DIPLOMA IN MARITIME BUSINESS (DMB - S74)

Maritime Economics

This module aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the economic and commercial environment in which shipping operates. It will also provide students with knowledge of the factors that influence the supply and demand for ships and shipping services.

Financial Accounting in Shipping

The module provide students with an understanding of the basic financial accounting concepts and practices in the shipping industry.

Maritime Personnel Management

To provide students with <ul> <li>An understanding of the concept of management and why managers and organization are needed. </li> <li>Knowledge of the various personnel management theories. </li> <li>An understanding of the functions of personnel management in the maritime industry. </li> </ul>

Ship Operations

Trains students how to prepare, embark and launch survival crafts. Students will be taught the use of all survival equipment carried on board merchant navy ships. Additionally they will be provided with a basic knowledge of the construction of various types of merchant navy vessels.

Logistics Management

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the physical and other components of transport systems, an understanding of the significance of freight transport in a modern economy and the application of intermodal concepts. They will be able to analyse the employment, organisational and institutional structures in the freight transport industry in Singapore. They will be able to appreciate the value of a logistics approach to delivery of goods.

Port Operations

This module provides students with an overview of ports, their purposes, types and simple layout. It also provides knowledge on basic operations, port terminology and management of ports in general. It aims to give students a good grounding for module MA 0116 (Port Management) which will be taught in Year 2 of the DMB course.

Bunkering Practices

Provides students with an understanding of how to deal with bunker suppliers and bunker brokers, checking quality and quantity of bunker supplies, local and international regulations relating to bunkering practices and choice of bunkering port as part of voyage planning.

Introduction to Maritime Industry

This module aims to prepare students with skills and knowledge for the multi-faceted sectors of the maritime industry. It aims to enhance students’ knowledge and skills to enable them to work on shipping projects and gain better understanding of the industry.

Education and Career Guidance 1

A compulsory module for all first year students, ECG 1 aims to develop an understanding of personal interests, strengths, values and life goals. With greater knowledge and understanding of self, planning and decision making in choosing a future career can be better developed. Some topics covered in ECG 1 include ‘Defining My SP Life’, ‘Personal Branding’, ‘Discovering My Interests’, ‘Planning for Success – My Personal Action Plan’ and more.

Business Statistics

Provides foundation for students to be equipped with quantitative skills, understanding of basic statistical concepts and their relevance in business. It is designed to train students with the statistical research skills from data analysis through manual means and software, data representation and interpretation that will allow them to make informed decisions. The statistical problem-solving process is taught as a method in addressing business-related statistical problems. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, and linear regression

IT & Data Analysis for Business

Provides students with the essential features of spreadsheet to support data analysis for business applications. Topics covered include spreadsheet applications, fundamental data analysis, professional presentations and proper documentation. This module will impart the necessary skills to analyse worksheet data, apply fundamental data analysis techniques to improve productivity and streamline their day-to-day operational work. Equipped with these fundamentals, students will be able to apply these skills to construct business and financial models for today’s fast changing business environment.

Principles of Shipping Practice

This module aims to provide students with the knowledge of the modes of shipment and handling of the major types of cargoes. An understanding of the effects of climate and weather on trade and shipping. Knowledge of national and global shipping organisations and their functions. Working knowledge of maritime commercial services and an understanding of port services and shipping documentation.

Narrative Thinking (NAT)

This module aims to equip students with the skills to critically evaluate the elements of narratives used in a variety of contexts, and to appreciate and harness the power of storytelling in our daily life. Students will analyse narratives to connect and contextualise self to society, and learn to craft impactful personal narratives to inspire or influence others.

Critical and Analytical Thinking (CAT)

This module aims to equip students with skills in critical and analytical thinking, which includes the ability to evaluate different perspectives, articulate a point of view and support it with relevant and credible evidence. The module also provides students with opportunities to practise information literacy, and critical and analytical thinking through the exploration of contemporary local and global issues.

Internship Programme 26 + 1 Weeks

During this phase students will be attached to a relevant maritime related / logistics organisation. They will be expected to put into practice the knowledge and skills that they have acquired in the Polytechnic. Their progress will be closely monitored by the in house company supervisor and also by a liaison officer (staff of the Polytechnic). During this period they are expected to complete their Project Log Book.

Financial Mgmt in Shipping

This module teaches students the concepts of financial management that can be applied to shipping companies. It will provide students with the knowledge & understanding of the financial tools and techniques used for/in shipping operations and investments.

Port Agency

Provides students with an understanding of the different types of port agencies and a port agent’s role, with particular reference to operations in Singapore. Topics include ship documentation, cargo documentation, disbursements and office organisation.

Law of Carriage of Goods by Sea

Provides students with an understanding of the law relating to the carriage of goods by sea and its underlying principles. Topics include sources and application of law, basic features of the Singapore legal system, and general principles of the law of contract relating to shipping, agency law, different types of tortuous liability relating to shipping, basic features and main legal aspects of the different charter parties and bills of lading and carriage of goods by sea acts.

Education and Career Guidance 2

ECG 2 is taken by all second year students. This module aims to develop professional skills necessary to seek and secure work. It also guides the students on how to discover and develop skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for work effectiveness and changes related to work. Topics covered in this module include ‘Job Search and Market Trends’, ‘Discovering Your Unique Selling Point’, ‘Resilience’, ‘Work Place Values’ and more.

Business Data Analytics

Students will be equipped with statistical and data literacy skills that will enable them to interpret data critically. They will develop an appreciation for the different areas of analytics, a proficiency in using visualization tools, and decision-making skills for business related problems.

Communicating for Project Effectiveness

Aims to equip students with skills in effective communication, teamwork and interpersonal communication, and report writing.

Social Innovation Project

This module aims to equip students with a Design Thinking mindset in a social innovation context. Students collaborate in multi-disciplinary groups to apply Design Thinking tools and methods to create innovative prototype solutions for local social issues. In the process, they will develop a better understanding of themselves, and empathy for a local community in need.

Communicating for Professional Effectiveness

This module aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to identify jobs that match their interests, capabilities and qualifications to prepare resumes that are unique and customised for job requirements and hone interview skills to help them secure that job. Students will also understand and be able to apply self-awareness techniques including applying emotional intelligence principles in a professional setting to manage self and a team at the workplace.

Marketing of Shipping Services

This module provides students with a basic knowledge of marketing, its role and the its application in the shipping industry, with particular emphasis on the characteristics of shipping services, and their marketing implications for strategy development and implementation.

Ship Management

To provide students with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the business of ship management, local and international regulations, voyage estimating and the general planning and operational functions of a ship manager. Students will also be taught how to use relevant software application programmes.

Supply Chain Management

This module teaches students how supply chain management and distribution channels play an integral role in a firm's marketing strategy. It will provide students with the concept of supply chain management and the types of channel structures. The factors that influence channel designs, development, and performance as well as role of logistics in supply chain management will also be discussed.

HSSE Management

Health Safety Security and Environmental Management (HSSE) Students will be given an appreciation on the need for HSSE Management on board ships. Topics covered in the module include knowledge of the key elements of a ship’s quality assurance, health, safety and security management system as required per the ISM code and the ISPS codes, international legislation on minimising and threat of pollution at sea, and risk assessment in formulating all safety procedures.

Marine Insurance

Provides students with an understanding of marine insurance and how different aspects of marine insurance play a role in shipping. Topics covered include functions of marine insurance in shipping, organisations of insurance market and companies, Institute Clauses and Common covers for ships, General Average claims, P & I Club, and marine pollution protection schemes.

Maritime Offshore Operations

Provides students with an overview of the offshore industry and related operations. Emphasis will be placed on the types of offshore vessels and their operations including seismic survey, oil exploration and pipe laying methods, a typical organisational structure of offshore management company, basic training requirements of offshore personnel and international organisations influencing the offshore industry e.g. OPITO.

Electronic Commerce

Provides students with the basic concepts, implementation and operation of information systems development, with particular reference to information systems used in the shipping and transportation business. GMDSS, VTIS, Portnet, Tradenet and other workflow systems will be covered in this module.

Maritime Law

-To provide students with knowledge on the Principles of Law in order to enable them make decisions in the work place and avoid legal pitfalls. -To expose students to a wide range of specialist application of marine law in owning, managing and servicing of ships. -To enhance an understanding and application of the maritime law affecting the various aspects of work of those engaged in the shipping business.

Ship Chartering Practices (Elective 2)

This module provide students with the knowledge and understanding of international trade, dry cargo and tanker freight market, the players and their roles. The understanding of different types of charter parties especially standard voyage and time charter parties used in dry cargo and bulk liquid trades. The knowledge of how to perform relevant calculation and the basic knowledge and skills necessary to conclude negotiations, fixtures and execution of charter party contracts.

Marine Engineering Knowledge

This module is design to provide students with an introduction to ship's systems and operations. It will familiarise them with the principles of propulsion machinery and working of various shipboard auxiliaries and systems. The module is also designed to provide the students the necessary marine engineering knowledge and skills so as to enable them to work as junior executives in a ship management company.

Project

Project work is to inculcate in the student the ability to work independently. It develops in the student the ability to conduct research on his or her own and/or to solve problems on a topic or area of interest that is relevant to the student’s course of study. The maritime field being very wide, this project work module expected to provide the students with the opportunities to select subject areas of their interest. It will also involve the group in a learning experience where members of the group observe and analyse the behaviour of their group and/or each other in carrying out an exercise and also to interact with each other or work as a team. This is a module where various threads of the DMB program are tied together, and a new dimension is added to the interaction between the participants and various members of the DMB faculty.

Ship Financing

This module provides students with an understanding of Ship Financing and Ship Sale & Purchase (S&P), including the related documentation, law and valuation. On completion of this module students will be able to work as junior executive in firms dealing with the financing of the S&P of ships.