The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be providing approximately $27 million worth of financial support to the maritime industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Called the MaritimeSG Together Package, the initiative will take effect from 1 May 2020.
MPA made this announcement on 29 April 2020, stating that the package will provide financial assistance to companies, individuals for training, and employment support to Singaporean seafarers.
“Through the MaritimeSG Together Package, MPA will give more support to maritime companies and to Singaporean seafarers.
“We want to take this opportunity to speed up training and transformation, so that our port can be ready for the new-normal, post COVID-19,” said MPA Chief Executive Quah Ley Hoon.
To help vessel owners and operators of cargo vessels, MPA will provide a 30 per cent port dues concession, on top of all existing concessions, for cargo vessels from 1 May to 31 December 2020.
This applies to ocean-going vessels with a port stay of not more than five days. Offshore vessels in port for offshore support will receive a 50 per cent port dues concession for day 91 to day 180.
MPA will also grant a 30 per cent port dues concession for all non-passenger carrying harbour craft in the Port of Singapore over the same period.
The authority will increase the rebate on counter rental and overnight berthing for regional ferry operators at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to 50 per cent till 31 December 2020 – a 15 per cent increase over the earlier announced rebate for three months starting March 2020.
MPA will introduce new manpower schemes and increase the co-funding provided under selected Maritime Cluster Fund programmes, from 1 May to 31 December 2020.
A new Maritime Cluster Fund-Internship Reimbursement Scheme will help maritime companies continue to provide students who are Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents with internship opportunities.
This will be for students from the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and publicly funded autonomous local universities.
MPA will co-fund 50 per cent of the internship allowance paid by maritime companies, capped at $500 per month per intern, for up to six months.
MPA and the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) will roll out the Seafarers Relief Package for eligible seafarers who are unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 May to 31 Jul 2020. They can apply to receive up to $800 per month in financial assistance.
NTUC President Mary Liew extended her appreciation to MPA via an online video recording, for working together with the unions on developing this initiative.
She stated: “We hope that the Seafarers Relief Package will help soften the impact of this unprecedented situation, by easing the financial burden that affect our seafarers.
“Together with MPA, SMOU will include a further assistance package for our members, who have difficulties in filling shipboard positions, to tide through from now to 31 July 2020.”
Read more about the MaritimeSG Together Package.
