600 gift hampers distributed to shipfarers

SINGAPORE - Seafarers are being honoured today in celebration of the 'Day of the Seafarer' as designated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Thursday that it is being joined by the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS) in distributing 600 gift hampers to ships that call at Singapore.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Transport, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, also presented book prizes to top cadets from MPA's Certificate of Competency courses at the Sembmarine Integrated Yard @ Tuas.

Earlier this year, MPA pledged an additional $15 million to extend the Certificate of Competency (Special Limits) programmes for another three years, which will train an additional 300 Singaporeans as deck officers and marine engineers.

"The international shipping industry not only underpins the global economy but brings in almost everything that we use in our daily lives - clothes, food, necessities, etc," MPA said in a statement.

"Seafarers are responsible not only for the operations of ships but also for the safe and smooth delivery of the cargo."

There are about 1.5 million seafarers worldwide.

ljessica@sph.com.sg