Singapore maritime institute planned

Singapore maritime institute planned    The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, which oversees one of the biggest container ports in the world, said Thursday it will provide $150 million to fund a new maritime institute.
   The institute would be aimed at developing the academic, policy, and research and development aspects of the maritime industry, according to news reports out of Singapore.
   'The institute will work towards attracting renowned academics and researchers to be based in Singapore and groom the next generation of local maritime talent,' said a report by ChannelnewsAsia. 'It also aims to increase the pool of maritime-trained students and professionals in Singapore, and encourage more industry R&D projects to be undertaken in Singapore.'
   The goal is to cement Singapore's status as a global maritime hub, even as Shanghai will likely pass it this year as the world's busiest container port.