The MaritimeONE
(Outreach NEtwork)
initiative aims to raise
awareness, recruit and
nurture key talents for the
maritime industry, which
contributes to seven
per cent of Singapore’s
Gross Domestic Product
and employs over 170,000
people.
Even as a backwater fishing village, Singapore’s fortunes have always been tied
inextricably to the sea, and today, Singapore is the world’s top transshipment
hub connected to over 600 ports globally.
The MaritimeONE Scholarship Programme attracts and nurtures talents for the
maritime industry to help maintain Singapore’s standing as a vibrant maritime nation
and establish the maritime industry as a key pillar of economic growth. MaritimeONE
scholars Lorayne Teo and Mun Yong Jian share about their experiences in this
dynamic industry.
A key industry
Lorayne was first drawn to the maritime industry as she enjoyed watching the
huge ships out at sea. She recalls, “When the Singapore Management University
(SMU) launched the Maritime Economics Concentration (MEC) programme in 2013,
I knew I had to go for it. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the business
and economic aspects of shipping, as well as the challenges of the industry.”
Lorayne finds the maritime industry complex and intriguing, adding, “Another
significant factor that attracted me was how Singapore as a leading International
Maritime Centre in the region, offers a breadth and range of maritime services that
few can match. I hope to gain insights into how I can contribute to the prosperity of
Singapore’s maritime industry in future!”
Mun Yong Jian
PIL – MaritimeONE Scholar
Studying:
Bachelor of Science in Maritime
Studies (Honours) with Business Major,
Nanyang Technological University
"The various MaritimeONE events, such as networking and knowledge-sharing sessions, better prepare us to enter the industry!"
On Yong Jian’s end, the Nanyang Technological University undergraduate sought a
degree that would equip him with specialised in-demand skills for a key industry. He
shares, “I initially wanted to pursue a business course, but considered it too general.
I thus decided to pursue a degree in Maritime Studies as it would teach me unique
skills that I could use to help advance Singapore’s position as a maritime hub.”
Opportunities abound
With Singapore’s vibrant maritime sector,
it’s no wonder that Lorayne is raring to take on
the role of a Management Trainee with Thome
Group in August this year. She enthuses, “I
will rotate between departments such as
Crewing, Human Resource, or HSSEQ (Health,
Safety, Security, Environment & Quality). I am
certainly excited to learn more and build on the
knowledge gained from school!”
For his part, although Yong Jian has just
recently graduated, he has already gained early
insights into the operations of his sponsoring
company Pacific International Lines (PIL)
through internships over his past three summer
breaks.
He explains, “PIL’s core business involves
transporting cargoes around the world using
shipping containers which are loaded on
board PIL vessels and moved to different
ports around the world with Singapore as a
main transshipment point. I’ve had the chance
to learn more about PIL business activities
inside its Logistics Division and Singamas, the
container manufacturing subsidiary of PIL.”
Yong Jian was also awarded the Maritime
and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA)
Global Internship Award in 2014, where he
was sponsored for a 10-week internship. He
enthuses, “I spent four of those weeks with
PIL China in Shanghai, and it was amazing to
interact with the people there and learn about
Shanghai’s culture.
“I also visited the container manufacturing
factories, container depots and the Shanghai
port. In fact, this is one of the many reasons why
I love the maritime industry – the opportunities
to learn about the world are simply boundless!”
And for Yong Jian, such opportunities are
everywhere – he counts night ice-skating in the
dark Norwegian outdoors and lying on the icy
ground to gaze at the stars as “unforgettable”
experiences during his exchange programme to
Norway. He further enthuses, “We even headed
towards the Arctic Circle to catch the Northern
Lights. The experiences that we gained from
five months of student exchange equaled our
four years of academic studies!”
Lorayne Teo Zhi Qing
Thome – MaritimeONE Scholar
Designation:
Management Trainee, Thome Group
(Starting in August 2015)
Studied:
Bachelor of Science in Economics
with Maritime Economics Concentration,
Singapore Management University
Unwavering support
Even as Lorayne gets down to the serious
business of taking on her Management
Trainee role, she recalls how the MaritimeONE
Scholarship helped prepare her for the
smoothest possible transition. She says,
“Through the multiple networking sessions
organised under MaritimeONE, I was able to
meet my seniors from other schools who had
already started working with their sponsors
and find out more about their respective
management trainee programmes to better
know what to expect.”
During her final year at SMU, Lorayne also
had the opportunity to do a part-time internship
at the dry bulk operations division of another
maritime company. She says, smiling, “I learned in detail the processes and stages involved,
allowing me to draw links between what I’d
learnt in class and actual operations, and
this really enhanced my understanding of the
entire process. I was really glad to have this
opportunity even when the semester was still
ongoing!”
Yong Jian is also quick to highlight the
privilege of being able to embark on an
internship during each summer break, and
is thankful for the opportunities that he has
enjoyed. He says earnestly, “PIL has been really
supportive of me and other scholars when it
comes to our learning journey.
“The maritime sector places a strong
emphasis on nurturing the next generation
of its workforce. It’s reassuring to know that
our degrees are relevant and that we’ll be in-demand
and ready to take on new challenges
upon graduation. The various MaritimeONE
events, such as networking and knowledge-sharing
sessions, better prepare us to enter the
industry!”
Embracing the maritime challenge
Fresh out of school and about to embark on
a career with Thome Group, Lorayne is excited
to offer some advice to aspiring MaritimeONE
scholars. She muses, “The most important
quality to have is the right attitude. Knowledge
and experience can be earned, but a good
attitude will help you make the most out of
your experiences. And of course, don’t forget to
enjoy the journey!”
Yong Jian advocates an open-world view
for aspiring MaritimeONE scholars and the
courage to step out of one’s comfort zone and
challenge oneself. He says, “The world is your
playground and you should embrace every
challenge that tests your abilities. One should
also embrace opportunities to work and study
abroad. Set your sights far and don’t be afraid to
be ambitious, but of course, always remember
to remain humble and work hard!”