My association with SOS goes back to the early 1970’s when I first visited Singapore in connection with negotiations between the ITF, Norwegian and Swedish unions and the SOS regarding the employment of SOS members on Norwegian and Swedish beneficially owned FOC vessels. Those negotiations were difficult but succeeded in the end and lead to the retention of jobs for Norwegian and Swedish seafarers on their respective national flags owing to a reduction in the number of flagged out vessels as a result of the employment of Singapore seamen on those vessels which had already been flagged out.

Since then the SOS has developed into a formidable trade union organisation with a scent for rejuvenation and business acumen for the good of its members. In many ways, the Singapore society bear a likeness to that of my home country Sweden where social democracy and co-operative ventures were held in great esteem. An example of this is Seacare – the co-operative venture created by the SOS and with which I have been closely associated since I left the position as ITF Assistant General Secretary, first as a consultant and later as a member of the Board of the Seacare Medical Cluster.

Under the aegis of Seacare – initiated by the then SOS General Secretary C.C.Leow – the SOS has established a number of medical centres in South East Asia, several seafarers’ hotels, notably the Seacare Hotel next to its headquarters, several training centres, employment projects and many other co-operative ventures for seafarers. During my time as Executive Secretary of ICSW – the predecessor of ISWAN – the SOS also arranged the International Sports Week for Seafarers in Singapore. More recently the SOS has been involved in the first global tripartite initiative launched to support crew change (the SG-Star Fund) in the wake of the effect of Covid-19 on seafarers.

Singapore will remain in my mind as long as I am around as a second home where I have always been able to count on friends and the SOS has always played an important role in the ITF and it was no coincidence that the last ITF Congress was held there. Also, Singapore is multi-racial and its inhabitants co-exist harmoniously. The SOS has also ensured that women play an important part in the running of the organisation. I have many happy memories of my involvements with the SOS and its officers and staff, not least on the golf course and in the splendid culinary establishments in the country. My memories are far too many to pinpoint. They would fill a book.

I look forward to the SOS 50-year virtual celebration and wish the SOS all the best in the future.

Long live the SOS and Singapore!