Record $2.6 million in maritime scholarships awarded this year

SINGAPORE - More than $2.6 million in maritime scholarships were awarded to 58 students at the MaritimeONE Scholarship Awards Ceremony this year.

In all, 38 MaritimeONE (Maritime Outreach NEtwork) Scholarships and 20 Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS) were presented at an event on Thursday.

The total value of award this year is the highest to date for the MaritimeONE Scholarship programme, and likewise for the Tripartite Maritime Scholarship (TMSS) programme, which also saw the highest number of awards since the scheme was introduced in 2002. 

"The maritime industry in Singapore has so much to offer in career opportunities and development for our young people. It is a key pillar of our economy, contributing 7 per cent to our nation's GDP, and Singapore also retained its position as the most important maritime capital in the world in a recent survey benchmarking 15 cities. Hence, we would like maritime to be the industry of choice for students and the MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme is a key initiative to nurture talent for the industry." said Mr Michael Chia, Chairman of MaritimeONE and SMF, who delivered the welcome address at the awards ceremony.

Sisters Alissa Ong Shu Qin, and Angelia Ong Shu Hui are two of the MaritimeONE Scholarship recipients this year. Their scholarships are supported by different sponsors under the MaritimeONE Scholarship programme, and they are taking different paths into the maritime industry.

Alissa, the younger of the two, decided to sign up for the Bachelor of Science in Maritime Studies after hearing Angelia share about her studies and internship experiences at MPA and a ship management company, as part of her Diploma in Maritime Business course. Alissa is supported under the PSA - MaritimeONE Scholarship for her studies at NTU.

"I want a career that is rewarding, interesting and more importantly, something that I am really passionate about. I believe I have found all this in the maritime industry," Alissa said. She will join PSA Singapore Terminals as an Operations Executive when she graduates.

Alissa's older sister, Angelia, a SMA-PU - MaritimeONE Scholar, will pursue a degree in Maritime Business and Maritime Law when term starts next month at Plymouth University in the UK.

ljessica@sph.com.sg