Forum: Make our maritime moments more visible to the public
Forum: Make our maritime moments more visible to the public
A few days ago, home-grown shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) held a naming ceremony for its latest container ship, the Kota Ocean.
It showcased a new ocean-going ship that can be powered by liquefied natural gas.
I am a ship captain by profession. A naming ceremony is the most symbolic ceremony for a newly delivered ship. This should be a proud moment not just for the company, but also the bigger population of Singapore. There are many Singaporean seafarers who used to sail on PIL ships.
These ships have carried more than cargo – they have carried a piece of Singapore across the oceans. These floating chapters of our nation's story deserve to form a part of our collective memory for SG60.
In Japan or some European countries, the public would take ferries or yachts out to sea to witness ship-launching ceremonies or the sailing out of famous ships. Perhaps Singapore could explore similar initiatives.
Such events could give everyday Singaporeans a front-row seat to maritime moments that are otherwise out of view, and potentially inspire young talent to join the maritime industry.
In the spirit of SG60 and the upcoming Day of the Seafarer on June 25, let's share our sea stories with more Singaporeans.
Tan Teng Han
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