by Nicholas Lee
The Tripartite Nautical Training Award initiative is a joint effort by NTUC’s e2i, Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), supported by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA). An additional $4.2 million was injected into the initiative last year to fund some 80 Singaporeans joining the maritime sector over the two years and pursue promising careers at sea onboard ocean-crossing international vessels.
In her recent Ministry of Transport Committee of Supply debate speech, SMOU Executive Secretary and Labour Nominated Member of Parliament Mary Liew highlighted the need to build up the Singaporean core in the maritime industry and noted that the TNTA initiative “which was introduced to train those who are not academically inclined, thus giving these Singaporeans a chance they would have never otherwise been given to join this industry.”
At the opening ceremony of the 5th TNTA programme on 9 April 2013 where 30 cadets were given their cadet epaulets, Ms Liew again reiterated that “the programme actually gives them the hope of trying out something of their heart’s desire.”
