Classification society DNV on Tuesday (21 April) launched Phase Two of its Centre of Excellence for Maritime Decarbonization & Smart Shipping Asia Pacific (COE) in Singapore, reinforcing its commitment to advancing energy efficiency, new marine fuels, remote operations, and autonomous solutions, across the maritime sector. 

Supported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Singapore Economic Development Board, the expanded centre reinforces Singapore’s position as a global hub for smart and sustainable maritime transformation.

First launched in 2021, Phase 2 of the Centre’s rollout marked a shift from developing pilot projects to building scalable platforms focussed on the acceleration of maritime decarbonization and the broader adoption of smart shipping systems and processes. 

As part of this new scope, the COE will support projects that are working on developing next generation remote operation systems, AI enabled decision-making tools, and workload redistribution that helps safely to move complex tasks from ship to shore.

The expanded COE will bring additional local experts with expertise in autonomy, cyber security, remote operations centres, and emissions and data management, to support Singapore based maritime entities in developing and scaling remote and automated solutions through targeted training, advisory services and standards development.

Antony M DSouza, Regional President & Director, Southeast Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime at DNV, said: “Phase 2 places us in a stronger position to support the industry at a time when the maritime industry’s transition to new fuels and new technologies is gaining pace. Advanced digital capabilities are enabling new ways of planning and managing fleets, while remote operations and autonomy are slowly gaining traction.

Ng Yi Han, Senior Director, Innovation, Technology & Talent Development / Chief Transformation Officer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, added: “DNV’s Phase 2 expansion of its Centre of Excellence will strengthen capabilities in remote operations, AI-enabled systems and new fuels in Singapore. This will support companies here in developing and deploying scalable solutions, and accelerate the adoption of safer and more efficient operations across the sector.” 

Junie Fo, Vice President & Head, Professional Services at Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB), noted: “Through its Phase 2 COE, DNV will build up expanded capabilities and solutions to support the maritime industry’s transition towards smarter and more sustainable operations, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a leading hub for trusted technical assurance services. This will also create new opportunities for our local talent to build deeper functional expertise, while expanding capabilities across the professional services ecosystem.”

With its strong maritime ecosystem, Singapore is well placed to lead this transformation – especially in the digital realm. The expansion of our Centre of Excellence allows us to work closely with partners to strengthen the knowledge, frameworks and assurance needed for more sustainable, efficient, and competitive maritime operations.”

Dr. Shahrin Osman, Director of the COE, said: “This next phase allows us to move from testing individual concepts to building readiness across the wider system. Remote operations and autonomy require more than technical progress; they must be built on models that are backed by trusted assurance. That’s why our work in Singapore focuses on developing methods, standards, and practical guidances that will help owners, operators, and regulators introduce and make the most of these capabilities in a responsible way.”

Phase 2 will help the COE act as an even greater force multiplier for the Singaporean maritime sector by enabling companies to create new business models based around smart shipping. A recent example is DNV’s application of its global Remote Operations Assurance (ROA) audit framework in a joint development project with Seatrium. The ROA assessment supported Seatrium’s advancement of its AssetCare platform, taking it from remote monitoring to remote control operations, demonstrating how the COE can help industry partners build new capabilities and unlock opportunities.

In its first phase, the COE conducted several feasibility studies, technical assessments and advisory work commissioned by government agencies and industry stakeholders. 

Key projects included a vessel‑electrification feasibility study for Anglo American in support of the Waterways Watch Society, safe ammonia bunkering guidelines developed for the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, and a joint study with the Singapore Maritime Foundation examining the future of seafarers. The COE also partnered with local organizations such as the MPA and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and other stakeholders on applied research, pilot projects, and capability‑building efforts in decarbonization, digitalization, and emerging maritime technologies.

Related: DNV: Powering Singapore’s journey into a smart and sustainable future

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 22 April, 2026