FIRST CHILDCARE CENTRE - SeaVoices
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Bi-Monthly Publication of the MCI (P) 077/11/2018
Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union
and Wavelink Co-operative
APR
MAY
2019
Se
avoices
SMOU ADOPTS ITS
FIRST
CHILDCARE CENTRE
03 14 29
SMOU'S CARE GOLF IS TETA 1
IN ACTION THE C.U.R.E. BEGINS
TO 2 SOCIAL PHASE 3
ENTERPRISES
CONTENTS APRIL – MAY 2019
MakeWAVES
03 SMOU’s $500,000 Care in Action Benefits 2 NTUC Social
Enterprises
07 SMOU’s First Adopted Child Care Centre – My First Skool
$300,000 to Benefit NTUC Health Nursing Home
(Jurong West)
03 08 Good Health and Good Wealth for Jalan Besar
09 Bringing Festive Cheer to Seafarers
10 Here for One Reason
11 Every Worker Matters
IR
14 12 Spreading Joy with Seafarers
13 Enhancing Bipartite Ties
14 A Great Way to C.U.R.E.
15 SMOU Secures Ex-Gratia Payment for Deceased Member
16 Preparing for a Future Ready Workforce
18 22 YSMOU
17 Virtual World Lessons for the Real World
18 Running Man Challenge Hits Singapore
MemBUZZ
29 19 Shop Till You Drop
20 Heartwarming Home Visits of the Season
Find us on Young SMOU Members
22 Picking Up a New Hobby with SMOU
SMOUnews
23 Golf Kakis Reunite at SMOU's Lunar New Year Golf League
Smousg
24 Time to Say “I Love You”
Smou Sg
25 Night Safari
26 SMOU Activities Calendar
Wavelink Building 27 Digital Transformation of SeaVoices
75 Jellicoe Road #02-01
Singapore 208738
Tel : [65] 6396 0123
Fax : [65] 6339 5436
Website : www.smou.org.sg WaveLINK
Operating Hours:
Mon to Fri : 9am to 6pm 28 Clear and Fast SPF Withdrawal
(till 8pm on first Friday of every month)
29 Back from the Sea
Lighthouse Bistro Operating Hours:
Mon to Sat : 12pm to 10.30pm 30 From Last to First
Tel : [65] 6390 1699
Website : www.lighthouse-sg.com 31 Lighthouse Bistro
2 Seavoices apr-may 2019
MakeWAVES
SMOU’s $500,000 Care in Action
Benefits 2 NTUC Social
Enterprises
S MOU celebrated Lunar New Year by impacting the lives
of underprivileged children and less well-off elderly with
a $500,000 donation to two NTUC social enterprises.
The move to further the social causes of NTUC was
announced by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng at
the annual SMOU & Wavelink Lunar New Year Luncheon
and Hong Bao Presentation.
Your generosity is not only
appreciated by me but also by our society.
It is important that our Labour Movement
steps forward to not only advocate for a
more inclusive society but to also put in our
money, time, resources and commitment to
show care in action.
■ Mr Ng Chee Meng, NTUC Secretary-General
Seavoices apr-may 2019 3
MakeWAVES
2019 marks 50 years since NTUC’s Modernisation
Seminar in 1969, where the idea of Co-Operatives (Social
Enterprises) was first conceived to improve the lives of
workers and families.
SMOU hopes to provide the children
of low-income families at My First Skool
with equal learning opportunities and
a good head start in life to nurture
their potential from the early years and
empower them to transform their current
circumstances. Our financial sponsorship
to NTUC Health also reflects the union’s
commitment to take care of the needy
elderly and up their quality of life in their
golden years.
■ Ms Mary Liew, SMOU General Secretary
Some 1,200 tripartite partners, industry guests and union
members who attended the celebration held at Raffles City
Convention Centre on 11 February broke into loud applause
to cheer the Union on.
Out of the $500,000 donation, $200,000 goes towards
NTUC First Campus Bright Horizons Fund that enables
children from low-income families to receive quality pre-
school education and enriching learning experiences.
SMOU also adopted, for the first time, a child care centre -
My First Skool (MFS) Jalan Sultan Centre, a pre-school arm
of NTUC First Campus Co-operative Limited.
One of the touching moments was when Mr Kwan Kwong
Mun, a resident from NTUC Health Nursing Home (Jurong
West) joined Ms Chan Su Yee, CEO of NTUC Health Co-
operative Ltd, in receiving SMOU’s $300,000 donation to
the NTUC Eldercare Trust Fund. The donation goes towards
offsetting nursing home fees for seniors like himself.
During the event, SMOU distributed some $27,000 worth
of hong bao to over 400 members and some 180 senior
citizens from Henderson Home, Care Community Services
Society, Hope Community Services Centre, Jamiyah Home
for the Aged, Bright Hill Evergreen Home and NTUC Health
Nursing Home (Jurong West).
4 Seavoices apr-may 2019
MakeWAVES
The Bright Horizons Fund deeply
appreciates the generous donation from
SMOU. This 5-year donation will enable us
to provide a holistic suite of programmes
under NFC’s Child Support Model to some
50 low-income children in MFS at Jalan
Sultan Centre. The support will include
financial assistance, learning and well-being
programs for the children, as well as social
support for vulnerable families. We hope
that this partnership between SMOU and
BHF will give low-income children from MFS
at Jalan Sultan Centre a good start in life!
■ Mrs Phoon Chew Ping, Group Child Support Officer, NTUC First
Campus
We are really happy to receive such
strong support from SMOU through their
sponsorships and volunteering efforts with
us. We feel privileged to have SMOU as a
partner in our work to serve the needs of
seniors, and we hope that together with
the community, we can continue to expand
access to care for those who need it. We
welcome more organisations in coming
forward to contribute and support our
seniors, making it possible for them to
receive financial assistance, rehabilitation
and other programmes and activities that
would enhance their overall well-being.
■ Ms Chan Su Yee, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC Health Co-
operative Ltd
Seavoices apr
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MakeWAVES
It is heartwarming to be invited to this
event. It refreshes in my mind that sense of
connection to the shipping community,” said
Mervin, recalling a connection that was forged decades
back. Then, a young man in his 20s, he set out in search for
adventures, choosing sailing as a way to do just that.
“The union [SMOU] has been a comforting
presence. Its approach in finding solutions
to problems is collaborative rather than
confrontational, and it genuinely seeks to
improve seafarers' careers, whether aboard
ships or later, when they come ashore. To
me, that is very assuring.”
The SMOU Wavelink CNY Luncheon is something he looks
forward to attending with his wife each year, provided he Mervin J Lopez, SMOU member of
15 years, with his wife, Bernadette
doesn't have overseas assignments during that period.
Mr Kwan is a resident at NTUC Health
Nursing Home and one of the many
beneficiaries of the $300,000 donation,
made by the SMOU to help financial
needy residents over a three-year period
up to 2021. I am very grateful.
The money will go towards
defraying the costs of staying
at the Home. It would help
lessen the load on my family
members. I feel more at
ease.”
In addition, Mr Kwan also received a
hong bao from SMOU. He was among
the 180 residents of the various nursing
homes receiving it at the SMOU Lunar
New Year Luncheon.
On how he felt going on stage to
represent NTUC Health Nursing Home
(Jurong West) in the cheque presentation
ceremony: It was exciting, I
Photo courtesy of NTUC Health
could feel my heart throbbing
a little,” said the 75-year-old resident.
So generous was he with his smile
Good things come in twos. It and xiexie (Mandarin for ‘thank you’)
sure did for Kwan Kwong Mun, that it would be hard not to sense his
a resident at NTUC Health
(Jurong West). cheerfulness and gratitude even over a
quick conversation.
The circumstances that brought them to the Home may be
Lin Choo and Suriya,
different, but at the same lunch table today, they shared residents at the
the festive cheer together. The food is good, Jamiyah Home of
every dish is good,” said Lin Choo. For Suriya (her the Aged
name is the literary word in Malay for ‘sun’), it was a great
time to experience the festive traditions and tuck into
Chinese fare prepared the halal way. For both of them,
the SMOU Wavelink CNY Luncheon is an outing filled with
many sunny moments, treasured just as much, if not more
than the hong bao and mementos they received.
6 Seavoices apr-may 2019
MakeWAVES
SMOU’s First Adopted Child
Care Centre – My First Skool
F or the first time in its 68-year history, SMOU has
adopted a child care centre – My First Skool (MFS)
Jalan Sultan Centre. SMOU made a donation of $200,000
to the Bright Horizons Fund (BHF), to provide children from
low-income families with financial assistance as well as
educational outings to enrich their learning experience at
MFS.
To mark this new partnership, a cheque presentation
at MFS Jalan Sultan Centre was held on 21 March. The
heartwarming event saw SMOU presenting a cheque to Mr
Chan Tee Seng, CEO of NTUC First Campus, witnessed by
Ms Denise Phua, MP for Jalan Besar GRC (Kampong Glam),
who was also the Guest-of-Honour (GOH).
A tour of the pre-school was led by the principal of MFS
Jalan Sultan Centre, Ms Shanthi Muthukrishnan. After
interacting with the children, SMOU officials and the GOH
distributed gifts to the children. With joy in their faces, the
children from MFS Jalan Sultan Centre presented visitors
with an open terrarium as a token of appreciation.
Moving forward, SMOU will be working closely with MFS
Jalan Sultan Centre to organise educational outings to
increase awareness of the seafaring career, social activities
such as movie viewings and celebrations such as Children’s
Day and Christmas for the children.
$300,000 to Benefit NTUC Health
Nursing Home (Jurong West)
S MOU contributed $300,000 towards the Eldercare
Trust to benefit needy seniors at NTUC Health
Nursing Home (Jurong West). The funding will go towards
The heartwarming event saw SMOU officials President
Rahim Jaffar and General Secretary Mary Liew presenting
the cheque to Ms Chan Su Yee, CEO of NTUC Health,
offsetting nursing home fees for seniors, who require witnessed by Mr Yee Chia Hsing, MP for Chua Chu Kang
further financial support, after government subsidies. GRC.
On 29 March, a cheque presentation was held to celebrate Following the cheque presentation, SMOU officials and
the support SMOU is giving towards NTUC Health Nursing volunteers took part in an intergenerational activity with
Home (Jurong West). It also created an opportunity for the residents and children from My First Skool (MFS), to
SMOU to engage in meaningful interaction with the build a boat using recycled materials.
residents of the beneficiary home.
Thereafter, SMOU officials visited the residents’
accommodation area and distributed gifts. The kind gesture
from the union was well received by the residents.
Seavoices apr
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MakeWAVES
A live band roved around,
entertaining members.
Good Health and Good
Wealth for Jalan Besar
This dinner is a good opportunity for us, the young, to connect with
the community of Jalan Besar. We want to reach out to the seniors to
show that we value them."
T hese words expressed by Young SMOU (YSMOU) Chairman Dominic Yong
summed up what the SMOU & Wavelink Lunar New Year Celebration for
Jalan Besar senior residents is all about.
On 12 February, SMOU and Wavelink opened its arms to welcome more than
90 senior residents of Jalan Besar at Lighthouse Bistro, to celebrate the Lunar
New Year. YSMOU has been the key driver of this caring and sharing initiative
for the past 10 years.
Giving SMOU a pat on the back for the good Grateful that he was not left out of
work of organising the dinner was Guest-of- the festivities, 78-year-old Mr Thigaraja
Honour Denise Phua, Adviser to Kampong Suppiah was all praises – I feel
Glam Grassroots Organisations and that the event is organised with a
Mayor for Central Singapore District. In good purpose. Makes the residents
her speech, Ms Phua also highlighted the feel appreciated, as most of us are
good work of the Union in adopting its first retired and no longer working. This
pre-school charity, My First Skool at Jalan event unites people of all ages and
Sultan Centre. “Thank you SMOU for being races.”
so generous. You could have kept the
money to invest, get dividends, and
more. But what you did was very Mdm Lim Ah Kheoh, aged 83 years,
gracious,” she said. thoroughly enjoyed the luncheon and
entertainment. She was so tickled by the
Besides a sumptuous eight-course antics of Fei Fei. I feel happy that I
dinner and auspicious lo hei, each can come and have a good lunch, a good
resident was presented with a hong laugh and a good time. All is good!”
bao and prosperity goodie bag
containing food items.
Having recently joined Jalan Besar constituency, Mdm
During dinner, guests were Alimah Kassim is a newbie to the neighbourhood and
treated to entertainment by has no friends. However, she felt special being invited to
Happy Fei Fei and YSMOU her first lunar new year celebration. I am happy to
volunteers who sang and be invited to join in the lunar new year celebration.
danced along to festive This is my first time with other seniors and my first
music with the seniors. As lohei experience too. I am glad that by coming, I
the saying goes, good health made new friends.”
is good wealth.
8 Seavoices apr-may 2019
MakeWAVES
Bringing Festive Cheer to Seafarers
O n 22 January, the Mission to Seafarers Singapore
(MTSS) Drop-in Centre at Jurong Port was teeming
with festive cheer for some 50 seafarers whose vessels
While dinner was ongoing, each seafarer received a
complimentary prepaid StarHub SIM card which would
allow them to stay connected with their loved ones. The
had berthed in Singapore. The party was organised by thoughtful gesture was truly appreciated by the seafarers.
SMOU and MTSS to show appreciation for the hard work
of seafarers during the festive season.
The programme for the night
kickstarted with the lo hei where
SMOU Industrial Relations Officer
Kelvin Lin introduced the significance
of the yu sheng to the seafarers.
It was heartwarming to see the
participants tossing the auspicious
dish with greater gumption to usher
in more good fortune, prosperity and
smooth sailing year ahead.
Seavoices apr
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MakeWAVES
Here for One Reason
TETA Cohort 4 Investiture
T ripartite partners came together at Lighthouse Bistro on 5 March to witness the
investiture of Tripartite Engineering Training Award (TETA) cadets from Cohort 4.
There was excitement in the air as these cadets accompanied by their families,
interacted with SMOU and WMI officials, their shipping employers, as well as
representatives from Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), Maritime and
Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
This investiture allows
me to have a greater sense
of pride in the role as a
cadet. It is a milestone along
the path to becoming a
chief engineer. My family
members get to have a
better understanding of my
career choice, which helps to
motivate me further in my
course of studies.
Guest-of-Honour Mr Rahim Jaffar, President of SMOU, encouraged ▲ Ng Jing Jie, employed by POSH
the engineering cadets by affirming their career choice. The TETA
programme offers you opportunities that you may not find elsewhere
– a clear career progression, training allowance on the job, working I am privileged and
with multi-national cultures and exposure to the global transport thankful to be selected and
industry. It is a challenging but rewarding career.” given the opportunity to
pursue my career with the
close guidance of lecturers
Speaking on behalf of his cohort, Cadet Class President and seafarers who are
Na'im Rashid declared that We are all here for working closely with the
one reason which is to achieve our aspirations of school and companies. It’s
becoming chief engineers. To begin with an end in a wonderful experience
mind allows us stay resilient and focus. And with that knowing that I chose the
end in mind, we hope to attain our CoC Class 1 as right career path. I am more
soon as possible and assume the command of chief than motivated and driven to
engineer at our respective shipping company within give my very best in anything
6 to 10 years time.” For the past two months, TETA Cohort 4 dived into and everything that I do.
a rigorous classroom training. But what they discovered was that through ▼ Mohamed Danni Mohamed Shaharom,
the challenges, they came out stronger only because they worked together. employed by PIL
On behalf of my fellow cadets, I would like to thank our shipping
employers BP, CMA, PIL and POSH for the opportunity given. We
cherish this faith you have placed on us. You have given us this rare
opportunity to such training berths and a subsequent good career. I
would also like to thank WMI as well as the lecturers for giving us the
opportunity to gain knowledge in the maritime world.”
10 Seavoices apr-may 2019MakeWAVES
Every Worker Matters
L abour Members of Parliament
drove in the key message that
every worker matters in all their
At the heart of what our 4G leaders do, be it in the
Government or in the Labour movement, workers must
budget debate speeches following be at the centre. With this close political and union
the National Budget announcement on cooperation, we can chart Singapore’s success together
18 February made by Finance Minister so that when Singapore succeeds, Singaporeans can
Heng Swee Keat. share in that success.”
- NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Ng Chee Meng
…a thorough review of how Since we launched the Industry Transformation
part-time and flexi-work options Maps (ITM), …we are starting to see
can become integral to the early successes across many sectors.
mainstream staffing models of However, the ultimate beneficiary
Singapore companies, alongside full- of our ITM initiatives must be the
time work model, is needed.” Singaporean worker.”
NTUC Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Heng Chee How
NTUC Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Koh Poh Koon
The Labour Movement is committed
to serve as the workers’ viewfinder I urge for business buyers and
in navigating the work landscape, by operators to also offer freelancers a
bringing stakeholders together to fair and reasonable deal.”
collectively make better skills, jobs and
pay real for workers.”
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Patrick Tay
NTUC Assistant Director-General (ADG) Ang Hin Kee
Wherever you are, do what you We talk about industrial revolution,
can, with whatever you have to help a but the quieter yet more violent one
low-wage worker live with dignity.” lies in the companion revolution
in the way we work and relate to
each other.”
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Zainal Sapari
Labour Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng
Learning agility is the key
to building a modern workforce …workers in their mid-fifties who feel that it
capable of navigating and leveraging is not necessary to go for training as their career
opportunities arising from runway is shorter and training might not provide
disruptions.” more opportunities for career advancement. We
need to change their mindset and help
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Desmond Choo educate them that training and skills
upgrading are necessary for them
to remain relevant.”
How then can we collectively work to address
these challenges (course, cost, time) that
our workers are facing? I am proposing
three strategies: build depth, bring
Labour Nominated Member of Parliament Arasu Duraisamy
training closer to workers and
formalise the importance of training
with Management.”
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Melvin Yong
Seavoices apr-may 2019 11IR
Spreading Joy with Seafarers
K nowing that vessels still dock in
Singapore port during the Lunar
New Year holidays, SMOU officials
boarded vessels covered under the
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
at Tanjong Pagar and Pasir Panjang to
bring festive joy to the crew members
onboard.
On 15 February, SMOU Assistant
Secretaries Joyce Lee and Loh
Mayling joined the SMOU IR team
Kelvin Lin, Brandon Tan and Venus PIL Kota Manis
Low, to connect with the seafarers
and to present Lunar New Year gifts
and the SMOU publications. Despite
a busy turnaround time, the seafarers
set aside some time between tasks to
share with union officials about their
life on board and how grateful they
were to be remembered by SMOU.
The afternoon visit was a meaningful
time of interaction where the union
was able to express care and concern
for the seafarers.
SMOU wishes all seafarers a happy
PIL Kota Lalif
and prosperous Lunar New Year!
12 Seavoices apr-may 2019IR
Celeste
Enhancing Bipartite Ties
T o strongly affirm solidarity and toss to greater
collaborative ties, SMOU invited CBA companies to the
Lighthouse Bistro for a time of festive celebration.
During the Lunar New Year season, the union networked
at lunches/dinners with Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement,
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, BW Maritime, Celeste
Holding, CMA Ships Singapore, Eaglestar Shipmanagement,
Fleet Ship Management, Grace Ocean, Grindrod Shipping,
Maersk, MTM Ship Management, Ocean Tankers, Pacific
International Lines, PACC Offshore Services Holdings,
Thome Ship Management, U-Ming Marine Transport,
Wallenius Marine and Zeaborn Ship Management.
CMA Ships Singapore
Over good food and social conversations, bipartite ties were
reaffirmed and renewed. Grace Ocean
MTM
POSH
PIL
Seavoices apr-may 2019 13IR
A Great Way
to C.U.R.E.
I t was 1pm on a workday while some 120 golfers were
seen teeing off at Orchid Country Club. The sun was out,
the wind calm and players were on top of their game. At the
SMOU Company Union Rapport Exercise (C.U.R.E.) Golf and
Dinner held on 8 March, golf enthusiasts from the maritime
industry expected their half day on the green to be a great
one.
The game afforded plenty of opportunity for networking,
quality conversations and the exchange of industry insights
to take place between the union, government and shipping
companies. Having a cool ice cream potong in the midst of
the game was the crowd favourite.
C.U.R.E. Golf has achieved its objective
of forging stronger social ties and bonding
among the representatives of the tripartite
partners. Tripartism, like love and friendship,
needs to be nurtured with meaningful and
memorable activities and events. Keep up the
good work SMOU!
■ Martin Marini, General Counsel (Legal Department), MPA
This event is a very useful way to
maintain good ties amongst tripartite
partners. As the number of golf players seem
to be lesser these days, I am glad to hear
that SMOU continues to organise C.U.R.E.
events of other forms to engage the younger
generation. Looking forward to these
networking opportunities.
■ Capt Masao Nakaya, NYK Shipmanagement
After a round of golf, participants unwinded with dinner. The
tournament saw the top three rankings presented to the
Women and Men’s division. Novelty prizes were awarded to
the players who had the most-accurate drive, the longest-
drive and closest-to-the-pin. The lucky draw and flash prizes
brought the C.U.R.E. Golf to a climax. You can be sure
that participants are looking forward to more networking
opportunities.
14 Seavoices apr-may 2019IR
SMOU Secures Ex-Gratia
Payment for Deceased Member
S MOU takes care of its members
and family. In the case of a
deceased member Lin Kyaw, his
surviving family was not able to
receive any death compensation.
This was because the late Lin
Kyaw’s death from an accident on
5 June 2017 was not work-related,
as determined by the Ministry of
Manpower.
SMOU, ITF and the employer
Wallenius, raised the matter to the
insurance association P&I Club.
After reviewing the circumstances,
P&I Club agreed to offer an ex-gratia
payment of USD50,000.
On 22 January, a Receipt & Release
letter was signed at the office of
crewing agent Green Ro-Ro, in the
presence of concerned witnesses
from the Myanmar Department of
Marine Administration, Independent
Federation of Myanmar Seafarers,
SMOU and Wallenius.
Seavoices apr-may 2019 15IR
Preparing for a Future Ready
Workforce
NTUC Industrial Relations Sector Seminar 2019
A n awe-inspiring start to the year was marked with
an eye-opening seminar in Shenzhen, China’s high
tech hub. The NTUC Industrial Relations Sector Seminar
2019 was held from 3 to 6 January, where leaders from
the various NTUC affiliated unions gathered. High on the
agenda for many participants was the opportunity to learn
from three internationally renowned high-tech companies -
BYD, Foxconn and Tencent.
Led by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and
President Mary Liew, 145 unionists from 51 affiliate unions
participated in the seminar that fostered new thinking on “A
Future Ready Workforce”.
At the Seminar, the delegates discussed on how to inspire
members to excel in new high tech working environments.
After company visits to BYD, Foxconn and Tencent, group
representatives shared their findings based on three
areas – the company culture, people development and
technology.
Participants experienced the benefits of equipping workers
with a set of adaptive, technical and technological skills
that could empower them to transform into a Worker 4.0.
Unions play a critical role in rallying workers to upskill and
be informed of the transformation headwinds.
The Seminar concluded with a commitment towards a
Labour Movement that is Future-Ready, Relevant and
Representative.
16 Seavoices apr-may 2019YSMOU
Virtual World Lessons for the
Real World
B lending the escape room concept with a full 3D
cinematic experience to deliver a unique, immersive
and mind-blowing adventure, Virtual Room offered the
Megat Khairul Hazwan, cadet from TNTA Cohort 16,
found the VR activity interesting as he had never
ultimate team-based virtual reality (VR) experience to gamed on such a platform before. Fun moments
some 25 TMTA cadets and Young SMOU officials on 22 was when we had no idea what to do at first,
February. and we were all clueless as to what to do next.
However, once we
In a race against time, each 3-4 member team had to understood how to
complete a mission to save the world. Using VR goggles play the game, it
and in-game microphones, team mates could see each felt good especially
other as avatars. Team members had to talk to each other, when we were
walk around, bend, throw objects and collaborate together able to accomplish
to solve puzzles and challenges. a mission as a
team.”
While the players ventured into
the science fiction virtual world,
there was no place for side-liners. First time experiencing a team-based VR activity, Budi Harianto, cadet
All team members had to play their from TETA Cohort 4, found that the game helped him better himself.
part and engage, which emphasised I was able to improve in my communication skills. Despite each
the need for strong communication team member having different strengths and weaknesses, we learnt
amongst crew members in the real to help each other find a common goal, which was to complete the
shipping world. A TNTA cadet said mission as a team.”
of the VR game, “I've gained a new
experience trying out something that
one doesn't get to do everyday.” The
virtual experience brought out valuable
lessons for the real world, such as
communication, collaboration and
mutual support. A deeper bond was
forged between TMTA cadets and
Young SMOU officials.
Seavoices apr
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Running Man Challenge Hits
Singapore
Y oung SMOU has generated an
exhilarating, new spin to team
bonding by bringing the South Korean
megahit game show, Running Man,
to 25 youths from Tripartite Maritime
Training Award (TMTA) and Young
SMOU.
To build camaraderie among the cadets,
the teambuilding on 26 January had the
participants performing fun and crazy
antics and team building tasks.
The teams had to compete in quirky,
interactive and surprisingly challenging
activities as they moved from game
stations around Clarke Quay. Through
the missions, teams displayed
leadership and strategic thinking skills.
They also learnt about the importance
of teamwork and communication
among their team members in order to
succeed. It has been a long time
since I last experienced such
As the game drew to a close, team a fun event...feels almost like
members illustrated the strengths a throwback to high school. I
of their team and shared their most learnt how to appreciate such
memorable experiences. While the moments in life since such
Running Man game brought out the experiences fade away with
competitive spirit amongst the youth, time and I enjoyed myself
it provided opportunity for interaction with my teammates.
and bonding between TMTA cadets ■ Muhammed Abdullah, TETA Cohort 4
and Young SMOU representatives.
After the team building, the youths
proceeded for a networking lunch. The
bonds forged among them through the
time together is truly for a lifetime!
18 Seavoices apr-may 2019MemBUZZ
Shop Till You
Drop
C lose to 45 SMOU members and families prepped
themselves for a one-day shopping excursion to
wholesale centres in Singapore.
On 19 January, the shopping ‘mission’ started early
as members got all excited grabbing their nutty
favourites, filling up on canned and packet drinks, loading
themselves with imported fruits and vegetables for the
festive season.
Seeing the satisfied faces of these bargain-hunters was
priceless. SMOU members got more than they bargained
for – a great day of bonding with family and friends.
I really enjoyed the whole day doing
nothing but shopping, eating and meeting
up with friends. This is a good way to stay
active. I give it a thumbs up for the good
value for money trip and for a fantastic
lunch.
Lee Tang Chew, SMOU member of 30 years
This is my first time going around
the warehouses buying all the goodies to
prepare for Chinese New Year. I am well
prepared!
Miao Yi, SMOU member of 19 years
Seavoices apr-may 2019 19MemBUZZ
Heartwarming
Home Visits of
the Season
S ending Lunar New Year greetings
and spreading cheer to senior
SMOU members in their homes is
one of the highlights on the calendar
of union officials.
The SMOU band of caring unionists,
consisting of President Rahim Still going strong,
91-year-old Tan
Jaffar, General Secretary Mary Liew, Jit Kwan (2nd
Treasurer Yong Soon Huat, First Vice from left), also
President Roy Lee, Assistant General received 40 years
long membership
Secretary Gwee Guo Duan, Assistant award.
Treasurer Tan Geh Ting, Secretary
Terence Tan, Executive Committee
members Tan Hung Tat, Goh Seow
88-year-old Mohd
Juay, Immediate Past President Affandi Arwi (3rd
Capt Robin Foo and Young SMOU from left) SMOU
Chairman Dominic Yong, carried out member of 55
years.
these heartwarming home visits.
The home visits brought so much joy
to the members and their family. They
were grateful that their Union has a
special place for their welfare.
Feeling
appreciative during
SMOU visit to his
Chan Ngiap Keng home is 74-year-
(2nd from right) old Goh Sock
age 69, SMOU Meng (centre),
member of 38 SMOU member of
years. 38 years.
20 Seavoices apr-may 2019MemBUZZ
70 years old Chan
Naip Heng (left),
SMOU member of
23 years, enjoyed
the chat session.
Tossing to good
health with SMOU
member of 22
years Tengku
Mochammad
Echman (centre in
striped shirt) and
his family.
Huat Ah moment
with Tong Hoe Kaw
(2nd from right),
SMOU member of
23 years, and his
wife.
Mohamed Fajari
Haji Basri (2nd
from right) aged
64 years, SMOU
member of 37
years.
Seavoices apr-may 2019 21MemBUZZ
Picking Up a New Hobby
with SMOU
S ome 20 SMOU members had
a chance to create their own
mini garden in a jar, at a Terrarium
Workshop on 25 January just in time
for the Lunar New Year.
Held at the Mariners’ Lounge,
participants learnt the basics of
terrarium making and plant care. With
the guidance of an instructor from
Ecoponics, members explored their
creative ‘nature’ and put their own spin
on their plant story.
By the end of the workshop, everyone
had in their hands, their unique
creation, matched with the confidence
of a new skillset, for terrarium
expansion!
For space-starved folks
like me who love greenery in
my HDB home, terrariums are
a good alternative. I enjoyed
the workshop very much.
In fact, this workshop has
‘planted’ some good ideas. I
hope to re-use my coffee jars
to make more terrariums, and
I can teach my wife how to
do it as well.
■ Henry Tin Ko Bik
22 Seavoices apr-may 2019MemBUZZ
Golf Kakis Reunite at SMOU's
Lunar New Year Golf League
T he annual Lunar New Year Golf League provides SMOU
golf kakis the perfect reason to network over friendly
competition. The first golf event of this year organised by
the union teed off at the Orchid Country Club, where 80
golfers swung into golf action on 13 February. Not even a
drizzle could dampen the spirits of these die-hard golfers.
An auspicious lo hei during dinner brought more festive
cheer to the evening. By the look on everyone’s face, they
had a good game, with three tournament champions and
lucky draw winners. The SMOU golf league isn’t just about
the game, as deeper connections are made each time
golfers gather together. We say, ‘huat ah’ to greater golf
leagues.
Seavoices apr
apr-may
-may 2019 23MemBUZZ
Time to Say
“I Love You”
S MOU couples, all dressed to the nines to impress
their partner, sashayed to the Lighthouse Bistro for a
romantic evening of wining and dining on Valentine’s Day.
The cosy ambience set the mood for an unforgettable
evening, where each couple shared a four-course set dinner
and were serenaded with love songs. The occasion was
also marked with a lunar new year celebration as couples
tossed lohei, to usher prosperity into their marriages.
24 Seavoices apr-may 2019MemBUZZ
SMOU Family Day 2019
What better way to enjoy a family night out than in the wild Night Safari.
Your night of adventure includes:
• Admission ticket and tram ride
• Mystery Animal Appearance
• Goodie Bag per family
• Pre-event activities eg
Claw Machine, Capsule
Machine and photobooth.
Top up another $10 for entry to
Rainforest Lumina.
See how the night creatures come
alive in the world’s first nocturnal zoo.
There is so much adventure happening
after dark.
Date
22 June 2019 (Saturday)
Time
Admission time starts from 7.15pm
Venue
Night Safari – Wildlife Reserves
Singapore
For more information, look out for
our email blast.
Seavoices apr
apr-may
-may 2019 25MemBUZZ 26 Seavoices apr-may 2019
MemBUZZ
Digital Transformation of
SeaVoices
Come 2020, SeaVoices will go digital! while staying focused on producing content. Down the road, we are looking
quality content. to deliver the heartbeat of the union
SeaVoices news has recently been to our members, shipping community
gaining more traction by delivering With feedback received from members, and international affiiliates, anytime and
news and information via social media. we recognise that an increasing anywhere.
The team has started preparing for its demographic want their news on the
strategic digital pivot since late 2018, go with a growing appetite for online Look out for it as the countdown begins.
Seavoices apr-may 2019 27WaveLINK
Clear and Fast SPF Withdrawal
W hen Mr Rushaad H Mehta came by SMOU
office to withdraw his Seafarers' Provident
Fund (SPF) on 24 December 2018, the chief
officer from Maersk Tankers Singapore did
not expect the claiming process to be so
swift.
“Clear and fast” was his experience
with Wavelink Thrift, in handling his
submission. Impressed and grateful to
the staff for their efficiency, he urged
all officers not to delay their withdrawal
application. “Continue to be an SMOU
member and enjoy the benefits.”
Grateful for having benefitted from the
SPF, he intends to use it for his daughter’s
education.
For Mr Rushaad, his visit to the union was to
also collect his membership renewal gift. As
his family was already with him during his last
voyage, they enjoyed a short holiday in Singapore
before returning to India.
To all officers who served onboard vessels covered by SMOU Collective
Agreement before 2012, the SPF has been terminated on 30 June 2012.
All officers under the SPF scheme are urged to withdraw their balance.
ACT now in 3 steps and submit before the deadline of 1 December 2021.
A pply by completing SPF Withdrawal Form
(can be downloaded from www.ispf.org.sg) Singapore
C opies of proper documents to be ready
- NRIC/Passport, Seamen Handbook(s) Wavelink Thrift
- Bank Book/Statement, indicating bank details 75 Jellicoe Road #03-01
T ransfer of Funds information to be provided. Mode – Telegraphic Transfer or Wavelink Building
Direct Transfer. Singapore 208738
Tel: +65 6390 1661
Email: spf@wavelink.com.sg
Brought to you by
Contact us at spf@wavelink.com.sg for SPF enquiries and withdrawal submission.
Like & Share our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Wavelinkthrift/
with your seafaring friends who may have SPF.
28 Seavoices apr-may 2019WaveLINK
Back from
the Sea
TETA 1 Begins Phase 3
L ook who’s back in Wavelink
Maritime Institute (WMI).
The 1st cohort of cadets from the
Tripartite Engineering Training Award
(TETA) programme are back onshore
after spending 15 months at sea
onboard different ships with different
fleets.
All 8 cadets have spent their time at
sea completing their Distance Learning
training and experiencing the rigours
and thrills of shipboard life at sea.
The 1st TETA cohort started their
training on 4 April 2016. Nine months
later, they completed the first phase
of their pre-sea training which
prepared them well and provided
good foundational knowledge for their
respective deployments onboard the
vessels they sailed with.
The shipboard experiences and hands-
on training opportunities prepared the
cadets well enough to successfully
pass the entrance examinations to
begin the seven-month long Phase
3 TETA training where all their
theoretical and practical knowledge
is amalgamated with advance
training to prepare them in due course for their Certificate He added, In the coming months, the cadets will
of Competency (CoC) Class 5 Marine Engineering be completing their training at WMI and we’re looking
examinations. forward to the cadets joining the industry as qualified
new Marine Engineers by the end of the year.”
Mr Kalyan Chatterjea, Course Commandant of the TETA
initiative was excited that all the cadets came back with
differing experiences. I’m glad all the cadets returned
with full enthusiasm and the companies have given
them great opportunities and environment to learn.
They can now exchange their experiences in the class
dialogues and have good understanding of their future
responsibilities when they become Marine Engineers.”
Seavoices apr-may 2019 29WaveLINK
Johnson (2nd from left)
with his classmates and
trainer during a welding
workshop.
From Last to First
J ohnson Chia may have started his Tripartite Engineering
Training Award (TETA) journey, on par with seven other
engineer cadets from TETA Cohort 2 on November 2016, but
he is the first candidate from the TETA programme to have
officially completed all 3 phases and passed his Certificate
of Competency (CoC) Class 5 examination. Yes! TETA’s first
junior engineer is from TETA 2.
If you are wondering how this is possible, SeaVoices will let
you in on Johnson’s secret.
Johnson completed his diploma in Marine Engineering at
Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA). However, instead of
continuing with his sailing attachment, Johnson enrolled
into a Marine Engineering degree course at Singapore
Institute of Technology (SIT). After one year, he made a
decision to discontinue his studies. Looking for an alternate
route, Johnson found the TETA programme through an
online seach. He realised that it could give him a chance to
not only rejoin the maritime industry but utilise his diploma
education for a fast track into the industry.
Johnson during his pre-sea graduation.
Through the TETA place-and-train pathway, he was employed
by Pacific International Lines (PIL). A typical TETA programme The journey to become a marine engineer has been
lasts 31 months – Phase 1: 8 months of pre-sea classroom memorable. Johnson recalls a moment when he was
training; Phase 2: 15 months of sea service; Phase 3: 8 working on a “monkey island”, the highest deck point of the
months of classroom preparatory course. However, for vessel above the bridge, in the midst of a thunderstorm. The
Johnson, his TETA journey was shortened by more than 50% experience was both electrifying and exhilarating.
(ie he did it in 14 months) having had exemptions due to his
Diploma in Marine Engineering from SMA. Reflecting on his journey, he said, I feel honoured and
grateful to have been given the chance to get back into
Johnson received his pre-sea graduation certificate on the maritime industry. The TETA programme paved the
24 July 2017, together with his fellow cadets from TETA way for me, at a time when I thought all avenues were
Cohort 2. Thereafter, he served his sea training for 6 months closed.”
instead of 15 months and took his CoC Class 5 exams
directly after sea, saving him 17 months! While it seemed Currently, Johnson is on shore leave, fulfilling STCW Basic
as though he would be last among his cohort from SMA Safety Training (BST) short courses before MPA issues him
to enter the maritime industry, he became the first TETA the CoC 5. For this young marine engineer, the sea’s the limit,
graduate. as he works towards becoming a Chief Engineer.
30 Seavoices apr-may 2019Dive into an authentic culinary experience at
Lighthouse
Bistro
Sou Vide
Australian
Rib Eye
Asian Lobster Pasta
Panna Cotta
Pisang Island Latte
Follow Lighthouse Bistro
75 Jellicoe Road, Wavelink Building, #01-00, Singapore 208738 l 6390 1699
www.lighthouse-sg.com
Seavoices apr-may 2019 31You can also read
