ICS Annual Cocktail Night

17th December 2009
Welcome Address

ICS Members, Our partners from SMU, Guests and Sponsors and Well wishers

As the Chairman of ICS Singapore Branch, I am privileged to make this welcome address

The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers is the only internationally recognised professional body representing shipbrokers, ship managers’ agents, and other members of the shipping fraternity throughout the world. With 24 branches in key shipping areas, over 3,500 individuals and 120 company members, ICS membership represents a commitment to maintaining the highest professional standards across the shipping industry.
The overseas members have now exceeded that in UK and the size of the Asian segment is significant.

As the balance of Shipping gradually gravitates towards Asia, Singapore will play an increasingly dominant role. This role can only be sustainable if
supported by a strong pool of professionals. Professionals who will play a pivotal role in operating the maritime cluster. It is here that the ICS will be
relevant as the only international body that caters to professionalization of the shipping industry.

Our membership base is diverse and includes marine engineers, bankers and even a diplomat , Singapore’s nonresident  ambassador to Argentina,
Mr. Ow Cho Kiat is a member of the ICS.

I would urge the industry and its players to give preference to the ICS qualification for responsible management positions. In addition do encourage your
younger staff to complete the examination and qualify as members. Subsidizing the examination fees and the annual subscription fees could be the
catalyst to create the pull factor for younger members of the shipping community to qualify for membership.

I am certain that they will not only add value to your business by bringing in international contacts and reliability, but also help minimize risk and losses
that may arise due to lack of knowledge and unprofessional practices. ICS is also one of the few forums where shipping professionals can meet,
interact and enhance their professional value in a non competitive environment

To this end, the Singapore Branch of the ICS in partnership with ITI – SMU has formed a Distance Learning centre to provide education for the students
taking the exams In a short while we will show you a few slides giving details of this Course.

We express our appreciation to MPA, as well, who have endorsed this course by making it eligible for the 60 % subsidy provided by the MCF.
We believe this will, to a great extent incentivize the local shipping community to persuade their staff to pursue the ICS qualification.

Our next major forthcoming event will be a half day conference on Feb 9th themed NEW DECADE – NEW CHALLENGES”.  It will be held at the Fullerton
and you will receive details in the coming weeks.

In conclusion I must mention OUR thanks to all who have contributed in making this event a success.

• Our sponsors for the evenings function
• Wilhelmsen Ship services ( a premium provider of ship services Internationally
• World Oils – a well known broking house specializing in provding information to the off shore and partnering with the firm which has these
  beautiful models on display
• EW Liner –  A well known chart and Nautical publication supplier who to sponsored the book prizes
• ITI @ SMU , our partners in jointly offering the DLC programme
• The members of the Singapore Branch of ICS
• Henry Noon – the branch secretariat.

Let me now just run through a brief presentation of the programme which will be followed by the MOU signing ceremony.

Subhangshu Dutt
Chairman ICS Singapore Branch