Scholarships reflect continued and collective commitment by maritime ecosystem to nurture the next generation of talent

At the MaritimeONE and Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS) Awards Ceremony 2024 held this evening, 63 MaritimeONE Scholarships1 and 10 Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS)2 were awarded by sponsors from the industry, unions, associations, foundations, and institutes of higher learning. Mr. Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment & Ministry of Transport, was the Guest-of-Honour at the awards ceremony attended by the scholarship recipients, their families, and senior company representatives.

MaritimeONE Scholarship
The 39 sponsoring organisations3 this year come from a broad spectrum of Singapore’s dynamic maritime ecosystem including shipping, port operations, maritime services, marine and offshore, associations, classification societies, foundations, as well as institutes of higher learning. Collectively, they reflect Maritime Singapore’s continuing and collective commitment to nurturing the next generations of talent.

In addition to recognising and rewarding academic excellence, the MaritimeONE Scholarship provides students with opportunities to participate in various industry networking events, mentorship, internships, and more. Students who wish to apply for the next cycle of scholarship awards may learn more about the programme here.

This year saw a similar number of MaritimeONE Scholarships awarded to 63 recipients, from 60 in the previous year, amounting to a total value exceeding S$1.8 million. Since the inception of the programme in 2007, 647 scholarships with an aggregate value of S$17.6 million have been awarded by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and sponsor organisations.

While a majority of the MaritimeONE Scholarship recipients are pursuing maritime-related disciplines, a number of recipients are enrolled in other courses such as accountancy, data science and artificial intelligence, business analytics, computer science, electrical and electronic engineering, law, and more. The diversity of scholarship recipients reflects the dynamic nature of Singapore’s maritime ecosystem
and its transformation to become more digital and sustainable.

This year also marks the first time that the MaritimeONE Scholarship is awarded to students from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). The two recipients from SUSS are pursuing their degrees in supply chain management.

MaritimeONE Scholarship Recipients

“My fascination with the sea and its role in global commerce inspired me to join the maritime industry, where I can blend my love for the ocean with cutting-edge technology. I aspire to lead innovative projects that enhance efficiency and sustainability in maritime operations,” said Ms. Koh Xiang Yun, a recipient of the “K”Line—MaritimeONE Scholarship 2024 who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Maritime Studies at the Nanyang Technological University.

“I have always aspired to be a ship captain ever since I was young as I was intrigued by seeing all the anchored vessels along the southern coast of Singapore. Being a deck officer and eventually a ship captain is a personal goal as I will only feel accomplished when I have the four stripes on my shoulder. Knowing my passion, I applied for the Diploma in Nautical Studies via the Direct Admission Exercise. Entering the course is the first step towards my lifelong dream. This scholarship will help me greatly in reaching where I want to be eventually, a ship captain,” said Ms. Zaara Batrisyia Binte Ashraf, a recipient4 of the NYK—MaritimeONE Scholarship 2024 who is pursuing a Diploma in Nautical Studies at the Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Polytechnic.

“My interest in maritime stems from the complex and dynamic nature of this industry, where I believe opportunities can be created. I hope to support the decarbonisation and digitalisation initiatives of this industry by harnessing the potential of big data and artificial intelligence,” said Mr. Loh He Xi Jose, a recipient of the PCL MaritimeONE Scholarship 2024 who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Business Analytics at the National University of Singapore.

“My passion for the ever-evolving maritime industry stems from a desire for continuous learning and to drive transformation through innovative, sustainable practices. I aspire to build my expertise in green ship technologies and advanced systems while mentoring the next generation of marine engineers,” said Mr. Lau Ji Min, a recipient of The Chua Chor Teck Memorial Fund—MaritimeONE Scholarship 2024 who is pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Recipients of the MaritimeONE scholarship can choose their course of studies from 45 maritime and non-maritime degree and diploma programmes offered by local and overseas universities as well as local polytechnics.

SMI – MaritimeONE Postgraduate R&D Scholarship

This year also saw the first two recipients of the recently established SMI- MaritimeONE Postgraduate R&D Scholarship which aims to expand the local maritime research talent pool to deepen Singapore’s specialised R&D capabilities as a global maritime knowledge hub.

“I believe the maritime industry has the potential to play a vital role in addressing some of the most pressing challenges the world is facing today, such as climate change. As an academic researcher, I hope my research will make significant contributions to the decarbonisation of maritime in Singapore, while providing me with opportunities to enhance future maritime studies,” said Mr. Sharul Baggio Bin Mohamed Roslan, who is pursuing a Doctor of Engineering (DEng) at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Besides developing maritime talents through the MaritimeONE scholarships, Maritime Singapore is also attracting and developing local sea-going professionals through the Tripartite Maritime Scholarship.

Tripartite Maritime Scholarship

Ten promising students will receive the Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS). The scholarships are supported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, the Singapore Organisation of Seamen, and industry partners like Eastaway Ship Management Pte Ltd, Fleet Ship Management Pte Ltd, NYK Shipmanagement Pte Ltd, OSM Ship Management Pte Ltd, PACC Ship Managers Pte Ltd, Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd, POSH Fleet Services Pte Ltd, and Tidewater Offshore Operations Pte Ltd.

“The seafaring sector is dynamic, offering many exciting growth opportunities. The scholarship provides me with the resources to begin my journey as a young seafarer, fulfilling both my father’s childhood dream and my own aspiration to become a ship captain. I am eager to begin my internship as a deck cadet, gaining hands-on experience and deepening my understanding of vessel operations. I also hope to serve as a role model for other aspiring female seafarers in the future,” said Ms. Archana D/O Chandrasegaran, a TMSS 2024 recipient pursuing her Diploma in Nautical Studies at Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Polytechnic.

Introduced in 2002, TMSS provides seafaring scholarships for students pursuing a Diploma in Nautical Studies or Diploma in Marine Engineering at the Singapore Maritime Academy, 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 the maritime industry.

Quote by Chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation

“The MaritimeONE scholars represent the future of our industry: multifaceted yet cohesive, technology-driven while at its core people-centric and embodying environmental consciousness in all that we do across sea to shore. I thank our industry partners for bringing more youths on track to maritime careers through the generous support of scholarships. I congratulate the scholarship recipients as they pursue their studies and look forward to their contributions to Maritime Singapore,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.

Quote by Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

“Maritime Singapore offers rich and diverse job opportunities, including careers at shore and sea for youths to work with cutting edge technologies, and be part of the global maritime supply chain. The MaritimeONE and Tripartite Maritime Scholarships are part of the talent development initiative by the government, unions, and industry to build the next generation of maritime leaders who are more digitally savvy and care about the environment, to help shape a global maritime future that is more digital and sustainable,” said Mr. Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.