapore.<\/p>\n
More than 80 per cent of the world\u2019s goods are transported by sea, making the maritime industry the backbone of global trade. And Singapore sits at the heart of this ecosystem. It is the world\u2019s leading container transshipment and bunkering \u2013 or vessel-fuelling \u2013 hub.<\/p>\n
At any given time, about 1,000 ships are in Singapore\u2019s waters, carrying essential goods such as food, fuel and construction materials.<\/p>\n
Ng Yi Han, chief transformation officer and senior director for Innovation, Technology and Talent Development at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), shares: \u201cMany people may not realise this, but the maritime industry plays an outsized role, especially in Singapore, where we are a major global supply chain hub.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch to find out more about the maritime industry.<\/i><\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s influence extends well beyond its shores. It is home to one of the world\u2019s busiest ports and punches above its weight in global maritime trade. Its strategic location, world-class port infrastructure, global connectivity, trusted institutions and deep ecosystem of maritime services have made it a key node of global commerce.<\/p>\n
Keeping everyday life moving<\/h2>\n
As a member of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) \u2013 the United Nations agency responsible for regulating international shipping \u2013 Singapore actively supports the IMO in shaping global standards and policies that govern the industry.<\/p>\n
For all its importance, the maritime sector often operates out of the public spotlight. Many see only the ships and ports, not the diverse careers behind them \u2013 from technology and sustainability to policy, logistics and global trade.<\/p>\n Vessel traffic officers use real-time information to keep ships moving safely through Singapore\u2019s port waters.<\/p>\n PHOTO: MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cPeople usually don\u2019t see the maritime industry working quietly behind the scenes 24\/7,\u201d says Ng. \u201cThe average Singaporean doesn\u2019t realise that when they do their groceries at the supermarket, these goods are actually brought to Singapore by ships from all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n When these supply chains are disrupted, the effects can be felt across the economy through shortages, delays and rising costs.<\/p>\n Ng experienced this first-hand. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, he watched as port congestion and crew shortages cascaded into global supply chain disruptions. This led to emptied supermarket shelves and drove up prices worldwide.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the maritime industry is under stress, the ripple effects spread far beyond the ports, and everyone feels it,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n Despite the industry\u2019s significance, maritime may not always be top of mind for fresh graduates or professionals considering a career switch.<\/p>\n \u200bCareers in maritime go beyond working at sea. ZAG International senior chartering manager Vale Tan, for example, monitors market trends, vessel availability and freight rates to help move cargo efficiently around the world.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cMany people think that the maritime industry is all about the vessels and operating the vessels as a seafarer, but it goes beyond that,\u201d says Ng.<\/p>\n While seafarers remain a vital part of the workforce, today\u2019s maritime industry offers opportunities across commercial, engineering and technology functions. Roles in the industry range from monitoring global trade flows and developing cleaner fuels, to applying digital tools and artificial intelligence to optimise maritime operations.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order for the maritime industry to work well and efficiently, we do need a diverse workforce,\u201d says Ng.<\/p>\n \u201cA workforce not just in technical roles such as seafaring and operational roles, but also in commercial and technology-related roles as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Another common misconception is that maritime is a traditional industry with little room for innovation. In reality, technologies are rapidly reshaping ports, ships and global supply chains.<\/p>\n \u201cThe industry is moving towards using technology, AI and automation to drive progress. These tools are going to play an important role in not just shipping itself but also in the global supply chain. And what this means is that ports are also going to be increasingly automated,\u201d says Ng.<\/p>\n Tuas Port began operations in September 2022 and will continue to grow in phases towards its completion in the 2040s.<\/p>\n PHOTO: PSA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n At PSA, port operations are coordinated from shore-based operation centres, where equipment can be monitored and even operated remotely with a high degree of efficiency.<\/p>\n At Seatrium, their Yard Of The Future initiative uses digital twins of its global shipyards<\/span><\/a>, allowing engineers to detect anomalies on digital dashboards before they become real-world problems.<\/p>\n The future could see even larger changes. MPA and PSA are inviting proposals to develop and test autonomous inter-gateway container feeder vessel operations within Singapore\u2019s port.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n These innovations create new career opportunities in areas such as remote vessel monitoring and operations, autonomous systems engineering, maritime data analytics and specialised technical maintenance.<\/p>\n MPA works with partners such as the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) at the National University of Singapore to develop and test new maritime technologies.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Alongside digitalisation and automation, sustainability has become a major priority for the maritime sector. International shipping accounts for around 3 per cent of global carbon emissions.<\/p>\n To reduce their environmental footprint, international shipping is exploring cleaner energy sources such as biofuels, methanol and ammonia, while Singapore is also working towards electrifying local harbour crafts.<\/p>\n To support the transition, a $100m Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI) was launched in 2011<\/span><\/a> to promote clean and green shipping in Singapore, and by 2030, all new harbour craft in Singapore\u2019s waters must operate on low-carbon energy solutions<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Singapore is also accelerating efforts on the use of biofuels and establishing methanol and ammonia bunkering at scale, which will reduce the carbon footprint of ships.<\/p>\n As maritime evolves, so too must its workforce. MPA is working closely with educational institutions to build a strong talent pipeline.<\/p>\n \u201cWe work with the universities, the polytechnics, as well as ITE on the various maritime careers,\u201d says Ng. \u201cWe support them in reviewing some of their maritime-related curriculum.\u201d<\/p>\n New programmes are also being introduced to broaden the pathways into the sector. These include an Industry Graduate Diploma in Maritime<\/span><\/a> at Singapore Management University and a master\u2019s-level vessel management programme<\/span><\/a> at the Singapore Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n They add to existing maritime programmes, including master\u2019s-level courses in Maritime Studies at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Maritime Technology Management at the National University of Singapore, as well as undergraduate and polytechnic programmes at NTU and the Singapore Maritime Academy at Singapore Polytechnic.<\/p>\n But a maritime qualification is not the only way into the industry. Ng himself came from a computer engineering background and started out as a research and development executive. Drawn to maritime by the opportunities to apply technology and innovation, he has since risen through the ranks over more than 20 years and now helps shape how the industry evolves.<\/p>\n Ng Yi Han joined maritime with a computer engineering background and has spent more than 20 years helping the industry evolve.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SPH MEDIA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cWhat is most important is really to have the passion to gain more exposure to the industry,\u201d he says. \u201cWe welcome students from non-maritime disciplines because a lot of the technologies and solutions come from other domains and disciplines.\u201d<\/p>\n The industry also welcomes mid-career professionals from adjacent sectors such as logistics, commodities and trading. Career conversion programmes can help these professionals acquire the skills needed to transition into maritime roles.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be very useful if the person is a problem solver, and is able to work with uncertainties or challenges,\u201d Ng says. \u201cMaritime is also a very international industry, so the ability to engage different cultures and understand different perspectives is important.\u201d<\/p>\n Find out more about the career opportunities in the maritime industry.<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>
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When ports become innovation hubs<\/h2>\n
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New pathways into maritime careers<\/h2>\n
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