Green energy solutions firm Ken Energy has signed a letter of intent with the Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA) on Monday (24 April) to purchase fully-electric supply (e-supply) boats from offshore marine engineering company PaxOcean. 

The e-supply boats will be one of the first zero-emissions electric vessels to operate in the region and amongst the first to be designed, built and deployed in Singapore.  

PaxOcean has designed and engineered the first-generation e-supply boat PXO-EXL-1, which will play an integral role in supporting coastal ships’ supply deliveries with improved energy and operational efficiencies. The e-supply vessel has received in-principle approval from the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), Bureau Veritas Marine, and Registro Italiano Navale (RINA).  

Additionally, PaxOcean and CSA member Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine Singapore (TCOMS) are collaborating to create digital twins of the electric vessels, thus enabling optimal operational performance while considering the various metocean conditions in which the ship will operate. 

Mr Desmond Chong, Managing Director of Ken Energy, said, “In our focus of developing and implementing green energy solutions, we aim to advance the use of renewable energy and alternative fuels, as a means of reducing emissions and promoting a more sustainable and greener environment.”

“As a start, we are looking into reducing our carbon footprint by exploring the use of PXO e-supply vessels to supply provisions and ship spares to our own fleet of bunker tankers. By adopting new technologies and ship designs, we anticipate a boost in optimisation for a more efficient marine supply chain.”  

The PXO e-supply vessels are expected to operate in tandem with the charging electric infrastructure network made available in partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Jurong Port. This deployment is ahead of MPA’s directive that all new harbour crafts must be fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuel or compatible with net-zero fuels by 2030.  

Mr Tan Thai Yong, Chief Executive Officer, PaxOcean and Chairperson, CSA Council, said, “The commitment from Ken Energy to acquire the PXO e-supply boats is a significant recognition of the impact that the Coastal Sustainability Alliance’s collective strengths can have in transforming Singapore’s coastal maritime ecosystem to be future-ready.”

“As the innovators, designers, and builders of these locally-customised vessels, CSA members are immensely encouraged by the global interest and support for the PXO e-vessel series. Our galvanised efforts are gaining traction among industry players, and we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of Singapore’s maritime supply chain and ecosystem.” 

Besides the commercial sale of the PXO e-vessels, CSA is also working on a demand consolidation system with major ship owners and managers to increase operational and cost efficiencies. This will be achieved through optimised routing and utilisation of return vessels, thus reducing voyage costs. 

In line with CSA’s objectives to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs in Singapore and uplift the maritime industry’s value chain, over 70% of the e-supply boat components are sourced from local SMEs. This will generate business opportunities for at least seven SMEs, resulting in a more resilient maritime business ecosystem. 

Commenting on CSA’s progress to date, Mr Tan said, “We have made significant progress in the five strategic areas outlined in our mission to systematically decarbonise Singapore’s maritime ecosystem in a coherent and comprehensive manner.”

“These include designing and building electric vessels, improving supply chain resilience to uplift SME capabilities, establishing electric charging infrastructure, optimising fleet and maritime logistics and creating career growth opportunities and skills training. We welcome interested parties to reach out to us to explore how we can collaborate and create a more sustainable maritime industry.” 

Mr Kenneth Lim, Assistant Chief Executive (Industry and Transformation) of MPA, said: “We are heartened to see harbourcraft electrification gathering momentum and look forward to engaging Ken Energy and CSA early on the vessel design to optimise them for deployment in the local environment. Such close collaborations with these like-minded partners will help accelerate decarbonisation to meet Singapore’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”

Related: Singapore harbourcraft will need to reach net-zero emissions by 2050

Photo credit: PaxOcean
Published: 25 April, 2023