As a leading global maritime hub, Singapore is driving innovation to prepare its maritime sector for the challenges of the future. Dr. Shahrin Osman, Director, DNV Maritime Decarbonization and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence (Asia Pacific) & Business Development Director, Maritime Advisory, DNV, explores how DNV has been instrumental in supporting these efforts, providing crucial expertise in decarbonization, digitalization, technology, and talent development: 

Singapore owes its role as the world’s largest transshipment hub not only to its privileged location at the intersection of major sea routes but also to its long-standing policy of fostering a business-friendly environment and providing state-of-the-art infrastructure. According to the 2024 Leading Maritime Cities report published jointly by DNV and Menon Economics, Singapore continues to be the world’s leading maritime city, followed by Rotterdam and London.

Building a smart maritime nation through advanced technical and digital capabilities

The ambition of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Maritime Singapore – the umbrella name of the city’s maritime ecosystem – doesn’t stop there.

Singapore is pursuing a bold innovation strategy, investing in the green transformation and digital technologies, and has taken a leading position in the maritime energy transition. The MPA’s Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050 documents a comprehensive sustainability strategy.

“Singapore aspires to become a ‘smart maritime nation’ with strong capabilities across all areas of expertise,” explains Dr Shahrin Osman, Director, Maritime Decarbonization and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence and Business Development Director, DNV Maritime Advisory. “To realize this ambition, Singapore depends on the availability of advanced technical and digital knowledge, practical experience, and skilled professionals.”

DNV helps to advance Maritime Singapore’s transition

DNV has been a partner to the MPA and Maritime Singapore for many years, providing crucial support to the local maritime industry in multiple ways. DNV’s Maritime Decarbonization and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence (CoE), established in 2021, cooperates closely with the MPA and other maritime stakeholders, delivering expert advisory and data analytics services with a focus on digitalization, decarbonization, and smart shipping. Drawing on DNV’s global resources, the CoE brings its knowledge and experience into the local context and helps Singapore-based organizations get future-ready, says Osman.

For example, DNV has been commissioned by a number of stakeholders to produce reports and feasibility studies to help accelerate decarbonization efforts in Singapore and the greater region. Additionally, in 2025, DNV signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) to advance ESG and sustainability initiatives in Singapore’s maritime sector, with a strong focus on SMEs.

“Through strong collaboration with industry partners such as DNV and the wider Maritime Singapore ecosystem, MPA is advancing digitalization, decarbonization, and innovation to realize our vision of a future-ready global hub port and competitive international maritime centre,” said Ng Yi Han, Director, Innovation, Technology & Talent Development / Chief Transformation Officer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Partnerships for a smart, sustainable, and future-ready maritime sector

In November 2025, the MPA and DNV renewed their MoU, reaffirming their partnership for the advancement of Singapore’s maritime sector to accelerate the adoption of zero- and near-zero-emission fuels, promote decarbonization technologies, and advance smart-ship systems.

DNV also collaborates closely with other local bodies, including the Singapore Maritime Foundation, which fosters public–private cooperation and supports the local maritime sector in a multitude of ways, the SSA, and tertiary institutions, providing expertise on innovative technologies and applied research as well as support in pilot projects and capability development.

The Singapore Maritime Foundation co-sponsored a DNV study on the future of seafarers to examine the key drivers transforming the maritime industry and their impact on ship management and seafarers. 

Decarbonization: Enabling a connected, future-ready maritime sector

With the goal of establishing an environmentally sustainable maritime Singapore, the MPA aims for Singapore’s domestic harbour craft to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Simultaneously, the authority is building up ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol value chains in addition to its thriving LNG bunkering infrastructure to offer the international shipping industry a range of sustainable fuel options. To further support decarbonization, Singapore has established nine bilateral green and digital shipping corridors to major ports globally. With its profound expertise in alternative fuels, DNV has been supporting these efforts by providing key studies on topics such as ammonia bunkering safety or seafarer skill requirements. For the non-profit Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, which supports the decarbonization of the maritime sector through pilots and trials, DNV prepared the Safety and Operational Guidelines for Piloting Ammonia Bunkering in Singapore study. Furthermore, DNV’s CoE adopted a comprehensive decarbonization approach for the city state’s entire maritime ecosystem, including yards, technology providers, shipowners, academia, and local authorities.

Other recent projects include a bespoke decarbonization plan including a comprehensive computational fluid dynamics analysis to help AET Tankers transition to low-carbon operations, as well as a vessel electrification feasibility study for Anglo American exploring the potential conversion of the craft operated by Singapore’s non-profit Waterways Watch Society to battery-powered operation. Furthermore, the CoE has supported the Singapore-based OCBC Bank, the first bank in Asia to adopt the Poseidon Principles, in reporting on sustainable maritime financing.

Digitalization: DNV supports remote operations and autonomous shipping

Harnessing the potential of advanced digital technologies is a key objective for Singapore’s maritime sector. Collaboration with the DNV CoE occurs at many levels. For example, in an extension to their MoU, the MPA and DNV agreed to conduct joint research and development and perform trials of remote operations and autonomous ships at the Port of Singapore. 

DNV’s industry-leading expertise in autonomous shipping is of great interest to the MPA. DNV has played a key part in the commercialization of autonomous ships in Norway, most notably with the certification and classification of three autonomous vessels for Massterly. “We began looking at autonomous shipping research more than 12 years ago with our ReVolt project,” reports Osman. “We have helped industry partners to operationalize it successfully and are able to bring this knowledge to our Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence. And we can bring it to the industry as well as to the educational sector quickly.”

Assurance framework enabling scalable, futureready remote operations

In another recent move, DNV brought its global Remote Operations Centre audit framework to the local market in Singapore, engaging in a joint development project with Seatrium, a homegrown provider of specialised engineering solutions for the global offshore, marine, and energy sectors.

“We are assuring Seatrium’s remote operations centre to enable the company to provide remote operation services – monitoring of on-board machinery health – to customers around the world,” explains Osman. Seatrium’s AssetCare suite is a digital platform that shifts maritime and offshore operations from reactive maintenance to a data‑driven, predictive model. In recent months, Seatrium has advanced the platform’s capabilities from remote monitoring to remote operation to further enhance the safety, operability, and efficiency of these assets.

DNV takes the role of a force multiplier

“DNV’s audit framework provides rigorous assurance to our remote operation services backed by the highest levels of technical competence,” says Lim Shih Hsien, Executive Vice President (Cyber IT & OT), Seatrium. “Through this joint development project with DNV, Seatrium is able to set new benchmarks for remote operation services under our AssetCare suite. It allows us to scale our digital offerings globally, while empowering us to deploy innovative remote operation solutions that keep the global fleet safe, efficient, and future-ready.” In this new approach, DNV acts as a “force multiplier”: the customer builds up a specific capability, then DNV provides assurance that the customer is competent and qualified to provide these remote services to the asset operators. 

Talent development: Sharing expertise to educate the next generation of seafarers

The success of Singapore’s ambition to become a smart maritime nation hinges on the availability of well-educated and experienced professionals, Osman stresses. “Companies can only be strong if they have a talent pipeline. There is a global shortage of skilled maritime professionals, and Singapore is not an exception. This is why we decided to partner with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to support its Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering course, the only undergraduate programme in Singapore that provides the technical knowledge the maritime industry needs.” DNV has the breadth and depth of maritime science and practical industry knowledge at its disposal to understand what students need to know today and what the future will require, he adds. “We are happy to contribute our knowledge to the education of the next generation of maritime professionals and share our first-hand insights,” says Osman.

In August 2025, the SIT and DNV renewed their MoU on their collaboration in maritime education, applied research, and innovation, with decarbonization, digitalization, and talent development as new focal topics. The SIT has also signed an MoU with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, another frequent cooperation partner of DNV. Furthermore, there are preparatory talks under way for DNV to contribute to an advanced learning programme in Singapore.

Enabling Singapore’s maritime ecosystem to own the future

DNV sees itself as a holistic solutions provider to the industry, says Osman: “We not only work with shipping companies and yards, but also across the value chain, including ports, maritime finance, cargo owners/charterers, as well as academia, local authorities, and other maritime organizations. We enable companies in Singapore to develop new business models and new capabilities. This is how Maritime Singapore will strengthen its position, by being able to offer new products, services, and solutions to its international customers.”

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 1 April, 2026