Business

MPA develops MarineTech Start-up Playbook to support maritime sector

Playbook contains information on support schemes and programmes in Singapore relating to capital, talent, technology R&D resources for MarineTech start-ups.

Published

5 years ago

November 26, 2021

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday (24 November) announced the launching of the MarineTech Start-up Playbook for Marine Technology (MarineTech) firms.

The MPA-developed playbook contains information on support schemes and programmes in Singapore relating to capital, talent, technology R&D resources for MarineTech start-ups.

MPA aims to support 150 start-ups by 2025, an increase from the earlier target of 100, as part of enhanced plans to develop the MarineTech ecosystem.

Enhancements to develop maritime start-ups were announced by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport, at the Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2021 Grand Final.

With over 40 active MarineTech companies, Singapore provides an enabling environment for tech talents to bring their innovative ideas to spur transformation efforts in the maritime sector.

To build on the success of PIER71 TM (Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71) in supporting entrepreneurs from ideation to acceleration, MPA and NUS Enterprise have agreed to renew its collaboration for another three years.

Ascend, a 12-month by-invitation programme to support the scaling of mature start-ups and groom them into global champions, will be launched under PIER71TM.

MarineTech start-ups can now be linked up with NUS’ Industry Liaison Office and tech experts working on maritime-related fields for mentorship and expertise to bring their solutions to the cutting edge.

To grow the number of MarineTech companies and strengthen access to funding, MPA will extend the eligibility criteria of MINT-STARTUP grant to start-ups identified under recognised partner programmes in Singapore.

The programmes are Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) Ventures, Ocean of Opportunities (O3) Challenge by Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Symphony Creative Solutions (SCS), PSA unboXed and Rainmaking Innovation. There will be stepped up engagement with the Venture Capital community with the launch of investor networking and pitching events.

In the next stage of MPA’s digitalOCEANS initiative, the first version of the application programming interface (API) specifications for port clearance have been developed.

MarineTech start-ups and other players can also tailor its products to utilise the common, inter-operable APIs, to develop port clearance related solutions, and potentially expand the market reach to more ports, shipping lines and other supply chain companies.

Memorandum of understanding between MPA and Wärtsilä on system interoperability and data sharing

At the event, Mr Chee also witnessed the virtual signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between MPA and Wärtsilä.

Under the MOU, both parties will embark on a new data sharing collaboration that facilitate interoperability between MPA’s one-stop portal for arriving ships, digitalPORT@SG and Wärtsilä’s Navi-Port shipboard system, to enable timely vessel arrival to the Port of Singapore for Just-In-Time (JIT) operations and sustainable shipping.

The collaboration will also include strengthening secure data exchanges between the Port of Singapore and participating vessels’ shipboard systems to support the acceleration of digitalisation in the maritime industry.

Mr Koh Chin Yong, Chief Information Officer and Acting Director (IT), MPA, said: “At MPA, we have been leading the development and implementation of digital port clearance technology to improve efficiency in the world’s leading hub port.”

“This collaboration with industry partners like Wärtsilä, using its Navi-Port for Just-in-Time planning and coordination on the digitalPORT platform, further solidifies our commitment towards digitalisation to support port-to-port optimisation and maritime decarbonisation.”

Mr Chris Chung, Director of Digital Innovation and Strategic Projects, Wärtsilä Voyage, said: “Together, we will work with other industry stakeholders, such as Wärtsilä’s customers whose vessels would be calling at the Port of Singapore.”

“Subject to their consent, we will use the vessel’s nautical data to test-bed reliable and secure information exchanges using applications like Wärtsilä Navi-Port. This will help implement standard Application Programming Interface (API) between participating vessels and MPA’s Just-In-Time (JIT) coordination platforms such as digitalPORT and digitalOCEANS to enable optimal arrival and departure of vessels from the port.”

Note: The playbook can be downloaded at:

https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/maritime-companies/research-development/marinetech-start-up-playbook

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 26 November, 2021

Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

10 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd to be wound up voluntarily

Coastal Logistics was reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Published

10 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

Several resolutions for Coastal Logistics Pte Ltd were made during an extraordinary general meeting held on 14 July, according to a notice in the Government Gazette on Friday (4 July).

The following resolutions were duly passed during the meeting:

As Special Resolution

That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and accordingly the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (No. 40 of 2018);

As Ordinary Resolutions

that Mr. Wong Pheng Cheong Martin and Ms. Koay May Yee, both care of FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd, One Raffles Quay, #27-10 South Tower, Singapore 048583 be appointed as the joint and several Liquidators of the Company for the purpose of such winding up; and
that the Liquidators be at liberty to open, maintain and operate any bank account(s) or account(s) for monies received by them as Liquidators with such bank(s) as they deem fit; and
that a Committee of Inspection will not be formed.

Manifold Times previously reported Nicholas James Gronow, director of Heng Tong Fuels & Shipping and Coastal Logistics, filed statutory declarations for both companies stating the firms cannot continue their businesses due to liabilities.

Both companies were reportedly affiliated with troubled Singapore bunker player Coastal Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

In 2019, several vessels owned by both firms entered the sale & purchase (S&P) market in Singapore.

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

10 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026