TURNING CRISIS INTO OPPORTUNITIES - SeaVoices
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Publication of the MCI (P) 035/11/2020
JUL
Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union
and Wavelink Co-operative
DEC
2020
Se
avoices
TURNING
CRISIS INTO
OPPORTUNITIES
SeaVoices is
now online!
Scan here to
access Digital
SeaVoices
14 28 74
ENTERING THE A GLOBAL GRADUATION OF
YEAR OF SMOU'S TRIPARTITE EFFORT TNTA 18TH
PLATINUM TO ACCELERATE COHORT!
ANNIVERSARY CREW CHANGE
SEAVOICES JUL – DEC 2020
Makewaves
04 GS Message 2021
12 May Day Awards: Comrade of Labour Award
13 May Day Awards: Medal of Commendation
14 Entering the year of SMOU’s Platinum Anniversary
16 SMOU Bursary and Scholarship Awards Presentation 2020
04 19 Faces Of SMOU: Captain S.K. Menon
23 Bridging the Social Distance on National Day!
IR
25 Strengthening Multilateral Ties for the Welfare, Benefits and Rights
of Seafarers
16 26 SMOU being Awarded Crew Change Champion for Facilitating
Crew Change amid COVID-19 Pandemic
28 A Global Tripartite Effort to Accelerate Crew Change
29 Maritime Tripartite Partners Streamline Safe Crew Change
Processes
31 Fostering Ties for a Future-Ready Maritime Singapore
32 2nd Kopi Session - Engaging CBA Companies
on Crew Change Processes
19 33 SMOU updates CBA Companies with Tools to Nagivate Pandemic
35 SMOU Visits Two Female Officers Working Onboard MV Don Juan
37 SMOU Visit Crew Members Working at the Floatel
38 Care Packages for our Unsung Heroes
35 37
Wavelink Building
Find us on Young SMOU Members
75 Jellicoe Road #02-01
Singapore 208738
Tel : [65] 6396 0123 SMOUnews
Fax : [65] 6339 5436
Website : www.smou.org.sg Smousg
Operating Hours:
Mon to Fri : 9am to 6pm Smou Sg
(till 8pm on first Friday of every month)
Lighthouse Bistro Operating Hours:
Mon to Sat : 12pm to 10.30pm
Tel : [65] 6390 1699
Website : www.lighthouse-sg.com
2 Seavoices 2020
YSMOU
40 SMOU Continues to Give Back to the Jalan Besar Community
42 Caring and Sharing on Children’s Day!
44 Making a Difference on World Senior Citizen’s Day
46 YSMOU and MPA Engagement Session with the Youth
48 A Virtual Teambuilding Experience
50 Engine Cadets Making Meaningful Connections 40
52 Fireside Chat with the Cadets
54 TMTA Fireside Chat with SMOU & WMI
Membuzz
56 Enhanced NTUC/SMOU Care Fund (COVID-19) to Help Members
in Need
58 SMOU Family Bonding at the Singapore Zoo
60 Back to School with Social Media
61 Senior Members of SMOU learn how to Zoom to Stay Connected
42
63 SMOU Members Learn the Benefits of a Lasting Power of Attorney
Membership Renewal 2021
64 Remembering Our Late Members
67 Seafarers' Provident Fund (SPF)
56 58
Wavelink
68 WMI and Vopak Singapore Embark on New Mooring Operations
Training Programme
69 Marine Engineering Cadets are Ready for the High Seas!
70 Family Engagement Session for TNTA Cohort 19
71 WMI Singapore Crew Change Training Webinar
68
72 Senior Minister of State, Ministry for Trade and Industry,
Chee Hong Tat Visits WMI
74 Graduation of TNTA 18th Cohort!
75 Behavioural Based Safety Training
76 Maritime Incident Investigations
77 Gateway to a Maritime Career at Sea
80 Brand New SMOU Mobile App 72
Seavoices 2020 3
Makewaves
GS Message 2021
Turning Crisis Into
Opportunities
“2020 has been an unusual and challenging year
with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing drastic
changes to how we work, live and play. We saw
a different world where everyone had to adapt
to new rules and new lifestyles within a very
short period of time. Thank you for keeping
the global supply chain moving as our nation
continues to persevere in this battle.
As we enter into the new year of 2021, I
would like to wish all our members good
health and a blessed New Year!”
W hen the full impact of the
pandemic hit our shores, SMOU
went back to the drawing board to find
ways to turn the crisis at hand into
opportunities to help our members.
One of the biggest concerns we
encountered all around the world
was the issue on crew change.
Many seafaring members were
physically and mentally impacted as
they continued to work beyond their
contractual periods on board ships.
Being unable to return home to their
loved ones and family also exacerbated
their psychological states as the days
went by. Seafarers who were ashore
also faced uncertainty, with their
livelihood on the line as they waited
anxiously to join ships to support their
families.
4 Seavoices 2020
Makewaves
SMOU swung into action by engaging
our CBA shipping companies on crew
change, and joined our maritime
tripartite partners Maritime and
Port Authority of Singapore (MPA),
Singapore Shipping Association (SSA)
and Singapore Organisation of Seamen
(SOS) to respond to the situation.
Seavoices 2020 5
Makewaves
1. Tripartite partners formed the
Singapore Crew Change Work
Group (SGCCWG) to set up
infrastructure and formulate a
guidebook that detailed steps to
implement safe crew change in
Singapore. This enabled Singapore to
assist around 78,000 crew change of
seafarers at the Singapore port by the
end of 2020.
2. To help seafarers to do safe crew
change in and beyond Singapore,
SMOU contributed S$250,000 to
the Singapore Shipping Tripartite
Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund with other 5. We helped to facilitate employment for our members
local tripartite partners, as well as other international when opportunities to sign on ships were hard to come by
organisations – International Transport Workers’ due to crew change challenges. Our Young SMOU team
Federation (ITF), International Maritime Employers’ engaged seafarers by linking them up with alternative job
Council (IMEC), and International Chamber of Shipping placements through channels like Workforce Singapore
(ICS). This initiative is also supported by the International (WSG) and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute
Maritime Organization and the International Labour (e2i) to get through these trying times.
Organization. By December 2020, various port authorities
around the world and international organisations joined 6. Bento set meals were prepared and delivered to
in the support of the SG-STAR fund. Through this fund, seafaring members who signed off from ships and had
we have been able to reach out to the region to further to serve their stay-home notice periods in isolation. The
bolster crew change efforts by channelling resources meals, prepared by Lighthouse Bistro, were delivered to
upstream to seafarer supplying nations. the doorstep of their designated stay-home facility during
their quarantine.
*Today, the Port of Singapore facilitates about 600 crew
change daily, a remarkable increase from just 100 in mid- 7. SMOU also joined international unions to acknowledge
2020. our seafarers as key workers and recognise the essential
work that they contribute to the global supply chain so that
3. To help our seafaring members who were unable to crew change can
earn their keep due to the difficulty of signing on ships, be conducted
SMOU partnered with MPA and has so far processed at more ports
over 80 applications with a total amount of about around the world.
S$80,000 under the Seafarers’ Relief Package By forming safe
scalable corridors
4. The NTUC/SMOU COVID-19 Care Fund too has for crew change
processed over 200 members’ applications disbursing in our region, we
over S$100,000 in funding to help our members during hope to expand
this difficult time. this to a wider
international scale.
*Figures accurate as at December 2020
6 Seavoices 2020
Makewaves
TRAINING TO REMAIN RELEVANT Senior Members - To help our Senior members, SMOU
Despite restrictions preventing some of our regular organised workshops such as the Lasting Power of Attorney
training to be conducted, SMOU together with our and the Zoom and Social Media workshops to equip our
training partner, Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI), members with skills and information that will be helpful to
turned to the digital platform and trained over 1,300 them during this period.
Officers, Cadets and Maritime Professionals in 2020.
Various online training courses including topics on cyber
security and mental health were also rolled out for the
maritime community.
Engaging shipping companies – During the pandemic,
SMOU engaged our CBA companies over the virtual
platform to help them navigate issues and challenges
with crew change.
Together with WMI, we conducted webinars with
shipping management companies, governmental
maritime administrations and manning agencies by
sharing with them technology and facilities that would
play a big role in crew change procedures done in
Singapore.
Zoom workshop for senior members
Singapore Core - We continue to build the Singapore TETA Cohort 5
core with both our Tripartite Nautical Training Award
(TNTA) and Tripartite Engineering Training Award (TETA)
programmes, conducting training with a hybrid of virtual
and face-to-face lessons. Our heartfelt congratulations to
cadets as we witnessed the graduation of the 18th batch
of 13 TNTA cadets, and the 5th batch of 7 TETA cadets in
2020.
Both programmes have trained over 400 cadets producing
more than 70 officers for the Singapore maritime core.
TNTA Cohort 18
Seavoices 2020 7
Makewaves CARING AND SHARING At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak when masks and essential items were scarce, we seized the opportunity to do good! The SMOU Executive Committee, together with our youth volunteers from Young SMOU, rallied to put together more than 3,000 care packs for essential workers to protect them from the virus while they serve. The packs helped various groups of people including our seafarers, workers at the frontline, our SMOU-adopted Henderson Home and My First Skool Jalan Sultan Centre, NTUC Health Homes, Senior members, and CBA companies. Lighthouse Bistro also prepared Bento sets for workers at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 to support them as they combat the effects of the outbreak. 8 Seavoices 2020
Makewaves
PLOUGHING BACK TO MEMBERS
Despite the gloom of the pandemic, we did not forget you
- our SMOU members who have given us your confidence
and support.
BECAUSE OF YOU, we were able to represent our
seafarers in such a trying time, and persevere in doing
good for the maritime community and beyond. Therefore,
SMOU innovated and continued to extend services such as
Lighthouse Bistro set meals that were delivered island-wide
to members’ homes during the circuit breaker period.
Also, when Singapore progressed through the phases
of the economy’s reopening, SMOU gradually resumed
our regular membership services in a safe manner. We
managed to organise virtual events such as the National
Day Family Connection to bond with members and families, p Annual Bursary
and the Annual Bursary and Scholarship Awards ceremony and Scholarship
to encourage members’ children to continue the journey of Awards Ceremony
learning. National Day
Family Connection
Where SMOU would organise yearly outings for members,
this year we provided heavily subsidised movie tickets, zoo
tickets and tickets to the S.E.A. Aquarium in their place
for members to enjoy the activities with their family. Our
senior citizen event also took the form of a staycation at the
Resorts World Singapore this year.
Annual Family
Gathering at
Singapore Zoo
To launch our 70th Anniversary year, we also organised Connecting with You - 2020 has also pushed many of
a virtual Year End Get-Together event in November SMOU’s engagements onto a virtual platform. We are glad
where we included the Long Membership Awards that we made the strategic move at the start of last year
ceremony to honour and thank our long-standing to move the SeaVoices bi-monthly newsletter online. I am
members for their support. encouraged to see more readers getting accustomed to
the digital SeaVoices platform.
Your wellbeing will remain as a top priority for us,
and we will continue to find ways to cater to the To bring SMOU closer to you, we launched our very own
needs and interests of members, while observing the ‘MySMOU’ mobile application at the end of 2020. The
necessary safety guidelines to protect you and your application provides a myriad of SMOU-related services at
loved ones. your fingertips!
Seavoices 2020 9
Makewaves
2021 - OUR PLATINUM YEAR – BECAUSE OF YOU
As we move forward into 2021, I want to encourage everyone to stay vigilant. While
we navigate this new norm with caution, we will commemorate our 70th Anniversary
year together with you as an important milestone in SMOU’s history. With the support
of our SMOU Executive Committee and staff, we have put together the following
programmes for you.
1. S$70 Gift For You - We will be extending a special gift for you containing S$50
worth of FairPrice vouchers and S$20 worth of Lighthouse Bistro vouchers as a token
of appreciation for your years of support.
2. S$70 Lunar New Year Hong Bao for all our Senior members* residing
in Singapore - Every year, SMOU distributes around 450 hong bao to Senior
members, but we are happy to announce that this year SMOU will focus our
resources to appreciate and give back directly to Senior members– almost 1,000
Senior members will be receiving the hong bao.
*SMOU member for at least 5 years and aged 62 and above
3. S$7 Monthly Special set lunch at Lighthouse Bistro for members -
Members can enjoy the heavily subsidised members’ monthly special set
lunch at the cosy setting of Lighthouse Bistro at only S$7 to thank you for your
support across the past 7 decades.
4. Annual Family Day @ Universal
Studio Singapore for a day of family
fun and bonding between you and your
loved ones!
5. New 45 and 50 years Long
Membership Awards - Our heartfelt
and deep appreciation for members
who have supported us since our early
years. To express our gratitude, we
will be introducing the 45 and 50 years
long membership awards categories
to acknowledge your long-standing
membership with us! Because of You,
SMOU is where we are today – thank
you!
6. $300,000 set aside for Welfare Reimbursement for
CBA ships - As a way to express our heartfelt gratitude
to our seafarers who have supported the global supply
chain during the pandemic, SMOU set aside S$300,000
for welfare reimbursement for seafarers on board CBA
ships. This is to encourage companies to organise onboard
welfare activities for their crew as an appreciation for their
invaluable contribution.
7. Youth Maritime E-Forum - To further engage the
youth, Young SMOU will be organising an e-forum in May, a
platform where industry experts can inspire the Youths with
their exciting maritime experiences and stories.
10 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
8. Lifelong Learning to move ahead - SMOU will
strengthen our efforts to work with training partners to
provide training to benefit and enhance employability of
members in the maritime industry and the international
maritime community. We will also continue to work with
shipping companies to form Company Training Committees
to help seafarers remain relevant, and add value to the
maritime industry. Lastly, learning opportunities will be
created for Senior members to be equipped with digital
skills to help them keep up with technology and navigate
the digital landscape.
9. Sail Because of You - As the pandemic has prolonged
effects on our seafarers, SMOU will also continue to show
support for our key workers by running a fundraiser “Sail
Because of You”. SMOU will contribute S$1 for every 7
nautical miles sailed by registered seafaring members of up
to S$170,000 to each of the two beneficiary institutes – the
Mission to Seafarers Singapore and NTUC Health.
10. 7 Acts of Corporate Social Responsibility - In our significant year, we want to put our core value of ‘Caring and
Sharing’ into action. As it is more blessed to give than to receive, we want to remember the less fortunate and needy.
SMOU will be embarking on giving back to the community with 7 Acts of corporate social responsibility initiatives across
2021. The seven ‘acts’ will see SMOU volunteering and contributing to organisations that will benefit our adopted homes,
senior citizens, migrant workers and seafarers across the year.
As we move into 2021, SMOU will focus on Protection,
Training & Employment and Welfare.
On protection, we will work with MPA to ensure that
vaccines will be prioritised for our local maritime workers.
On training & employment, we will continue in close
partnership with our tripartite and training partners to upskill
and improve employability of our members.
On welfare, we will encompass our ‘Care and Share’ core
value in all that we do, and further extend our helping hand
to members of SMOU and the community who are in need.
We may have hurdles ahead of us, but I am confident that
when we stand together united, we can overcome anything
Because of You.
Seavoices 2020 11Makewaves
E OF LABOUR AWARD
COMRAD
Brother Tay Chin Joo, Executive
Committee Member, SMOU
B rother Tay Chin Joo was nominated by SMOU to receive the Comrade of
Labour Award which is conferred on serving trade unionists who have made
significant contributions to their unions and are still active in their Executive
Committees (EXCO).
The May Day Awards 2020 honours exemplary union leaders, workers and
tripartite partners who contribute towards better wages, welfare and prospects
for our workers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no physical May
Day Award presentation event. NTUC Secretary-General Brother Ng Chee Meng
presented the award to Brother Chin Joo during his visit and dialogue with
SMOU EXCO.
Having been a member of SMOU for 43 years, with the last 35 years as a
union leader in the EXCO, Brother Chin Joo has served in various committees
of the union. An active member in the Financial, Administrative, Employment
& Employability and Training Committees, Brother Chin Joo has been pivotal in
engaging with members on union’s welfare and training initiatives and providing
feedback to the union on members’ concerns.
Being a long-serving member in SMOU Financial and Administrative
Committees, he has been a conscientious leader who ensures that the union
is financially stable in order to continuously support various members’ welfare
benefits and training programmes.
Brother Chin Joo’s dedication to the union and care towards members,
especially during difficult times has been commendable. His efforts have
strengthened the cohesiveness between the union and members.
Over the years, he has been actively promoting the workfare and welfare of
members by encouraging members to upgrade their skills. Back in 1997, the EXCO
initiated SMOU Alternate Career Scheme to help members who lost their jobs by
equipping and training them with the necessary skills required to make a career
switch. In the recent focus on digitalization, Brother Chin Joo actively encourages
members to upgrade and reskill by adopting the value of lifelong learning.
12 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
MEDAL OF COMMENDATION
Capt Lim Swee Aun, General
Manager, Wallenius Marine
Singapore Pte Ltd
T he May Day Awards 2020 honours exemplary union
leaders, workers and tripartite partners who contribute
towards better wages, welfare and prospects for our
In 2017, Capt Lim arranged for the union to go onboard
one of Wallenius’ biggest ships, MV Parsifal. The five-
day shipboard learning journey was led by our very
workers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was own Singaporean Captain Nordin, who is also SMOU’s
no physical May Day Award presentation event. SMOU Executive Committee member and Wallenius’ most senior
General Secretary Mary Liew presented the award to Capt Singaporean Captain. The voyage was an eye opener for the
Lim during his visit to SMOU. SMOU team who, through the journey gained insights and
experienced the day to day seagoing life of our members,
Capt Lim Swee Aun was nominated by SMOU to receive and how the union can better serve them.
the Medal of Commendation which is conferred on Senior
Management personnel in the Labour Movement network Capt Lim’s balanced approach between trade unions and
who continue to make significant contributions towards employers has earned him the position as Singapore
promoting and supporting Labour Movement’s outcomes in Maritime Employers’ Federation Chairman, where he is
improving workers’ wages, welfare and work prospects. able to further strengthen and bring together the tripartite
partners in the maritime industry.
Capt Lim is a strong believer in workers’ rights and tripartism,
while balancing the competitiveness of Singaporeans in the A strong advocate of training, Capt Lim sits in the
maritime industry. In the past 10 years, wages for maritime Singapore Maritime Training Fund Advisory Committee,
officers in the company have increased by about 7 per cent, sharing insights to the tripartite partners on the relevant
despite the conservative outlook as the industry is still skillsets needed by officers to ensure they remain
recovering from the downturn that started in 2010. employable.
Maritime officers from the 12 Singapore Flag vessels under He has consistently pushed for the operationalisation of the
Wallenius Marine Singapore Pte Ltd are organised by the Company Training Committee (CTC) initiative. On 18 June
Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU). Under Capt 2019, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Lim’s leadership, the company has demonstrated good on behalf of Singapore Maritime Employers Federation
labour-management relationship and was conferred the (SMEF), together with the Maritime and Port Authority of
Plaque of Commendation in 2015. Singapore, SMOU and Singapore Organisation of Seamen
to form an Industry Collaboration Training Committee. In
As a member of the Tripartite Maritime Training Award September 2019, companies under the SMEF such as
Advisory Committee, Capt Lim has made immense Wallenius Marine Singapore, Pacific International Lines
contributions to the development of the Singaporean Core. (Pte) Ltd and Posh Fleet Services Pte Ltd formed individual
Since the inception of the programme in 2009, Wallenius has company training committees to establish a proper
offered placement to 20 Singaporean deck and engine cadets. structure towards the training of seafarers.
Seavoices 2020 13Makewaves
Entering the year of SMOU’s
Platinum Anniversary
A s 2020 comes to a close, SMOU anticipates the
ushering in of 2021 – a momentous year for the
union to commemorate a key milestone. Got an idea of
their families. At the event, the theme of SMOU’s 70th
Anniversary year was announced – Because of You.
The tagline recognises that it is because of the support
what it is? Yes! SMOU turns 70 years in 2021 and it is of our SMOU members and tripartite partners that
Because of you! the union has been able to reach out and impact the
lives of our members and families. Therefore, we will
commemorate SMOU’s seven decades of journey and
history next year together with you.
Sister Mary Liew, SMOU General Secretary, added in
her opening address that it is because of members that
SMOU has been able to make a difference during the
COVID-19 pandemic. She stated that ‘Because of You’,
SMOU joined our tripartite partners in representing
seafarers by setting up the Crew Change Workgroup and
contributed to the SG-STAR fund, which spearheaded
crew change facilitation in Singapore and in the region.
SMOU also worked with international organisation to
push for the recognition of seafarers as key workers
who have sacrificed much during the COVID-19
SMOU 70 – Because of You pandemic. Amid the crisis, seafarers kept the global
To end off an unprecedented year and to look ahead to supply chains moving so that vital goods like medical
SMOU’s 70th year, SMOU hosted the virtual Year End supplies and good can continue to be transported to
Get-Together with almost 900 SMOU members and nations around the world.
14 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
Even though the pandemic has changed the way we interact, Long Membership Award recipients
and events may remain on virtual platforms in the new norm, The evening’s programme featured a special live stream
SMOU will continue to commemorate its 70th Anniversary segment of SMOU officials paying a visit to the homes
together with members’ health and safety in mind! of Senior long membership award recipients. Due to
the unprecedented pandemic situation, the Annual Long
Sister Mary clued us in in her address some of the events Membership Awards ceremony which sees members
that are in the pipelines for the new year ahead. Members getting together and receiving the awards could not be held
can look forward to activities including the Annual Family physically. Instead members were invited to join the SMOU
Day, and the ‘Gift For You’ token of appreciation of vouchers Year End Get-Together event on the virtual platform.
for members.
SMOU President, Brother Rahim Jaffar and SMOU
SMOU will also be launching initiatives such as the “Sail Executive Committee member and Chairman of
Because Of You” fundraising which invites seafarers to Membership Committee, Brother Tan Hung Tat headed down
partner with SMOU to raise funds for beneficiary institutions to two members’ residences – Brother Loh Hong Kee and
“Missions to Seafarers Singapore” and “NTUC Health”. Brother Mohamed Taha Bin Mohamed Shariff – to deliver
the awards and dinner for the evening to appreciate their
Sister Mary ended by reaffirming SMOU’s commitment to long-standing support for the union.
continue supporting members especially during this trying
time of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also thanked and This year, a total of more than 150 members received their
appreciated members and tripartite partners for their years SMOU long membership awards under the 10 to 40 years
of belief and contribution to SMOU. categories. Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our well
deserving long service members. Congratulations and thank
you!
Being an SMOU member, I appreciate
what SMOU is doing for members. I always
look forward to catching up with my friends
who are also SMOU member every month at
the Mariners Nite.
Loh Hong Kee, SMOU Long Membership Award recipient of 40
years
I enjoy the activities that SMOU
organises and the benefits that are given to
members. In particular, I appreciate SMOU’s
support for my family and me through the
SMOU bursary and scholarship awards that
helped to encourage my children to work
hard in their studies.
Mohamed Taha Bin Mohamed Shariff, SMOU Long Membership
Award recipient of 40 years
A Memorable Evening
The evening also saw the launch of SMOU’s Mobile
App – MYSMOU, interactive trivia games, a live band
performance, and a much anticipated year end lucky draw
where SMOU members could stand to win attractive prizes.
Dinner was also delivered to the homes of members so
that they could enjoy the virtual programme while tucking in
to the sumptuous seafood spread in the safety of their own
homes.
The evening ended on a positive note as SMOU and its
members cast their eyes to the significant year ahead – a
milestone telling of the strong support from members and
stakeholders which makes up the sturdy foundation on
which SMOU has built and will continue to build its good
work upon.
It indeed is Because of You.
Seavoices 2020 15Makewaves
Learning and Appreciation at the
SMOU Bursary and Scholarship
Awards Presentation 2020
S MOU hosted its Annual Bursary and Scholarship
Awards Presentation for its members on the 10
October 2020. “We believe that education is important in
career where good jobs are available and opportunities
abound. Finally in closing, Ms Mary Liew thanked members
of the selection committee - Mr Tan Hung Tat, Mr Cheah
benefiting not just the individual, but their families and our Aun Aun, Captain Mohd Salleh, and Mr Chan Joo Huat
nation, by unlocking opportunities for employment and to – and the organising committee for making the event
contribute meaningfully back to society. As such, SMOU possible.
without fail, has continued to present
these awards to our members’ children
since 1982,” said SMOU General
Secretary Mary Liew at the opening
address of the awards presentation.
The awards presentation took on a
virtual setting this year to conform
to national measures put in place in
response to the ongoing pandemic.
Ms Mary Liew also highlighted the
contribution of seafarers during this
period of the pandemic, thanking them
for being the key essential workers
of the Maritime Industry, transporting
vital goods and keeping the global
supply chain moving. In the same vein,
she encouraged the young recipients
to follow the footsteps of their parents
and to consider taking on a maritime
16 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
To reward and encourage students in their academics,
SMOU presented 26 Bursary and Scholarship awards, and
25 Wavelink book awards amounting to a total of $22,050.
Members tuned in from their homes with their children
dressed in school uniforms as they usually would at the
physical awards presentation. As the recipients’ names
flashed on the screen, the emcee congratulated the families
while parents’ faces beamed with pride and gratefulness.
Lim Zhi Zenn, who is the daughter of Lim Boon Pin,
SMOU member of 21 years, received the Scholarship
award and Wavelink Book award for the first time this
year. She expressed her joy and gratefulness saying,
I feel more encouraged to continue
to strive for better results because the
scholarship rewarded me for the year-
long effort that I have put in for my
academic achievements.”
To provide a full experience of the awards presentation,
SMOU arranged for activities and meals to be delivered
to members’ homes. The terrarium workshop led by
NTUC U Live guided the participants and their families
step by step in building their very own terrarium with
the kit provided.
Seavoices 2020 17Makewaves
The workshop aligned with the lifelong learning spirit of the Despite the virtual nature of the event, the morning was
event as everyone, child and adult, took away a new skill filled with learning and appreciation, and students were
with them. definitely spurred to strive for greater heights in their
journey of education. We would like to extend our thanks
Cupcakes were also delivered to each family where children to NTUC U Care for co-funding the Bursary awards through
were encouraged to use their creativity to design and the Education Co-Funding Scheme.
present them to their parents in appreciation of their love
and support. As we tide through this period of uncertainty, let us
continue to adopt the value of lifelong
learning and equip ourselves for the
industries and economy of the future!
I had the opportunity
to build a terrarium with
my parents, as well as
make cupcakes with the
ingredients sent over to
our doorstep by SMOU. It
has been a long time since
we did something like that
together, and this has been
a really good opportunity for
a hands-on activity together
again.
See Yong Xin
SMOU member of 18 years, See Hong Soo, with
wife and son, See Yong Xin participating in the
virtual Terrarium activity.
SMOU has been a
great help to our family
development. Because
of their generosity in the
support of education, we are
able to focus on the health
of our children during this
difficult time of COVID-19
Pandemic.
The Fooard family and
Fooard Zosopari, SMOU Member of 32
their Terrariums.
years
18 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
Faces Of SMOU
Captain S.K. Menon
A fter 11 years of lecturing at the Wavelink Maritime
Institute (WMI), it is time to bid farewell to our beloved
lecturer, colleague and friend, Captain S.K. Menon. An
As written in history, Captain Menon stayed on beyond the
initial 6-month stint to teach more than 300 deck cadets
across 18 cohorts under the Tripartite Nautical Training
ex-seafarer with a passion for the sea, Captain Menon Awards (TNTA) programme.
started his seafaring journey in 1964 on a training ship in
India. From a young cadet, he sailed the high seas and rose BACK TO THE MARITIME INDUSTRY
the ranks, eventually attaining the rank of a Captain – the The transition to a shore-based job required some
most respectable title of any seafaring deck officer, and an adjustment for Captain Menon. As a master of a ship, he
esteemed achievement in the maritime industry. was used to being the highest authority, but at WMI he
had to adjust to the hierarchy of the office. Fortunately, the
He sailed with the company ‘Neptune Orient Lines’ which shift was not a painful one for him as his superiors were
had a collective agreement with SMOU, making Captain also mariners he knew as colleagues and peers from his
Menon an SMOU member since his seafaring days. Being a time at sea. Having worked on ships with crew members
seafaring member for more than 25 years, he saw the union for extended periods of time, Captain Menon was also
progress through the years, evolving to what it is today. equipped with the people skills needed to thrive in the
office environment.
RETIRING FROM THE SEA
It was not until the late 2000s when the global financial Another reason for taking on the position was the valuable
recession hit. Captain Menon recalled feeling that “it was experience he wanted to pass on to the next generation
time I hung up my sea boots”, and made the decision to retire of Singaporean seafarers. “We are here to pay back (to)
from his seafaring career of 45 years in 2009. Finally, with the the industry what the industry has given us. It has been a
freedom of a retiree, Captain Menon wanted to spend his fulfilling life for us at sea, so it is only right that we need to
time with family - something that he had to sacrifice over the give back to society what we have earned,” said Captain
years while he was earning his keep out at sea. Menon when speaking about why he stayed on as a
lecturer at WMI.
Two weeks into his retirement, the maritime industry came
back knocking on Captain Menon’s door in the form of a The TNTA programme was initialised by tripartite partners
phone call, offering him a temporary position at WMI for to boost the Singapore seafaring core by training more
half a year. “There was a class (of 8 cadets) going on, but Singaporeans to become seafaring officers. Captain Menon
no lecturer”, Captain Menon recollected. An ex-lecturer had was an obvious choice for the job with his impressive years
decided to leave, opening up a position at the institute. of seafaring experience.
Seavoices 2020 19Makewaves
The more Captain Menon spent his
time with the cohorts of cadets,
the more he grew an affinity for
them and the job. The progression
of cadets through the training
phases, and subsequently officer
milestones provided the invaluable
feeling of personal satisfaction for
him. Fulfillment comes when Captain
Menon is able to, from his wealth of
experience, tap onto the potential
of these cadets and turn them into
seafarers in their own rights to achieve
their mark in the maritime industry. He
likened his job to taking a piece of coal
and refining it into a diamond.
CAPTAIN OF A TIGHT SHIP
Fresh from taking charge of ships, he stood by his
standards and instilled a culture of strict adherence to rules.
“That’s the way I ran ships, that’s the way I run a class,”
Captain Menon told SeaVoices. The TNTA cadets had to
learn and acquaint themselves with the rigour, but the rules
were laid out for their benefit and to foster discipline in
them so that they will be prepared for the real ships.
Out in the open seas, discipline and conduct could mean
life and death situations, and regulations help to govern
and safekeep ship operations and the crew onboard.
Nonetheless, it was never a power play by Captain Menon,
but hard work “because it is easy to get ill-disciplined
cadets. To keep them disciplined is not easy – it’s a tough
job."
20 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
A PERSONAL MENTOR
The cadets that join the TNTA programme come from all
walks of life. They have different family, social-economic and
education background, but all wanting to enter the seafaring
trade for the opportunities that it can offer.
Even though Captain Menon ran a tight ship, he forged
deep bonds with several cadets across his years as a
lecturer. Even until today many still see him as a mentor
as they contact him for guidance on real life seafaring
situations, gleaning from his abundant knowledge and
expertise. He recalled a story of an officer who had to move
a ship in Australia along the wharf, and had never done it
before. The officer contacted Captain Menon through text
messages and with his help over the phone, was able to
move the ship successfully.
Captain Menon over the years saw the cadets that enrolled
into TNTA like his children. There were occasions when
cadets would ask for supplementary classes, and Captain
Menon would stay back beyond his working hours into the
night to give extra lessons. “We are always there for you.
Day, night, 24-7, 365. You call us, we are here” was what
he communicated to the cadets. TNTA cadets always had a
lecturer to count on and nurture them as long as they had
the right attitude to strive for their goals.
Seavoices 2020 21Makewaves
While thinking about his time at WMI and with a smile on embark on this career, you must make sure that you pull
his face, Captain Menon told SeaVoices that coming to the through till the time you become a Captain.” He urged
WMI office was always a happy occasion and something cadets not to be short-sighted or be discouraged by the
that he looked forward to every morning. His passion for challenges and failures. The examinations may be difficult
his work was so strong that his wife would jokingly suggest and failure is sometimes part of the journey, but “you fall,
that he gets married to WMI instead. you pick yourself up, and you move on.” Captain Menon
concluded by assuring cadets that once they have attained
COMPLETING THE VOYAGE the rank of Captain, opportunities at sea and ashore are
As part of his final words of encouragement for cadets aplenty for those who have persevered.
and officers of the TNTA programme, he said, “When you
22 Seavoices 2020Makewaves
Bridging the Social Distance on
National Day!
E ven with the COVID-19 precautions in place, SMOU did
not cease reaching out to members. It was the Sunday
evening of Singapore’s 55th National Day that SMOU
With events taking a different form in this new norm,
the first virtual Family Connection celebration felt like a
new milestone for SMOU and its members. Members
members gathered in their homes to join in at the very first can expect to participate in more virtual events within
online event in SMOU history! With members’ welfare and the context of this new norm, as SMOU continue to
social distancing in mind, the family connection event was find new ways to connect with members during these
brought virtually to members in the safe confines of their unprecedented times.
homes.
We would like to wish everyone a Happy National Day,
The event was hosted through a Facebook Live streaming especially to our seafarers who have been working on
video, and dinner was delivered to the doorsteps of board ships to keep the supply chain moving. Let us
members’ homes. A bonus option of ‘Mao Shan Wang’ and continue to keep safe and stay healthy even as we adjust
‘D13’ durian was also made available for families that might our lifestyles for a strong Singapore!
enjoy the tasty ‘king of fruits’.
Photo contest results:
Ghazi Abu Taher First place
Tim Hiok Ling
SMOU General Secretary Mary Liew opened the event by
e-greeting members and their families. She encouraged
everyone to persevere on even as our society adjusts
to the new norm introduced by the pandemic. She also
acknowledged the hard work and invaluable contribution
2nd place
of seafarers who have continued to keep the global supply
chain moving during the COVID-19 outbreak. Providing Sim Jim Kiang Danny
a word of assurance, Sister Mary said that SMOU and 3rd place
tripartite partners will continue to be there for them to
alleviate the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
The rest of the evening was filled with games of trivia on
Singapore and SMOU, and lucky draws where participants
stood a chance to win attractive prizes! A live band also
sung the night away as families bonded over good food in
Lim Thiam Kwee
the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Seavoices 2020 23Makewaves
Early bird photo submissions
Thank you for submitting your
photos!
- Basant Pratap
- Wan Fei Fei
- Lim Thiam Kwee
- Mohd Rosdi
- Tim Hiok Ling
- Wang Xinjun
- Sim Jik Kiang Danny
- Ghazi Abu Taher
- Ko Ko Aung
24 Seavoices 2020IR
Strengthening Multilateral Ties
for the Welfare, Benefits and
Rights of Seafarers
S eafarers continue to play a critical role during this pandemic by transporting
essential goods such as food and medical supplies to consumers and
hospitals across the world.
To ensure that seafarers’ rights are taken care of during these unprecedented
times, SMOU signed a Multilateral Agreement (MA) with the Union of
International Seamen (UIS), Officers’ Union of International Seamen (OUIS),
Independent Federation of Myanmar Seafarers (IFOMS) and Singapore
Organisation of Seamen (SOS) to strengthen the multilateral working
relationship between the Unions.
The signing took place in an online platform where SMOU General Secretary
Mary Liew, SOS General Secretary Daniel Tan, IFOMS General Secretary Aung
Kyaw Linn, OUIS Executive Director Nick Bramley and UIS Secretary-Treasurer
Dave Heindel penned the agreement in the presence of International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF) Head of Maritime Operations John Canias.
The MA signing is in line with the ITF Mexico City Policy in spirit of seeing all
unions cooperating for the benefit and welfare of seafarers, providing mutual
assistance to ensure that the rights of seafarers are well taken care of.
Multilateral Agreement Signing Ceremony
Seavoices 2020 25IR
SMOU being Awarded
Crew Change Champion for
Facilitating Crew Change amid
COVID-19 Pandemic
M aritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
hosted the annual Singapore Registry of Ships
(SRS) Forum on 3 November 2020. The forum was
opportunities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,
in areas such as digitalisation and decarbonisation.
attended by more than 200 attendees from shipping “To do this, MPA will strengthen partnerships, drive
companies and other maritime entities. digitalisation and decarbonisation of shipping to ensure
that the Singapore Registry of Ships is adaptable
The forum, themed “Resilience, Strength and and agile in the new normal. MPA will also continue
Adaptability” focused on how owners, managers supporting our seafarers, the backbone of the maritime
and operators of Singapore-flagged ships can tap on industry especially during the pandemic”
Speaking at the opening
address, MPA Chief Executive
Quah Ley Hoon said
While the pandemic
has thrown Maritime
Singapore with many
challenges, it also
presented us with
opportunities to
emerge stronger.”
SMOU Assistant General Secretary
Gwee Guo Duan receiving the Crew
Change Champion award from MPA
Director (Shipping) Goh Chung Hun.
At the forum, the Crew Change Champion award was presented to SMOU by MPA, for playing a part in
facilitating crew change amid the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
26 Seavoices 2020IR
SMOU would like to congratulate the following award winners for contributing towards green shipping and
crew change in Singapore.
Green Certificate Award:
• A.P. Moller - Maersk Singapore Pte Ltd • BW Group • CLdN Cobelfret Pte Ltd • Keppel Smit Towage Pte. Ltd. • Maersk Tankers Singapore Pte Ltd
• MMSL Pte Ltd • NYK Ship Management Pte Ltd • PACC Tanker Management Pte Ltd • PSA Marine • Thome Ship Management Pte. Ltd.
• Trafigura Group • Winning International Group Pte Ltd
Crew Change Champion Award:
• A.P. Moller - Maersk Singapore Pte Ltd • Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (Asia Oceania) • Pacific International Lines (PTE) Ltd • SMOU SG
• Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) • Synergy Marine Group • Western Shipping Pte Ltd • Wilhelmsen Ships Services AS
Following the award presentation, MPA Shipping Division shared their expertise and insights on conducting remote
surveys and inspections amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as lessons learnt from MPA’s investigations of marine
casualties and incidents.
Seavoices 2020 27IR
Photo Credit: MPA
A Global Tripartite Effort to
Accelerate Crew Change
I n the first global tripartite initiative the maritime industry
has seen, like-minded international partners from the
industry, unions and government have banded together to
scalable “bubbles” or “corridors”. This will ensure the safer
and smoother facilitation of crew change in the region,
which will enable seafarers onboard to be relieved on time,
address the global crew change crisis. and those on shore to find work onboard once again.
SMOU is glad to be a key contributor in the Singapore
Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund which It takes a whole-of-nation approach
was established by Singapore tripartite partners - Maritime as well as others beyond Singapore to
and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Shipping overcome the crew change challenges
Association (SSA), SMOU, and Singapore Organisation of that we are currently facing. With the
Seamen (SOS). When presented with the idea, the SMOU formation of the SG-STAR Fund, we can help
Executive Committee were eager and supportive of the help strengthen safe crew change of seafarers
we would be able to provide to strengthen crew change from the labour supply countries. This is
efforts in the region. Thanks to strong tripartite relations, the the commitment of our international and
initiative was able to be conceived within a short period of tripartite partners which will assist more
time to address the pressing issues and bottlenecks that are seafarers to be reunited with their families
affecting crew change in the region. back home, and at the same time allow fresh
crew to sign on safely so as to provide for
International partners, International Transport Workers’ their families. Seafarers have contributed as
Federation (ITF), the International Maritime Employers’ essential workers to the global supply chain.
Council (IMEC), and the International Chamber of Shipping We hope to see more support from national
(ICS) also subsequently joined in contributing to the Fund to and international tripartite partners so that
further support the efforts. safer and more crew change can be done for
the welfare of seafarers.
SMOU General Secretary and NTUC President Ms Mary Liew.
Contributions have amounted to a total of S$1.68 million
(approximately US$1.2 million) in funds which will go
upstream to seafarer supplying nations to create concrete Supported by the International Maritime Organization
solutions and propagate best practices so that safe scalable (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO),
“bubbles” or “corridors” can be established for crew the SG-STAR Fund initiative welcomes more like-minded
change. ITF General Secretary, Mr Stephen Cotton said that international partners to join and contribute to this initiative
seafarers need practical solutions, and this joint initiative so that actions can be scaled up. “The ILO warmly
with tripartite partners “will be key to breaking the current welcomes the contributions from the ITF and the IMEC to
deadlock.” The ICS will also be lending support to the SG- the SG-Star Fund which not only provides much needed
STAR Fund through their technical expertise in shipping. resources but confirms the tripartite and truly global reach
of the initiative. This is exactly the type of response that
Formed to administer the funds, the SG-STAR Fund we need to the dramatic and worldwide problems of crew
taskforce will start with key seafarer supplying countries in changes,” said Mr Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General.
the region such as the Philippines and India to sharpen crew
change processes and soft infrastructure. This will cover Countries should also consider adopting the SG-STAR Fund
many areas such as COVID-19 PCR testing processes and model by setting up similar funds in different regions of the
digital solutions for information dissemination and tracking world. This can serve to improve crew change protocol in
of crew change needs. The SG-STAR Fund hopes to achieve other labour supply nations, so that solutions for the present
enhanced facilities and capabilities to establish safe and global crew change issue can be accelerated.
28 Seavoices 2020IR
Photo Credit: MPA
Maritime Tripartite Partners
Streamline Safe Crew Change
Processes
S eafarers play an important role in keeping global supply chains moving, as they work tirelessly to keep goods flowing
around the world.
With the heightened risk of importing COVID-19 cases into Singapore, crew change has been done with caution to ensure
the safety of crew, shore personnel and the local community.
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) introduced enhanced measures on 28 August 2020 to further secure safe
port operations and facilitate crew change.
Enhanced Precautionary Measures in Port of Singapore
To strengthen the safety of port operations, ships that call at the port of Singapore that require shore personnel to board
the ship will have to give a prior three-day notice of arrival. Additional measures have also been required of these ships
such as disinfecting working areas to prevent potential spread of the virus. These protocols will safeguard workers and the
processes that take place daily at our ports.
Crew Facilitation Centre
With the support of PSA Singapore,
MPA announced the utilisation of the
existing floating accommodation at
the Tanjong Pagar Terminal to set up
a new Crew Facilitation Centre (CFC).
From 1 September 2020, the CFC will
be dedicated to sign-on crew, housing
them for up to 48 hours prior to them
boarding their ships in the event that
their ship and flight schedule do not
match.
Photo Credit: MPA
Floating accommodation Bibby Progress is
repurposed into Crew Facilitation Centre for
international seafarers to support crew change for
ships calling at the Port of Singapore.
Seavoices 2020 29Photo Credit: MPA
The CFC is a self-contained facility with an onsite medical centre. Safety equipment, such as this thermal scanner which takes real-time photo of those
detected with high temperatures, are in place to safeguard the health of all onboard.
The self-contained facility is equipped with an onsite
medical centre, with testing and holding facilities for
seafarers to wait for their ships to arrive. The CFC will not
only expedite the crew change process in Singapore, but
keep the crew and our local community safe.
In line with current crew change safety measures with
isolation protocols in place, seafarers who are due to sign-
off and depart from Singapore will be housed at the Seacare
Hotel and the POSH Bawean accommodation vessel for
up to 48 hours. The entire process will continue to involve
Photo Credit: MPA
segregation from the general community to prevent any
potential transmission of virus.
“SMOU, together with our tripartite partners, have been
collaborating to overcome the crew change challenges of From left, MPA Academy Dean Tan Suan Jow, Minister of Transport Ong
Ye Kung and Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs Chee
seafarers since the beginning of the pandemic. With the new
Hong Tat looking at a room inside the Crew Facilitation Centre at Tanjong
initiative of a dedicated crew facilitation centre which will Pagar Terminal
involve segregating crew in the floating accommodation, we
will be able to enhance Singapore’s crew change protocol in on ships in Singapore. This will expedite relievers and
a safer manner for seafarers and a more sustainable solution crew movement so that support can be strengthened for
for shipping companies. This is the result of a committed manpower on board ships.
tripartite effort in the maritime industry which will assist
more seafarers to be reunited with their families back home The newly introduced infrastructure will enable more
and at the same time, allow fresh crew to sign on safely so seafarers to return home to their families from ships, and for
as to provide for their families,” said Ms Mary Liew, General those who have been looking for jobs, to start working on
Secretary of SMOU and President of NTUC. ships again.
More Streamlined Crew Change Procedures SMOU will continue to work with our maritime tripartite
Streamlined crew-changing procedures are also being partners and the industry to review and improve our crew
introduced such as reduced stay-home notices (SHN) for change procedures, while ensuring that utmost safety of our
seafarers from specified low-risk countries who are signing workers and community is observed.
30 Seavoices 2020IR
Fostering Ties for a
Future-Ready Maritime
Singapore
S MOU warmly welcomed Brother Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State
in the Ministry for Transport (MOT) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on his
visit to the Union for a round-table discussion on 17 August 2020. Among
those present were Sister Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port
Authority of Singapore (MPA), Brother Kam Soon Huat, President, Singapore
Organisation of Seamen (SOS), and delegates from MOT, MPA, SMOU and SOS.
The discussion focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the maritime sector and
recognising the role of seafarers in the transportation of vital goods across
the global supply chain. At the roundtable discussion, MPA, SMOU and SOS
exchanged views on how Singapore as a leading international maritime centre
could facilitate crew change safely. Other items on the agenda included the
protection of seafarers’ welfare especially during these difficult times as well
as providing maritime opportunities to fresh and recent graduates under the
SGUnited Traineeships Programme.
Following the discussion, Sister Mary Liew shared the needs on building a
stronger Singapore Core, with the support from the tripartite partners, to provide
quality training for the next generation of local seafarers and grooming future
Captains and Engineers as the maritime industry transforms.
It was a productive and fruitful dialogue where the spirit of solidarity among
the industry and Union leaders was further strengthened through collaborative
discussions. Together, we can work together to keep Singapore waters safe
and supply chains secure and emerge stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic!
#MaritimeSG #SGUnited
From left, Mr Goh Chung Hun, Director (Shipping), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA); Ms Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, MPA;
Mr Kenneth Lim, Chief Technology Officer, MPA; Ms Mary Liew, General Secretary, SMOU; Mr Thomas Tay, Emeritus General Secretary, SMOU;
Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Capt M Segar, Assistant Chief Executive
(Operations), MPA; Mr Kam Soon Huat, President, Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS); Mr Daniel Tan, General Secretary, SOS and Ms Oh Shan
Mian, Director (Sea), MOT.
Seavoices 2020 31IR
2nd Kopi Session -
SMOU Continues to Engage CBA
Companies on Crew Change
Processes
S MOU organised an online session to update its Collective Bargaining
Agreement (CBA) companies on the development of the latest crew change
procedure, following Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Port
Marine Circular on ‘Crew Change for Cargo Ships in the Port of Singapore’.
Opening the session, SMOU General Secretary, Ms Mary Liew welcomed
participants and shared the Singapore Crew Change Work Group’s efforts for
crew change in the safest way possible in Singapore. She also touched on how
MPA struggles to balance the safety of our local community, the interest of
shipping companies and the safety of ships at the Singapore port.
Capt Lee Sang Chiat, General Manager from Wavelink Maritime Institute
updated participants on the development of the new Crew Facilitation Centre.
He also shared about the availability of e-medicine avenues, the revised
moderated stay-home requirements for specific low-risk countries and the latest
processes and requirements of the Crew Change guidebook for signing on and
off for seafarers.
The session ended with a question and answer segment where CBA company
representatives further clarified the processes and other permutations of crew
change processes. Overall, it was an informative session for maritime tripartite
partners and companies to gather to interact on the common goal of facilitating
smoother and safer crew change for seafarers.
Together as a maritime community, we can overcome this!
32 Seavoices 2020You can also read
