Opening Address from MPA’s Chief Executive at Nordic Maritime 2022
Opening Address by Ms Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore at Nordic Maritime 2022
Singapore, Marina Bay Sands
The Nordic Embassies, Trade Promotion Offices, Nordic Innovation House in Singapore, Nordic Innovation and North Atlantic Co-operation (NORA) are thankful for the presence and opening address given by Ms Quah Ley Hoon at the Nordic Maritime Conference, on 4th April 2022. Here is an extract of the speech given by Ms Quah.
Ms Quah touched on the global trends of the disrupted global supply chains, energy supply, pressure on container shipping and congestions at major ports. Singapore has been supporting global supply chains to the fullest extent. The Port of Singapore has remained open 24/7 and its marine services – crew change, bunkering, ship supplies, ship repairs, etc. – continue to operate.
She presented the opportunities and challenges in decarbonisation in the long run.
In the longer horizon, geopolitical shifts, technology and digitalisation would impact maritime significantly. But one disruption stands out as particularly existential – sustainability. That is why MPA published the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint 2050. It lays out its decarbonisation strategies and priorities, and MPA will commit additional funds of at least $300 million in support of these efforts.
Singapore seeks to play the role of a facilitator, building partnerships for an inclusive transition to cleaner fuels. She highlighted three priorities in accelerating decarbonisation:
(1) supporting technology development
(2) shaping bunkering standards
(3) advancing international collaborations
Supporting Technology Development
According to an UMAS study, to meet IMO’s 2050 targets, the deployment of energy efficiency solutions, engines, and infrastructure for low carbon fuels is expected to cost US$1.2 trillion. MPA is keen to work with companies and research institutes around the world, to develop complementary capabilities, test-bed proposals, and pilot solutions.
Innovation plays a very important role. The annual MPA Maritime Innovation Challenge is one way for all to work together. Companies can surface challenge statements for global solver communities – comprising students, start-ups, researchers, MarineTech firms, or even firms from other sectors. There are already several green shipping consortiums working with Singapore-based partners. For example, MPA is part of The Castor Initiative which aims to develop the first ammonia-fuelled tanker.
Shaping Bunkering Standards
As a top bunkering hub, Singapore is committed to facilitating the industry’s multi-fuel bunkering transition. MPA has conducted 24 ship to ship LNG bunkering. On biofuel bunkering trials, 5 bunker suppliers have supplied about 16,000 metric tonnes of biofuel to 10 ocean-going vessels.
MPA is working on developing bunkering standards for future fuels such as ammonia. Internationally, MPA will continue to work together on the development and harmonisation of standards for future fuels.
Advancing International Collaborations
The maritime industry is globally intertwined, and we need to work bilaterally, multilaterally and regionally to create, test and deploy sustainability solutions collaboratively. MPA has co-sponsored numerous key IMO submissions with our Nordic partners, such as developing a work plan for mid- and long-term measures for the Initial IMO Strategy. Singapore is also glad to join Denmark and Norway as Core Members of the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission and to contribute to the recently-developed Shipping Mission Roadmap.
Another platform for advancing international collaboration on decarbonisation, which we are proud of for its inclusiveness, is the IMO-Singapore NextGEN initiative. When we launched NextGEN, it was about getting projects together and sharing that information. “NextGEN Connect” was launched at the IMO-Singapore Future of Shipping Conference. It will focus on ideating concrete solutions for inclusive maritime decarbonisation in the Asia Pacific.
Nordic-Singapore Maritime Partnerships
The friendship and partnership with Nordic countries are strong. As a maritime nation, Singapore is interested in the possibilities for international shipping presented by the opening of the Northern Sea Route. Singapore and the Nordic countries have been cooperating closely on initiatives related to the Arctic, both bilaterally and at multilateral fora such as the Arctic Council.
MPA is privileged to host leading Nordic maritime companies in Singapore. With Norwegian partners, we have successfully organised three editions of the International Maritime and Port Technology and Development Conference (MTEC). It has been well received as a platform for knowledge exchange and community building. This year, MTEC is held in conjunction with the International Conference for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, (ICMASS) at Singapore Maritime Week. This combined conference has garnered more than 130 abstract submissions from 24 countries, spanning topics such as smart shipping, decarbonisation and maritime safety.
In 2021, both Mærsk and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping entered an MOU with Keppel Offshore and Marine, Sumitomo Corporation, and Fleet Management Limited, among others. They aim to complete a supply chain feasibility study on green ammonia ship-to-ship bunkering in Singapore by 2025. The centre has also signed an MOU with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation.
Two start-ups: Kanda has secured S$2 million in seed funding from Eastern Pacific Shipping and Tech-stars; while Riverr has secured US$1 million in seed funding from KSL Maritime Ventures and SEEDS Capital.
Wartsila has been a key partner in smart and green shipping technology. With sea trials completed in 2020, the Intellitug was one of the first Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) trialled in our port waters. Riding on the good progress, Wartsila and MPA have extended their MOU, to collaborate on just-in-time port operations, e-Navigation inter-operability and secure port-to-ship data exchanges. With 5G networks to be rolled out in our waters, we can expect to see even more of such operations.
Keppel and ABB are developing an autonomous tug. She congratulated the consortium on successfully completing trials in March, and on being the first vessel to obtain the MPA SRS Smart (Autonomous) notation.
Today, the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) and the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) signed an MOU. It will catalyse collaboration between the two research communities in common areas of interest, such as maritime informatics, supply chain innovation & efficiency, decarbonisation & sustainability, as well as safety & security. This will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship between the maritime research ecosystems.
Conclusion
Ms Quah ended by thanking the Nordic partners here for their support over the years. Nordic countries have always been a front-runner in decarbonisation and technological advancement. Singapore is ready to be a living lab, to trial and upscale technology at the global level. She looks forward to more such exchanges to make this transition and transformation together.
For more highlights on Nordic Maritime 2022 –
Nordic Maritime 2022: Green Transition to a Sustainable Ocean Economy - click here
Nordic Maritime 2022: Close-up Interviews with Maritime Experts from the Nordics and Singapore - click here