AN OPERATIONS attachment programme involving the founding members of the Asia Cruise Terminal Association (ACTA) – Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) and Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Development Co (WSK) – kicked off yesterday, ahead of the association’s official launch on November 15.
Five employees from WSK, ranging from entry-level to senior management personnel, will be attached for almost a month to various SCC departments to pick up best practices on operations, customer service and third-party liaison, explained SCC CEO, Christina Siaw.
“Workshops will also be conducted for participants to discuss how lessons learnt from the programme can be applied back home,” said Siaw.
She added: “We handle three to four cruise ships a day. We get all kinds of cruise ships from various cruise companies, carrying international passengers. There is plenty of action in Singapore, which makes it the best place for WSK and other ACTA member ports to learn how to attend to international ships and passengers.”
The full cost of the exchange programme will be borne by WSK, with Siaw recognising that the high cost of staying in Singapore for an attachment programme, which can run for at least two weeks on average, may be prohibitive for some member ports.
“Perhaps in the near future, ACTA will have to think of ways to help members who are less financially able to afford training programmes in Singapore,” she said.
Although ACTA draws a membership fee, Siaw said the money would be spent on marketing and participating in industry events such as Cruise Shipping Asia, and not to finance attachment programmes that do not involve all members.
Apart from such attachment programmes, which are expected to rise in frequency as membership grows, ACTA is planning to offer other skills development activities and support for its members.
