Singapore is to join the Clydebank Declaration for Clean Shipping Corridors which is seeking to create green shipping corridors between two or more port pairs.
The announcement was made by Singapore’s minister for transport S Iswaran at the opening ceremony of Singapore Maritime Week.
The initiative was launched by the UK at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) in November last year.
It aims to establish green shipping corridors between ports by deploying zero-emission vessel technologies on voyages, or alternative fuel and charging infrastructure in ports.
Iswaran said Singapore “supports initiatives among like-minded partners that seek to galvanise action towards more ambitious outcomes”.
“Decarbonisation is but one of the myriad challenges that lie ahead. We need our combined capabilities, across nations and importantly, from both the public and private sectors, to chart a path forward for the maritime sector,” he added.
Singapore also announced the establishment of a Maritime International Advisory Panel (IAP) to provide “global perspectives” on the future of the maritime industry and supply chains.
The panel comprises 12 cross-sector global business leaders with diverse perspectives on key trends shaping the maritime industry.
Shipping executives on the panel include Yang Zhijian, chairman and managing director of Cosco Shipping Lines; Stephen Fewster, global head of ship finance, ING Bank; Vitol Asia president Mike Muller; PSA International group chairman Peter Voser; DNV chief executive Remi Eriksen; Wartsila chief executive Hakan Agnevall, and AP Moller-Maersk chief technology officer Palle Laursen.
The panel, which will be headed by Iswaran, will also include representations from Kuehne+Nagel, Proctor & Gamble, IBM and the Boston Consulting Group.
“The disruptions from the pandemic have highlighted the importance of having a connected and resilient global maritime supply chain,” said Iswaran.
“It is critical to keep global supply chains flowing to bring supplies and goods to countries and people who need them.
“As more countries in the world open up their economy and transit to living with Covid-19, it is also important that we pay heed to the driving forces that are shaping the future of the maritime sector.”
Maritime Port Authority chief executive Quah Ley Hoon said: “As a leading global hub port and international maritime centre, Singapore is a key node in the global supply chain.
“The Maritime IAP will provide us with important insights on how we can continue to strengthen our value proposition to the global maritime industry and supply chains.”
