The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has signed multiple collaborations with partners in a bid to hasten the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.
Maritime leaders and industry professionals recently gathered in person and online for the "Accelerating Decarbonisation Conference" organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) which was launched jointly with the International Maritime and Port Technology and Development Conference (MTEC) and International Conference for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (ICMASS).
Norwegian Ambassador to Singapore, His Excellency Eivind S. Homme, delivered a keynote speech noting how Singapore and Norway, as two of the leading maritime nations in the world, should cooperate to address challenges and grasp opportunities in the future maritime industry.
At MTEC and ICMASS, thought leaders shared the latest maritime research and development (R&D) in technical sessions on Green Ports, Maritime Digitalisation, Connectivity & Cybersecurity, Smart and Autonomous Shipping, and Maritime Safety.
Partnerships to propel maritime decarbonisation
At the event, MPA signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with two green shipping consortiums on the ammonia value chain.
The first MoU, signed with ITOCHU Corporation, ITOCHU Enex, MOL, Pavilion Energy, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels, and VOPAK Terminals, will seek to establish an ammonia fuel supply chain, including an on-shore and/or off-shore facility and an ammonia bunkering ship in Singapore.
MPA said the second MoU with ITOCHU and 15 other Port Authorities, R&D centres, and shipping and energy companies, will establish a platform for the parties to exchange views and harmonise ammonia bunkering safety guidelines in the respective ports.
Meanwhile, the third MoU with the SABRE consortium, comprising the American Bureau of Shipping, Fleet Management Limited, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K-Line"), Keppel O&M, A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S, Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, and Sumitomo Corporation, will work on development works to establish an integrated ammonia supply chain, with the goal to commence ammonia bunkering within this decade.
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) also signed three partnership agreements to further collaboration in maritime decarbonisation at the Sustainability Conference.
The first integrated energy company to sign on as a Strategic Partner, has committed S$10 million (US$7.36 million)in cash over 5 years.
The Boston Consulting Group and Chevron will bring a further S$15 million (US$11.3 million) in cash and in-kind contributions through Impact Partnerships.
"These resources, in addition to the S$130 million (US$95.62 million) from the founding and strategic partners, will go towards strengthening GCMD's decarbonisation efforts, especially in conducting trials and pilots," MPA said in its announcement.
GCMD also signed on with the International Chamber of Shipping as well as the Singapore Shipping Association as Coalition Partners, which will allow GCMD to tap on the respective association's extensive stakeholder network and expertise.
"In our rapidly evolving interconnected world, we need international partnerships and a robust ecosystem of partners to decarbonise. On a parallel track, we also continue to innovate the future of shipping operations with autonomous shipping being one of the long-term targets, to build resilience in the maritime sector," said Kenneth Lim, assistant chief executive (Industry) of MPA.
