SSA's 30th Anniversary Celebration, Graced by Mr. Teo Chee Hean

Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) commemorated its 30th Anniversary this evening at the Sands Grand Ballroom, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, with a mass birthday celebration involving over 2100 guests cutting 210 birthday cakes simultaneously. 

Mr. Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs was the guest-of-honor. Mr. Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of Transport and Second Minister for Defense, together with Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport and many other dignitaries and industry representatives attended the event which is often regarded as the largest networking dinner on the maritime industry’s annual calendar.

Mr. Esben Poulsson, President of SSA, said, “Singapore’s success in becoming a top international maritime center is the result of good coordination and hard work, not only by our Association, but through our collaborative efforts with our fellow maritime stakeholders. It is through the people, at all levels, across the many maritime organizations, working for a common purpose, that the Singapore eco-system has become such a success. I would like to pay tribute to the many SSA members, committee members, councilors and past presidents who have selflessly worked so hard and contributed so much over the past 30 years to raise the SSA to where we are today.”

As the SSA celebrates its 30th year of service to the industry, we will continue to keep abreast of critical industry developments and engage in strategic long-term planning, with an emphasis on youth, innovation and new perspectives for our Association going forward.”

Since its founding in 1985, the SSA has worked to protect and promote the interests of its members while contributing to Singapore’s competitiveness as an international maritime center. Some of the projects with which the Association is currently involved include:

a) Providing further impetus to the growth, traction and prominence of the Singapore War Risk Mutual which was established in February 2015 and had been originally mooted by the SSA;

b) Developing ways to improve Singapore’s ship finance capability across the board, with an emphasis on Singapore’s capital market and efforts to increase IPO’s on the SGX, to harness the vibrant and growing shipping ecosystem that already exists in Singapore;

c) Monitoring of international tax agreements and championing new double tax agreements which would benefit SSA’s shipping and offshore marine industry players;

d) In dialogue with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on addressing the concerns of the offshore marine sector during the current downturn driven by the fall in oil prices;

e) To play an active role and make meaningful contributions to the workings and development of the Tripartite Maritime Manpower Taskforce initiatives for both seafaring and shore based jobs, results of which will be announced by DPM Teo this evening;

f) To develop the next generation of leaders – very much part of the ongoing efforts of the SSA and industry partners in attracting young talent to the shipping industry.

With a membership that has grown from 135 companies in 1985 when the Association was first formed, to its current 470 members, the SSA is blessed to have the unstinting support of its member companies to showcase the Association to the world and to be seen as THE voice of Singapore’s shipping industry.

A highlight of the evening was the launch of “A Light on the Straits – Maritime Singapore”, a pictorial coffee table book showcasing photographs by renowned National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita. This 2-part project is a collaborative effort by the SSA and MPA, showcasing the past, present and future of Maritime Singapore as Singapore celebrates its Golden Jubilee. Part 1 of the project was a documentary entitled “Inside Maritime Singapore” which was screened on the National Geographic Channel in July.