Singapore government readies maritime workforce for digital transformation
Singaporean authorities are taking steps to transform maritime manpower in the republic in step with the technological changes sweeping through the industry.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Sea Asia, a conference and exhibition taking place in Singapore this week, coordinating minister for infrastructure and minister for transport, Khaw Boon Wan, said that with the advent of digitalisation in the industry, the government is taking steps to help companies develop capabilities to succeed in the future.
He cited the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) enhanced Maritime Cluster Fund as an example. The fund now provides more co-funding for companies that want to use technology to optimise their processes or transform their business models.
Khaw also highlighted the importance of preparing the local workforce for transformations driven by digitalisation in the industry, adding that the jobs of tomorrow will be markedly different from today.
“We have to ensure that our maritime manpower is equipped to handle transformation, and for some of them, to drive the transformation,” said Khaw.