Written by Joyce Nesan, Mathuusha Uthayakumar, Robin Trajanov & Tirza Regamey
On the fourth day of the study trip, the class delved into the “Maritime Evolution Trail” of the Port of Singapore. The journey started early in the morning with a warm welcome by Ms. Cathy Ross and her team. On a tour bus, they guided us through the historic and developmental phases of the port, with various stops across the road.
The foundation stone for one of the most important ports in modern times was laid by Sir Stamford Raffles, a British colonial official from the 19th century. Singapore’s geographical location has been a significant advantage for the port, as it is situated at the crossroads of vital sea routes in Southeast Asia. With the opening of the Suez Canal the importance of the port as a global shipping hub has increased even more. Following Singapore’s independence in 1965, the government prioritized the development of the port to drive economic growth. Massive investments in infrastructure, technology, and training transformed the port into a modern facility, one of the first in Asia to develop facilities specifically for container ships.
Today, the Port of Singapore has developed to a major global maritime hub and one of the busiest ports in the world. As an example, a new cargo ship arrives at or leaves the port every 2 minutes. Furthermore, the Port of Singapore is also known for its innovation. This is evident in the current construction of the Tuas Mega Port, which is scheduled to be completed and operated fully automatically by 2040. This is another sign of Singapore to maintain its maritime global leadership.
In the afternoon, the group visited Sentosa, a small island connected by roads, railway, and cable car to Singapore’s main island. Despite a recent oil spill preventing swimming in the sea, the group explored Sentosa’s diverse attractions, ranging from bungee jumping and karting to its resorts and beaches, enjoying the small island’s rich and natural diversity.
