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Singapore Maritime Foundation holds New Year Conversations 2024

SMF Chairman Mr. Hor Weng Yew affirmed SMF’s commitment to further strengthen Singapore’s value proposition as a leading international maritime centre

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Singapore Maritime Foundation holds New Year Conversations 2024

The Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) on Friday (12 January) marked 20 years of building strong public-private partnership at the SMF New Year Conversations 2024 held at Pan Pacific Singapore.

Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour and addressed 280 industry leaders representing the diverse segments of Singapore’s maritime ecosystem.

Building on the strong foundation established over the past two decades, SMF said it is continuing in expanding its programmes and intensifying efforts to promote Singapore as an international maritime centre, and to develop a talent pipeline to meet the evolving needs of the industry as transformation gathers pace.

On the talent development front, a record 60 MaritimeONE Scholarships were awarded in 2023 by SMF and 31 partners from industry, foundations, and unions. Since its inception in 2007, SMF and its partners have awarded close to 600 scholarships, with a sponsorship value of SGD 16 million.

To augment the scholarships and to provide the youths with opportunities for experiential learning, SMF in 2022 launched the MaritimeONE Internship Programme. Over the past two years, SMF placed more than 100 students in nearly 70 leading maritime companies. Likewise, the MaritimeONE case competitions, which connect students with maritime business and plug them into topical issues such as the intersection of technology and sustainability, have seen robust interest among the tertiary talent pool with a record 345 registrations in 2023.

To give impetus to the industry’s drive to draw youths and young adults to the sector, SMF in 2022 began the “Own Your Future” digital campaign. As a measure of the campaign’s reach, the series of nine videos produced have been collectively viewed nearly 1.9 million times.

Finally, to spur workforce transformation, SMF in 2023 co-sponsored “The Future of Seafarers 2030: A Decade of Transformation” study with DNV to examine the impact of decarbonisation and digitalisation on sea-going professionals, and launched the “Maritime Workforce Transformation Guide” with Pacific Carriers Limited and Pacific International Lines as pilot companies to testbed the usefulness of job redesign to enhance the career development of a technical superintendent and vessel operator.

In his welcome address, SMF Chairman Mr. Hor Weng Yew affirmed SMF’s commitment to further strengthen Singapore’s value proposition as a leading international maritime centre by enhancing interconnectedness within the maritime ecosystem and building linkages with other ecosystems beyond maritime. 

He also announced the formation of the first Maritime Mediators Panel (MMP) by the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA) and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC). 

Drawn from the panels of both institutions, the inaugural panel aims to promote mediation as an alternative means of resolution of maritime and international trading disputes. The cross-institutional collaboration will further augment Singapore’s maritime dispute resolution landscape and strengthen its value proposition as a leading international maritime centre.

Another highlight was a panel discussion, which discussed a range of topics germane to the maritime community including the global and regional business outlook for the industry amid an increasingly complex operating environment intensified by competition and geopolitical risks, as well the evolving dynamics of the maritime workforce.

Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, SMF, said: “SMF has made a meaningful contribution to Maritime Singapore’s ecosystem over the past 20 years. We have and will continue to transform ourselves to be relevant to our stakeholders while being guided by our mission to strengthen Singapore as an international maritime centre and to build a talent pool to meet the evolving needs of the industry.”

“I believe the next phase for SMF’s evolution is to be a conduit for Maritime Singapore and other ecosystems beyond maritime. I thank our partners for supporting the work of SMF for the collective good. We will continue to build on this strong foundation of partnership and trust to do more to advance Maritime Singapore.”

 

Photo credit: Singapore Maritime Foundation
Published: 15 January, 2024

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Winding up

Singapore: High Court to hear Norvic Shipping Asia winding up application on 31 July

Application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to Government Gazette notice.

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RESIZED singapore high court

An application for the winding up of Norvic Shipping Asia Pte Ltd was filed by Netherlands-registered Mur Shipping BV on 8 April, according to a Tuesday (21 July) notice on the Government Gazette.

It noted the winding up application is directed to be heard before the Judge sitting in the General Division of the High Court at 10am on 31 July.

Any creditor or contributory of the company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the winding up application may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose.

A copy of the winding up application will be furnished to any creditor or contributory of the company requiring the copy of the winding up application by the solicitors of the applicant’s, Oon & Bazul LLC, on payment of the regulated charge for the same.

The Applicant’s address is Hiridostraat 5, Gebouw Prismatrium, 1101CW Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Applicant’s solicitors are Oon & Bazul LLC of 103 Penang Rd, #04-04/05/06 Singapore 238467. 

Queries on the winding up application may be directed to the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

 

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.

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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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