A total of 63 MaritimeONE Scholarships and 10 Tripartite Maritime Scholarships (TMSS) were awarded to outstanding students at the MaritimeONE Scholarship Awards Ceremony held on 6 September 2024. The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Transport.

Initiated by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and its maritime industry partners, the MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme aims to nurture future talents for Singapore’s maritime sector. SMF oversees the administration of the scholarships while sponsoring companies provide the funding. Beyond financial support, the MaritimeONE Scholarship provides students with opportunities to build industry connections through networking events, mentorships, internships, and more.

This year saw an increase in the number of scholarships awarded, rising from 60 in the previous year to 63, with a total value exceeding S$1.8 million. Since its inception in 2007, the programme has awarded 647 scholarships worth S$17.6 million.

Notably, 2024 marked the first year that the scholarship was awarded to students from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

In addition to the MaritimeONE scholarships, the TMSS were awarded to students pursuing a Diploma in Nautical Studies or a Diploma in Marine Engineering at the Singapore Maritime Academy, Singapore Polytechnic. These scholarships provide aspiring seafarers with opportunities to pursue their aspirations of becoming ship captains or chief engineers, with the potential to take on leadership roles within the maritime industry.

Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, highlighted the importance of these scholarships in developing future maritime leaders. "The MaritimeONE and Tripartite Maritime Scholarships are part of the talent development initiative by the government, unions, and industry to build the next generation of maritime leaders who are more digitally savvy and care about the environment to help shape a global maritime future that is more digital and sustainable,” he said.

While many MaritimeONE scholars pursue maritime-related degrees, recipients are also enrolled in fields such as accountancy, data science, and artificial intelligence.

Jose Loh He Xi received the PCL­—MaritimeONE Scholarship award from Ms Thai Kum Foon, Chief Human Resources Officer of The Kuok Group.

Koh Xiang Yun was presented the “K” Line—MaritimeONE Scholarship award by Tsurukawa Takahiko, President & CEO of “K” Line.

Among the recipients was Loh He Xi Jose, a first-year Business Analytics student from the National University of Singapore (NUS), who received the PCL­—MaritimeONE Scholarship.

“My interest in maritime stems from the complex and dynamic nature of this industry, where I believe opportunities can be created. I hope to support the decarbonisation and digitalisation initiatives of this industry by harnessing the potential of big data and artificial intelligence,” he said.

Another recipient, Koh Xiang Yun, a final-year Maritime Studies student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), was awarded the "K" Line—MaritimeONE Scholarship. Xiang Yun hopes to seize the opportunities to connect with individuals who are passionate about shaping Singapore’s maritime industry and aims to integrate advanced technology and sustainability in the maritime industry.

“My specific goals include developing AI-driven logistics systems that can reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. In the long term, I aspire to drive innovations that balance economic efficiency with environmental responsibility, ultimately helping the maritime industry meet its sustainability targets and reduce its carbon footprint. I hope to make a significant impact within “K” Line, particularly in their ongoing or future sustainability projects,” she shared.

The event also saw the SMI-MaritimeONE Postgraduate R&D Scholarship being awarded for the first time to two recipients. Established in 2023, the postgraduate scholarship aims to expand Singapore's maritime research talent pool and enhance its specialised R&D capabilities as a global maritime knowledge hub.