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  Today Online 1 Jul 06
Marina South Pier launched
Transport Minister Lim urges operators to be patient, promises 300 jobs in sector Weekend
Tor Ching Li chingli@newstoday.com.sg

IT may have been in operation since April, but the $30-million Marina South Pier only had mobile phone coverage last week.

This was one of the teething problems that didn't get lost on boat operators who moved over from Clifford Pier, as their new base was officially launched on Friday. The other issues were inaccessibility of the area and lack of consumer awareness of the new waterfront gateway.

But Transport Minister Raymond Lim urged operators and retailers of the sprawling 5,000-sq-m pier to be patient, saying it was early days yet, and that things would improve over time.

"Members of Parliament will be in close consultation with the operators. We want to work with them to succeed," he said. "Business on the tourism side may have been quite soft, but the Maritime Port Authority is working quite closely with the Singapore Tourism Board to try to raise tourist awareness of this place."

At the industry level, he also said over 300 jobs are immediately available in Singapore's marine and offshore sector, which is facing a labour shortage as shipping tonnage, container throughput and bunker sales reaches record levels last year. The maritime industry, which contributes about 7 per cent of Singapore's GDP, currently employs about 100,000 people.

In launching Marina South Pier on Friday, he also said that the spacious new terminal with a 3,000-passenger capacity would offer better passenger traffic flow during peak seasons — such as the Kusu Pilgrimage season which occurs between September and November.

But for now, some operators are asking for across-the-board rental relief to tide over the trying times. EastWing Organisation general manager Michael Yong, whose cruise business has suffered a loss of $20,000 in sales each month due to a lack of walk-in customers, said some retailers are hurting.

Unlike chartered boat associations, which are given 50 per cent off their ticket booth rental — of around $400 a month — for the first two years and a $1,000 sum upon relocation, retailers do not get the same deal. Retailers currently rent shops at the new pier for around $2,000 a month. "Rent costs aside, what we are really hoping for is greater awareness of this place," said Mr Yong.
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