1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008


1994

• The Seacare Co-operative Limited (Seacare) was registered in May by its joint founders, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS). Its mission was to help and benefit Singapore seamen and their families through more work opportunities and appropriate investment projects.

• The launching of Seacare Holdings Pte Ltd, the commercial arm of Seacare, was officiated on 19 May by Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister without Portfolio and NTUC Secretary-General. Seacare Holdings and its subsidiary companies would serve to provide Seacare・s business objectives with greater focus and further impetus.
  
  
• With the incorporation of six subsidiary companies by Seacare Holdings, a big step was made towards achieving our vision of creating alternative job opportunities for the SOS members as well as being the investment vehicle for the SOS and its members.

1996

• The number of ordinary members of Seacare increased by leaps and bounds to 979.
  
  
• Seacare began to adopt a joint-venture partnership strategy with established organizations to draw upon and benefit from their experience. In October, Seacare MarinePlus Pte Ltd, a 60% owned subsidiary of Seacare Holdings, was incorporated as a joint-venture partnership with COSCO Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

• Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd, a joint venture with MHC Healthcare Pte Ltd, was incorporated in January. The joint venture combined the advantages of both MHC’s infrastructure and Seacare・s links with the shipping community, to provide a comprehensive range of medical services for seafarers.

1998

• The economic turmoil that wrought havoc in the region also severely impacted the business environment here. The group’s performance over the past three years continued to show an upward trend despite the prevailing unfavorable business conditions. During the business lull because of the economic downturn, Seacare seized the opportunity to reorganise itself with a view to future growth.
  
  
• The success of our various initiatives was evident in our 1998 financial results. We recorded a turnover of S$5,281,741.

• Seacare again took the precaution of reviewing and streamlining its structure and organisation in preparation for new challenges and opportunities in the coming millennium. One result was the incorporation of Seacare Foundation Pte Ltd to ensure the co-operative was better able to cater properly to the interest of the SOS and its members, who are also individual shareholders of Seacare. Henceforth, all business activities relating to Singapore seamen and other seafarers would come under the ambit of Seacare Foundation, for example, the setting up of Seacare Thrift Pte Ltd to administer a provident fund scheme for seafarers.

• Seacare GolfLink Pte Ltd, incorporated in January, ushered in a revolutionary system of golf course management. The company was the first to bring the proven GPS Golf Management System to golf courses in the region. The introduction of the GPS system to the Spring City Golf and Lake Resort in Kunming, China, served as a platform for Seacare GolfLink’s future growth in the PRC.
  
  
• Seacare acquired a nine-storey commercial building standing on 19,270 square feet of land with a total floor area of 27,491 square feet in March to serve as our corporate headquarters. The brand new headquarters in the renamed Seacare Building expressed the confidence and readiness of the Seacare and its group of companies to face the challenges of the new millennium.
  
  
• This year Seacare chalked up a robust growth in turnover of S$10,105,790.

2001

• The Seacare Building was officially opened in June by Mr Lim Boon Heng, NTUC Secretary-General. With its modem facade and well-equipped offices, the building would facilitate the conduct of various businesses by the Seacare’s group and enshrine the hope and aspiration that Singapore seamen reposed in the Seacare Co-operative. Seacare Building served as a vital and dynamic manifestation and symbol of the Seacare group’s determination to succeed against all odds.
  
  
• With headquarters located next to the Jalan Kukoh HDB estate, Seacare began a tradition of caring for and sharing with the senior citizens living in the estate by inviting them to lunar new year luncheons hosted jointly by Seacare and SOS.
  
  
• Seacare Manpower Services Pte Ltd was appointed by NTUC to be a membership recruiter in October. This new role created a new avenue and provided alternative employment for the unemployed and retrenched workers.

2002

• Seacare Properties Pte Ltd embarked on its first Australia property development project jointly with Chip Eng Leong Enterprise Corporation Ltd, the wholly-owned subsidiary of public listed Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd. Pulteney Centre, a 3-storey commercial building in Adelaide, South Australia, was acquired for refurbishment and strata subdivision. The official opening and sales launch was conducted by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Mr Alfred Wong.
  
  
• Seacare Environmental Pte Ltd attained certification of the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System by certification body from the United Kingdom Accreditation Scheme. This certification served to prove Seacare Environmental had the capability to meet customer and regulatory requirements in the provision of quality cleaning and maintenance services.
  
  
• Despite the recession, Seacare group posted another successful year with a record turnover of S$21.6 million. The latest feat in the group’s six-year record-topping performance showed that the management has been on the right track. The big turnover increase was reflected in the group’s best ever showing profit of S$1,030,834. Concomitant with the substantive improvement in turnover and profits, the group’s staff strength now totalled 1,060 persons, an increase of 119 employees.

2003

• To solidify our market presence in the medical sector of the maritime industry, Seacare Foundation Pte Ltd became the majority shareholder of Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd when it acquired 80 per cent of MHC Healthcare Pte Ltd’s shares in April.
  
  
• Mr Kong Mun Kwong, Chairman of Seacare Holdings Pte Ltd, was conferred the Friend of Labour Award by the NTUC in April for his contributions to NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd, Seacare and the labour movement.

2004

• The NTUC bestowed upon Mr Teh Kong Leong, Director of Seacare Holdings Pte Ltd and Chairman of Seacare MarinePlus Pte Ltd, the Friend of Labour Award in April in recognition of his contributions to Seacare and the labour movement.
  
  
• Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd (SMMC) moved to a new clinic with a larger floor space so as to be able to accommodate the increased number of patients and the wider service coverage of a greater spectrum of patients’ needs. With the relocation to a more than 2,000 square feet unit located at #04-19 of The Amara, SMMC will strive to achieve a higher level of customer satisfaction.
  
  
• Seacare Manpower Services Pte Ltd continued to contribute significantly to NTUC membership drive. Since its appointment as recruiter in 2001, Seacare Manpower has to date recruited about 70,000 members for NTUC.
  
  
• Seacare Properties (Philippines) Pte Ltd was set up for the purpose of developing a 7-storey residential condominium project in Manila, the capital of Philippines.
  
  
• In September, Seacare Education Pte Ltd was set up as part of our emphasis on education service as a new core business.
  
  
• Seacare Foundation Pte Ltd invested in Connect Centre Pte Ltd, a joint venture with PH1 Innovax Callcentre Pte Ltd and RE Holdings Pte Ltd to provide telecommunication services.
  
  
• A workshop for the Seacare Management was held in December for the purpose of reassessing our mission and determining our future direction. The resultant new mission statement reiterated and further amplified our vision of co-operative enterprise, our focus on seamen and our scope of interaction with all patrons.

2005

• Seacare Manpower Services Pte Ltd extended its scope of operation by supplying administrative staff to the law courts and other government statutory boards. In line with this expansion, the company decided to enhance the quality and productivity of its full-time and part-time staff and recruiters by having its training courses focused on interpersonal relationship and personal effectiveness and achievement skills as well as occupational training.
  
  
• Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd expanded its scope of business by appointing affiliated clinics at other ASEAN countries beside Singapore to service the Seacare Medical Scheme.
  
  
• Seacare Education Pte Ltd and Sino-Sing Center Pte Ltd entered a joint venture to set up Xinnet Education Centre Pte Ltd with the aim of offering Preschool English Programmes in China, Training for Bilingual Teachers, Student Exchange and Immersion programmes. Seacare Education also penetrated the Malaysia education market through Seacare International (M) Sdn Bhd’s investment in P.O.D. Education Sdn Bhd. The last named firm is a member of a premier human resource consultancy and corporate training company with an extensive network in Malaysia.
  
  
• In recognition of our invaluable contribution to the Co-operative movement, the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) conferred on Seacare  in July, the Commendation Plaque Award while Mr Kong Mun Kwong, Chairman of Seacare Holdings Pte Ltd, was conferred the Friend of the Co-operatives Award for his invaluable contribution to Seacare  and the Co-operative movement.
  
  
• Seacare’s very own Club@52 underwent an extreme ‘makeover’ in July and August. The modern and sleek concept introduced is inviting and relaxing. The colour scheme of black, orange and grey which expresses an open, relaxing, vibrant and friendly atmosphere matches well with the design theme. It’s a place for both members and clubbers to hang out and chill out.

2006

• In February, Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Optometry & Ocular Care Centre (NOOCC) to provide professional comprehensive optometric eye examination under the Seacare Medical Scheme.
  
  
• Seacare Chairman, Mr Leow Ching Chuan, was appointed by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, as a member of the Central Cooperative Fund Committee for a period of three years with effect from 1 March.
  
  
• Seacare Evolution Pte Ltd entered a joint venture with Vaughn International Pte Ltd and ELO Digital Office (Asia) Pte Ltd to incorporate Seacare Digital Office Pte Ltd in May to offer digital archiving, documentation management and workflow solutions ranging from entry-level solutions for SMBs to highly scalable modular client/server systems for large corporations.
  

• In June, Seacare International (M) Sdn Bhd entered a joint venture with InterPay International Airtime and Malaysian entrepreneur Mr Yap Kit Chuan to incorporate ETOP Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd which is a flagship operation with interests in the prepaid business segment.
  
  
• Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd was one of the organisations featured in the Singapore Pavilion during the 20th Posidonia, the world’s biggest shipping trade exhibition held in Athens, Greece in June.
  
  
• In yet another milestone, Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd  made its move and took  its first stride into Vietnam by appointing Australian Clinic & Pathology Diagnostics (ACPD) as its affiliated clinic in July.
  
  
• At the invitation of NTUC Eldercare Co-operative Ltd, Seacare  became an  Institutional Member of the Centre for Seniors, a society dedicated to provide counseling and helpline services for the elderly and their families.
  
  
• Seacare and its group of companies achieved growth in turnover by about $6 million to $29 million and profit before tax of about $1 million. Seacare’s staff strength of 1,100 has been consistently above the 1,000 level for the past few years and is a reliable indicator of the healthy state of Seacare’s economic position.
  
  
• The significant increase in the seamen labour force outside of Singapore is a clear indicator that there will be a corresponding need to be met. By venturing out to where the market is, Seacare will be best positioned to provide the kind of services needed by the worldwide shipping community.

2007

• As at year 2005, Seacare Manpower Services Pte Ltd・s dedicated team of recruiters has signed up a total of 110,354 new members, since October 2001. Add to that figure is 10,953 members recruited in year 2006; and the new total standing at 121,307 is a testament of Seacare Manpower・s focus and commitment to NTUC・s call to bridge divides through LM2011.
  
  
• Sinnet Education Pte Ltd entered into a joint venture with Hua Lan Education Investment Pte Ltd with the objective of managing bilingual and international schools in China.
  
  
• On 1 April, Seacare Landscape Pte Ltd, formally a division under Seacare Environmental Pte Ltd, had branched out into a full-fledged company under the Seacare Group.
  
  
• Seacare Maritime Medical Centre Pte Ltd and Jing An District Central Hospital sealed an agreement to provide medical services to international seafarers who require medical attention in Shanghai.
  
  
• It was the vision of seeing Seacare expand its presence regionally that provided the drive to set up a new venture. With the incorporation of Seacare Medical Holdings Pte Ltd (SMH) in May, Seacare made its mark as an esteemed healthcare provider. SMH will serve as the investment holding company with the aim of maintaining and expanding Seacare’s regional presence as a healthcare provider, by exploring both organic initiatives and acquisitive ventures.
  
  
• Seacare Landscape Pte Ltd attained the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) grading of L1 which means that the company can tender projects with a limit of up to $500,000. Having completed projects relevant to the particular workhead, with the total value of these projects surpassing this capacity, the L1 grading was awarded to Seacare Landscape based on track records.

2008

• On 29 April, Seacare Co-operative Ltd was given due recognition by the National Trades Union Congress at the May Day Awards 2008. The Plaque of Commendation was conferred on Seacare for its significant contributions to the Trade Union Movement. The accomplishments included its age friendly employment practises by Seacare Manpower Services Pte Ltd and Seacare Environmental Pte Ltd as well as its provision of regular training and skills upgrading courses for its employees, including free training courses to its Manpower staff.
  
  
• Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted a lunch for about 80 grassroots leaders from his Teck Ghee Constituency on 7 June. The venue – at Seacare Building’s very own Club@52. On his arrival, PM Lee met key officials of SOS and Seacare.
  
  
• On 4 July, Mr Raymond Chia, Chairman of Seacare Properties Pte Ltd and Director of Seacare Holdings Pte Ltd, was presented with the Friend of Co-operatives Award by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF). The Honour Awards recognises the outstanding contributions and the impact individuals like Mr Chia make to mould and push the co-operative movement forward.
  
  
• In August, Seacare Foundation Pte Ltd invested into two wastewater treatment projects in Inner Mongolia, with WaterTech Pte Ltd, an environmental engineering company specialising in providing integrated systems for water and wastewater treatment.
  
  
• On 24 September, Seacare Chairman, Mr Leow Ching Chuan was re-elected to the Executive Council of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) for the term 2008 – 2011.