A study of CSR in the maritime industry (part A : port authority)

• Main Author: Ng, Jun Hao
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Maritime studies
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/150241
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Sustainability is becoming more important in all industries today, in view of climate change, increasing expectations from customers and investors, and the potential benefits brought about by ensuring sustainability in an organization. Striving to remain as an international maritime centre and the top shipping hub in the world, sustainability is one of the key concerns for Singapore. The maritime industry has always been more focused on environmental and economic sustainability, while social sustainability has been neglected. This research project serves to investigate the current Corporate Social Responsibility strategies, policies, and practices of the maritime stakeholders in Singapore, in order to evaluate them in terms of their effectiveness in addressing social sustainability issues and provide recommendations on how the stakeholder can enhance their social sustainability so Singapore can stay as the top shipping hub. This research report focuses on one of three work packages, investigating the port authority of Singapore – Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Secondary data regarding the CSR strategies, policies, and practices of MPA and case studies of port authorities in other countries was studied to understand what is being done or was done in the past. Interviews with MPA, industry experts and seafarers were conducted to have a deeper understanding on the topic from both internal and external perspectives, and to support the findings from the secondary research. The results of this report concluded that MPA has done its part in addressing many aspects of social sustainability in the maritime industry, and the view is that MPA’s CSR efforts are much more significant relative to other countries’ port authorities. There are, however, some areas of improvements identified, such as the need for more open forums, socially responsible employment, communication links with the community, interaction between students and the industry, transparency, innovation, and creativity. There are also certain issues beyond the reach of MPA, which will require the cooperation of the maritime community.