Special Guest，Yang Chun,Deputy Director,of Maritime Safety Administration in liaoning  of People\'s Republic of China and his officials,

Professor Liu Zheng Jiang,Vice President of Dalian International Maritime University

Wang Yu Cheng,<Vice-Chairman>,from the China International Contractors Association (COSE),

Mr Li TieQiao,President of National Committee of the Chinese Seaman Union(CSU).and CSU officials

PRC  Maritime Government Officials,Manning Agents,Officials from all across the PRC

Singapore Shipping Officials& Employers,

PRC Maritime Colleges and Training Institutes Representatives…

Distinguished Guests from Singapore,PRC,2011 graduates from CadetsPlus,SMOU members and families,ladies and gentlemen,a very evening and a warm welcome to the SMOU’s Dalian Nite.

It brings  me great delight and I am very excited to be here this evening as we celebrate new milestones. First and foremost,this moring at the Dalian Maritme University we witnessed the biggest CadetsPlus Graduating class in China since WMI introduced the program ,with more than 220 cadets graduating from the CadetPlus program and employed by 12 Singapore shipping companies. Secondly,this evening we are gathered here to celebrate SMOU’s 60^th Anniversary in Dalian In China,with all our parters,friends,members and families.Finally,what is also really significant,would be that this evening,we have representative from both PRC and Singapore Government Authorities,PRC and Singapore Shipping Employers and even unios both CSU and SMOU.This is not only tripartism for Singapore,but also tripartism from the PRC,a milestone event to see twin sets of tripartite partners in international collaborational towards a better futute for the maritime industry.

Dalian and Singapore.are cities that play an equally important role in the maritme transportation ,and likewise,the maritime economy was instrumental in the development of both cities.

Though the economic signs have edged up positively, there always exists a certain level of uncertainy.In the interest of SMOU members and the global maritime industry.SMOU together with our international parters must work harder together to ensure that our maritime economy continues to grow and our members at sea and ashore will continue to have job security.

Our vision is for our members to be of high quality,so that they can ,not only be professional,but productive as well.We hope to see them contribute to the shipping employers by value-adding to their work and beyond.Of coure as a union,we only hope to see members pursuing better jobs,and better lives for themselves and your loved ones.

It is with this mind that SMOU in collaboration with shipping employers and Wavelink Maritme Institute started the CadetsPlus program some 5 years ago in Qingdao. Together we have a vision to help our PRC cadets on the first stages of their career by helping them build a strong foundation so that they can start their careers on the right note.In a matter of 5years,we’ve had the CadetsPlus program in several cities across the PRC including Wuhan,Nanjing,Xiamen and this year in Daian.

There 5years, We’ve had 580 cadets successfully graduating from this program and serving on Singapore-Flag vessels.We’ve also met some of the cadets when their ships can into the Singapore port during our ship visits and are glad to share that they’re doing well at sea.Apart from the CadetsPlus programme,our OfficersPlus too,have been a success,with neally 600 officers granduating since 2008.

This evening ,I am delighted and  would also like to extend my congratulations to all the cadets who graduated this moring and are here.In addition to 2011 being the SMOU’s 60^th Annversary, I’m sure you will go down in SMOU’s history as the best graduating class.

I would like to thank for the following for making this evening’s Dalian Nite possible:

Employer

Various shipping companies, Manning Companies both in Singapore and China,for being caring employers that provides sustainable growth in traning and job opportunities for our Chinese members.

Affillate &Parters

Professor Liu Zhengjiang,VicePresident of Dalian Maritme Unverisity for providing such an excellet facility for our students,and the many partners who have contributed to the success of the Wavelink CadetPlus Progranmme.

Our Special Guest,Capt Li-En Hong and Our Guest of Honour,Mr Matthias Yao.

For officiating our occasion in spite of their busy schedules

Staff and Organising Committee

A bing thank you to Sinocrew Maritime Services,staff and officials of SMOU and WMI for making this event possible,and to everyone else who has made this evening a success.

WMI

Bernard Song,KK Tan and Capt Menon for their passionate efforts in imparting their knowledge and to ensure that the cadets receive quality training and an everlasting memory of their 4 weeks experience.

Special Appreciation

Capt Xu Feng from Dalian Maritime University for coordinating the training at DMU.

Capt Tao Yuen Chow from Sinostar Maritme Services for coordinating the logistics of the training and Singapore delegation visit.

Capt Wang JiXuan from Sinocrew Maritme Services for helping with the earlier graduation and this evening’s dinner arrangements.

Finally,I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you, especially those of you from overseas and across the PRC and many others who have traveled many hours to join us in this evening’s wonderful occasion.

To all you, have a memorable and fun evening.Thank you.