Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority (MPA) and DNV GL have launched a new initiative designed to help shipping address decarbonisation and digital transformation.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) in Singapore on Wednesday by MPA chief executive Quah Ley Hoon and DNV-GL chief executive Remi Eriksen.
The three-year R&D collaboration is set to target several areas including market and technical feasibility research of low and zero carbon ship fuels such as Bio-LNG, as well as battery and battery-hybrid for short-sea applications.
Autonomous and remote controlled ships as well as shore-based operation and control centres will also be on the agenda.
As will new maritime business and operation models utilising additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for ship spares and blockchain technologies for port and shipping processes.
Decarbonisation and digitalisation are two important trends shaping the maritime industry
DNV-GL CEO Remi Eriksen
The collaboration effort also aims to curate “maritime-related thought leadership forums” to foster closer collaboration and exchange of views between the public and private sectors.
“The operating environment ahead for the maritime industry will be defined by three trends - digitalisation, disruption and decarbonization,” said MPA CEO Quah Ley Hoon.
“The unprecedented pace of change we face today would affect maritime trade flows, transform business models and impact our collective commitment to sustainability.
“These demands present the global maritime community with opportunities to come together and cooperate on these issues.”
DNV-GL CEO Remi Eriksen added: “Decarbonisation and digitalisation are two important trends shaping the maritime industry.
“This agreement highlights the emphasis that MPA Singapore and DNV GL place on technological innovation and by working together we will unlock the potential of low and zero carbon shipping, autonomy as wells as smart port ecosystems.”
Separately, the MPA also launched a new digital portal that will serve as a “one-stop portal” for maritime regulatory and port services transactions.
The digitalPORT@SG, which was launched by Singapore’s deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat, will be developed in two phases.
The first phase will allow users to obtain approval for all arriving and departing ships from three public agencies, consolidate up to 16 separate forms into a single application.
The MPA estimates that this feature alone will save the shipping industry an estimated 100,000 man-hours annually.
Phase two will see the system enhanced to also serve as a single digital shopfront for booking terminal and marine services, facilitating just-in-time (JIT) operations for optimal vessel passage planning within Singapore port. These enhancements are expected to be operational from 2021.
