Latest news with #MPA
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Vessels from Navy, SCDF and MPA to debut at Marina Bay in NDP maritime display
Find out what's new on ST website and app. All five vessels taking part in an open sea sortie rehearsal during NDP 2025's maritime display on July 19. SINGAPORE – Three boats from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) will make their debut at Marina Bay during the National Day Parade. They are the RSN's Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessel (MarSec USV), the SCDF's White Swordfish, which is a Rapid Response Fire Vessel (RFV), and a patrol craft from the MPA. They will be accompanied by the navy's Combatant Craft Medium and the Singapore Police Force's 3-Series PC Class Patrol Craft. These five vessels are part of the mobile column segment of the parade , which also includes 143 vehicles travelling along St Andrew's Road, and 22 aircraft flying across the Padang. In total, the segment involves 170 assets and more than 800 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Home Team and the MPA. Lieutenant-Colonel James Ong Chong Yu, who is the deputy chairman of the naval participation committee, said: 'This year's maritime display is unique because (audiences) will see the participation of four different maritime security agencies in the Bay for the first time.' He added: 'This idea came about because of this year's expanded show canvas (which includes Marina Bay). We recognised that it gave us an opportunity to showcase the whole-of-government collaboration in maritime security operations.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died Singapore Who decides when you can't? A guide on planning for end-of-life care Singapore Why hiring more teachers makes sense, even with falling student numbers The MarSec USV , which began operating in Singapore's waters in January, is used to conduct surveillance and can be operated remotely by a two-man crew. It has an endurance time of about 36 hours and can travel up to 50 knots. Lieutenant-Colonel James Ong Chong Yu in front of the Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessel (MarSec USV). ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The White Swordfish is one of three SCDF Rapid Response Fire Vessels, built to respond to maritime emergencies including fires, chemical spills and rescue operations. The MPA's patrol craft, built for emergency responses and enforcement, is equipped with systems for efficient communication with its command centres and a rescue boat for man-overboard recovery. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Patrol Craft undergoing hoisting operations at Marina Barrage on July 19. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI For the maritime display, the five vessels have to be hoisted from the sea into the Bay before the show. It takes about 30 minutes to hoist each vessel, said LTC Ong, who added that the entire process can take about three hours, inclusive of breaks for the crew. When selecting the vessels, the agencies had to take into account the size and weight limits of the boat hoist at Marina Barrage, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 70 tonnes, he said. Rehearsals for the maritime display began in May, said LTC Ong, adding that sailing legs and blocks were used to simulate sailing inside the Bay. 'During the rehearsals, we are looking at how the vessels are coordinating to maintain the distance between (them), and making sure everybody turns at the right time, so that the whole convoy maintains a nice and straight formation,' he said. The five vessels will begin their route at the Helix Bridge, sailing past several landmarks such as the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, The Promontory@Marina Bay, Clifford Pier and the Esplanade.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Gunner Stockton agrees with Stetson Bennett comparison, explains why
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton caught up with us one-on-one about the Stetson Bennett comparisons surrounding him. The Manning Passing Academy has long been a rite of passage for the nation's best quarterbacks, and its staff members have fond and unique memories of each of them. On one occasion, a staffer said he saw someone in the building who appeared to be an autograph-seeking fan. It turned out to be Stetson Bennett, who would go on to win two national titles for the Georgia Bulldogs. One quarterback at the 2025 MPA event who drew uncannily similar remarks was Gunner Stockton. Stockton's unassuming appearance and humble personality drew comparisons to the former UGA quarterback After Carson Beck's season-ending injury in 2024, Stockton stepped in and instantly reminded observers of Bennett with his style of play. When I caught up with Stockton one-on-one in Louisiana in June, he agreed with the comparison. "I see a lot of similarities between us. The way he played, the way he styled things, the way he carried himself on the field, I think a lot of that between us in that is the same," Stockton said. It goes beyond that in Stockton's eyes, though. "And then, also with the mobility, he's quick and can get in and out of the pocket," he said. "He's got good pocket movement... and he had a lot of swagger (like I see in myself)." That last part is something shared between Bennett and Stockton is this natural moxie and desire to show moxie, with Stockton saying he modeled himself after Baker Mayfield. That outward, apparent moxie something that JT Daniels and Carson Beck didn't exactly emulate. Though there are two approaches to leadership when it comes to quarterbacking, whether it be fiery or more quiet, there isn't a specifically "correct" one. Head coach Kirby Smart seems to prefer the former, saying at one point that he wanted to see more of it from Beck, though he recognized it is not who Beck is. 'That's not comfortable for him. That's just not who he is," Smart said at the time. "But his teammates need to see that fire and grit sometimes too." I asked Beck during the 2024 season about his leadership approach, to which he said he hasn't changed his identity but had grown in that area. "I think the big thing is that's just not really me," Beck told me. "That's never going to be me. Otherwise, it's fake. But I think there is a level if you're rating it from one to 10 where you can get a plus two of that emotion. That looks different, that shows different. I think I've done a good job of that." Spending time behind Bennett and Beck, Stockton said he learned a lot intangibly as the Blackshear, Georgia native rose into the spotlight. "It's hard to be a quarterback in the SEC," Stockton said. "Just watching the week by week toll and how it affected Stetson and what he did about it was another thing. And Carson (Beck), his mechanics and the way he watched film and tried to replicate the NFL stuff. It was neat to watch him do that." But what does it truly mean to be the next Stetson Bennett? And does Stockton have the ability to actually fulfill that, or is the early comparison from fans just a hopeful longing for another quarterback like Bennett to be at the helm again? One of the biggest things to consider when answering that question is what Stetson Bennett's journey was and how he came to be so recognized. Part of that has to do with performance, while perhaps equally if not more so, it has to do with his underdog journey and how that is quantified. But the two stories are a bit different. Unlike Bennett, Stockton was a much more highly touted recruit, a 4-star who was ranked as the No. 110 player in the nation. Bennett played out one year of his career at Jones College (a JUCO) and held just one FBS offer from Middle Tennessee during his recruiting process. While Stockton may eventually go down as an "overlooked" prospect depending on how his career plays out, he was in no way under the radar the way the "Mailman" was. But, just like Bennett, Stockton did not have the best overall first impression. Despite turning some heads when he initially took the reins in the SEC Championship Game after Beck went down with an elbow injury, he had significant issues and the line of scrimmage and his lack of reps shone through clearly in the 23-10 Sugar Bowl loss at Notre Dane. Bennett also had his positive moments during the first title run Georgia made with him as the quarterback, but he faltered at critical times to the point some consider the Bulldogs to have taken that Natty home in spite of Bennett. Bennett didn't lack any self-awareness when I spoke to him about that, either. 'It wasn't my best, but it wasn't awful,' Bennett told me of his personal performance when I spoke with him at the Manning Passing Academy. "But in the fourth quarter when we needed it, we turned it on." But another aspect of why Bennett is looked at the way he is looked at is because of who and what he was up against. Bennett beat out JT Daniels, who is the most recent quarterback to be named Gatorade National Player of the Year and is considered by many analysts to this day to be the best high school football player in history, despite his discombobulated college career. It seems to have almost been forgotten the caliber of quarterback in which Daniels was as a Heisman Trophy candidate. There's a strong argument for that if he was able to stay healthy, that he would have ultimately proven to be the superior quarterback to Bennett... who is heralded as the best quarterback one of the best players in school history. And, even with Stockton taking over for Beck, he never technically "beat out" Beck for the job. He also didn't get the chance to, and likely will never get the chance to, show that is something he is capable of doing after Beck transferred to Miami for the 2025 season. Plus, even if Stockton had done so, it's hard to say right now whether Beck is the same caliber as Daniels showed he could be at his peak. There are a million hypotheticals to consider here, but there's only one way Stockton can ultimately be called "the next Stetson Bennett" or anything remotely close to that. And that's to go out there and win a title coming off of two postseason appearances with some significant highs and lows. Despite not being officially named the starter, it's something Stockton seems confident he can do. "I want to be known as a captain. I'm excited about our guys and looking forward to the season, enjoying this opportunity and being a quarterback at the University of Georgia."
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
8 smart buoys in S'pore waters from 2026 to enhance sea safety
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai speaking at the the International Safety@Sea Week on July 15. SINGAPORE – Eight smart buoys will be installed in Singapore's waterways from 2026, as part of a push by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to use technology to boost safety at sea. The buoys will be equipped with sensors that can collect and transmit data about the marine environment, such as currents. They will also be able to transmit this data in real time to MPA to help it monitor Singapore's waters, the agency said. 'These smart buoys serve as digital sentinels supporting safe navigation,' said Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai on July 15. He announced MPA's plans in his opening address at International Safety@Sea Week that is being held at the Conrad Singapore Marina Bay. MPA said data collected from smart buoys will be used for marine traffic management, incident response planning and environmental monitoring and modelling. 'The data can also be shared with government agencies, institutes of higher learning and research institutes to support various use cases to benefit Singapore,' MPA said. It added that the smart buoys will be installed within Singapore's port waters where marine traffic is high, and where data collected may be useful for environmental modelling. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms, 1 lawyer over seized properties Singapore Air India crash: SIA, Scoot find no issues with Boeing 787 fuel switches after precautionary checks Opinion What we can do to fight the insidious threat of 'zombie vapes' Singapore $230,000 in fines issued after MOM checks safety at over 500 workplaces from April to June Business 'Some cannot source outside China': S'pore firms' challenges and support needed amid US tariffs Opinion Sumiko at 61: Everything goes south when you age, changing your face from a triangle to a rectangle Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years In future, these smart buoys may also be used to relay information to ships and warn of adverse weather conditions, Mr Murali said. The use of smart buoys is one example of how the maritime industry can 'complement human capabilities … to better predict, prevent and respond quickly to safety hazards and incidents at sea', said Mr Murali. He also spoke of the increasingly complex challenges faced by the maritime industry, such as heightened geopolitical tensions and climate change. An attack on a bulk carrier in the Red Sea earlier in July underscores the 'urgent need' to protect the safety of seafarers, Mr Murali said. The Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated carrier sank in the Red Sea on July 9, following attacks over two consecutive days by Yemen's Houthi militants. Ten of the ship's complement of 22 crew and three guards were rescued. The remaining 15 are considered missing, including five who are believed to be dead. The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez thanked Mr Murali 'for recognising the challenges we're facing when it comes to safety and security, particularly in the Red Sea'. Speaking at the same conference, Mr Dominguez said: 'I will continue to condemn those cowardly attacks. 'Shipping should not be collateral damage for geopolitical situations. Seafarers should not be negatively affected because of geopolitical situations, and we need to do our best not just to invest in people, but in protecting them as well.' On the issue of climate change, Mr Murali noted that changing weather patterns and the rise in extreme weather events are making navigation increasingly more challenging and uncertain . 'We can ride the waves': Murali But 'it is not all rough seas and dark skies ahead', Mr Murali said. He called for collaboration in training the maritime workforce, collaboration and partnerships within the sector, and leveraging technology to augment existing capabilities. One way Singapore is supporting the ongoing training of the maritime workforce is through a maritime energy training facility (METF) to equip maritime workers with skills to handle clean marine fuels. So far, the facility has trained more than 600 seafarers and maritime professionals. Its target is to train more than 10,000 seafarers by the 2030s. The MPA is also developing a METF digital platform that will give individuals and companies easy access to training courses. Mr Murali said the digital platform will be ready by end-2025. On fostering closer collaboration and partnerships, Mr Murali announced that the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) will open a regional office in Singapore. The Straits Times understands the office will open this month. The ICS is the global trade association for shipowners and operators, and represents over 80 per cent of the world's merchant fleet. 'ICS' regional office in Singapore contributes to our thriving ecosystem, reflecting Singapore's commitment to being a trusted global hub port and contributing to the advancement of maritime safety,' Mr Murali said. In terms of leveraging technology, Mr Murali pointed to Singapore's Maritime Digital Twin, a dynamic real-time virtual model of the Port of Singapore, powered by artificial intelligence. Integrating live data from vessels, port operations and environmental sensors, this digital twin will improve navigational safety, operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, MPA said in March 2025. The digital twin is also expected to enhance situational awareness and emergency response to oil and chemical spills.
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: SkillsFuture and MPA offer funding support for maritime sector courses
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox We thank Mr Sim Eng Cheong for his letter ' Broaden SkillsFuture support for industry-specific training ' (June 27). The SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) can be used for over 7,000 courses, including courses specific to the maritime sector, such as Nanyang Technological University's Master of Science (Maritime Studies), Singapore Polytechnic's Specialist Diploma in Maritime Superintendency, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Diploma in Offshore and Sustainable Engineering. These courses have been identified to deliver strong employability outcomes. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) also provides funding support of up to 70 per cent for some 170 maritime courses under MPA's Maritime Cluster Fund (MCF). A full list of MCF-approved courses and the applicable funding support can be found on MPA's website. SkillsFuture Singapore and sector agencies, such as the MPA, work closely to continually review and refresh our list of training programmes that support career development. We welcome suggestions from interested individuals on high-quality courses that are relevant to the profession and valued by the industry. Peggy Lim Director, Public Engagement Division SkillsFuture Singapore Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys World Deal or no deal? EU faces critical decision in response to Trump's latest tariff salvo Singapore Segregated recycling bins found to lower contamination rate as more spring up Sport Two participants injured after another breached safety protocol during Pesta Sukan archery event Asia Mahathir discharged from hospital after feeling fatigued during birthday gathering Singapore Medics treat 7 after blaze at HDB block lift lobby in Chai Chee Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Ng Yi Han Director, Innovation, Technology & Talent Development Division Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
The Star
11-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Brunei ramps up marine conservation efforts
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Abdul Manaf Metussin sounding the air horn to officiate the deployment of 100 reef balls on July 10 in the waters of Pulau Pilong-Pilongan in conjunction with World Ocean Day 2025. - BB BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Brunei government is taking various measures to support marine conservation and the sustainable use of ocean resources. The measures include designating over 20 per cent of the nation's fisheries management area – more than 1,200sq km – as a 'No Take Zone' through the establishment of Marine Protected Area (MPA) to prevent overfishing and safeguard marine biodiversity; enforcing a moratorium on new bottom trawl licences since 2001; and prohibiting shark fishing and trade of all shark products since 2015 to protect threatened marine species and preserve ecological These initiatives were mentioned by the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Abdul Manaf Metussin in his remarks as guest of honour at the deployment of 100 reef balls of four different sizes in the waters of Pulau Pilong-Pilongan, held in conjunction with the celebration of World Ocean Day 2025 on Thursday (July 10). Other initiatives, he added, include 'combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through the active enforcement of the National Plan of Action and optimising technology to track and monitor fisheries activities; conducting national fish stock assessments and developing a Fisheries Stock Database to enable informed and evidence-based decisions for sustainable fisheries management; as well as leveraging the use of artificial intelligence to enhance coral reef monitoring, enabling precise reef health evaluation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change'. The minister also highlighted restoration and propagation of seagrass ecosystems, with special focus on vulnerable species. 'Over 100 seagrass plots were successfully planted at Bedukang Island in May, as one of Brunei Darussalam's efforts to salvage and expand the species in its significant role in the ecosystem.' He further revealed, 'Over 1,400 artificial reefs were deployed between 2020 and 2023. We are committed to deploying an additional 1,000 artificial reefs by 2029, further supporting marine biodiversity and sustainable fisheries. We are proud to continue this journey with the deployment of an additional 100 units of artificial reefs at Pelong Rocks, contributing to our ongoing marine ecosystem restoration efforts.' Brunei Darussalam, the minister emphasised, 'will continue to invest time and effort in marine science for our younger generations, who will be the next key players in sustaining ocean governance in the future. At the same time, we call upon all stakeholders from industries nationwide to adopt environmentally conscious practices to achieve sustainable economic development.' The minister also raised concerns that the ocean is under growing threats across the globe, including in the region, where marine ecosystems are gradually degrading on a large scale as a result of human actions. He cited threats such as marine pollution – driven by the irresponsible disposal of plastic and industrial waste, as well as abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear – continuing to harm marine habitats. 'Evidence of microplastic pollution and ghost nets in reef systems are some of the pressing issues identified, highlighting the urgent need for further research and effective solutions to address these threats,' he said. He added that unsustainable extraction of marine resources due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices, along with the destruction of mangroves and other coastal landscapes, have disrupted the balance of ecosystems. Beyond these immediate concerns, he said, 'the health of our marine ecosystems is also increasingly challenged by broader and more complex impacts of climate change. Rising ocean temperatures lead to more frequent and severe coral bleaching events, while ocean acidification weakens reef structures and inhibits the growth of shelled organisms'. 'These changes not only disrupt the delicate balance of the entire marine food web and ecosystems but also jeopardise the livelihoods of communities that depend on the ocean for food, income and cultural heritage,' he said. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
