Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai on Monday (24 March) said Singapore will launch a new standard for electric harbour crafts this week as part of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) efforts in facilitating decarbonisation for domestic harbour craft to achieve the republic’s national target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“MPA and Enterprise Singapore will launch the new Technical Reference 136 this week to provide guidelines for the development and operation of charging and battery swap systems for electric harbour craft,” Murali said during his speech at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Maritime Week 2025 (SMW 2025). 

“This will enhance the safety and interoperability of electric harbour craft charging infrastructure.”

This is one of the initiatives MPA is undertaking to prepare for the bunkering of alternative marine fuels and decarbonising Singapore’s domestic maritime sector.

The minister said Singapore is taking steps to support the use of various fuels by the industry and position Singapore as a leading bunkering hub for alternative fuels.

“Over the past two years, we have supported trials of alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol. These have contributed to the development of new technical references and IMO guidelines to enable the safe and efficient use of these marine fuels,” he said.

“MPA and Enterprise Singapore published the new Technical Reference 129 on Methanol Bunkering earlier this month, and we plan to launch a new standard for ammonia bunkering later this year.”

He added MPA has also recently allowed licensed bunker tankers to carry and deliver biofuels up to B30. 

“Pilots for up to B100 are ongoing, and we welcome bunker suppliers to engage in these pilots,” he said.

At the opening ceremony of SMW 2025, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, together with Murali, also launched Singapore’s first Maritime Digital Twin, an advanced simulation model developed by MPA in partnership with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) that integrates real-time data to enhance decision-making and improve management of maritime operations in Singapore waters.

Murali said the digital twin will integrate data from different sources and provide a platform for information sharing. This will enable the development of tools to optimise port efficiency and reliability above, at and below the sea surface.

“For example, the digital twin will enable scenario simulations and dispersion modelling, which can inform standard operating procedures for the safe bunkering of alternative fuels such as methanol and ammonia,” he said.

The minister added MPA will roll out the digital twin to pilot users later this year, before progressive implementation for the wider industry. 

“In future, we can extend this to the global maritime ecosystem through our Green and Digital Shipping Corridors with other countries and ports,” he said. 

Related: Singapore-registered bunker tankers can transport up to B30 biofuels from 7 March
Related: Singapore releases new standard on methanol bunkering, gears up for multi-fuel future

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of SingaporePublished: 24 March, 2025

Shine Consultant, the organiser of Green ShipTech Innovation Asia Summit 2025, on Thursday (20 March) announced the line-up of speakers for the event to explore the new trends in the shipping industry. 

With over 300 attendees expected to attend, the Green ShipTech Innovation Asia Summit 2025 will be held in Shanghai, China, on 16 May. 

Themed Diversified Innovation for Sustainable Green Transformation, the summit will host a main forum called Green Development Strategies and Pioneer Practices Towards Zero Carbon Goals and two sub-forums, Green Shipbuilding and Retrofitting Forum and Green Shipping Ecosystem Cooperation Forum. 

It will focus on key issues such as low-carbon ship construction and transformation, the latest green technology equipment, alternative marine fuel selections and supply status and digital ship management technology. 

Speakers for the summit include:

• Li Zhengjian, Chief Expert/Senior Engineer, the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
• Karim Fahssis, Decarbonization China Head, Maersk
• Lu Yanhui, Vice President, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd
• Liu Jianfeng, Chief Technologist, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., LTD.
• Li Zhonggang, Vice President, China Ship Design & Research Center Com.,Ltd.(CSDC)
• Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
• Keiichiro Nakanishi, Managing Executive Officer, MOL(Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.)
• Sun Haihua, Deputy Director of Shanghai Arbitration Commission, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of Shanghai International Shipping Center Development and Promotion Organization
• Yan Wei, Vice President, Shanghai Maritime University
• Ye Mao, Deputy President of the Design Research Institute, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., LTD.
• Wee Meng Tan, Chief Projects Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
• Yuan Chao, General Manager of Equipment, CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited
• Zhang Yunxing, Head of the Ballast Water Convention Research Office, Hebei Maritime Safety Administration
• Zhang Yong, Vice President, Shanghai Academy of Development & Reform
• Gou Yingdi, Director of Sustainable Development and General Manager of the Technology and Development (Innovation) Center, Seacon Shipping Group
• Zhao Cuiyun, Deputy Director of the Institute for the Construction of the Shipping Center and Director of the Green Shipping Research Office, Shanghai International Shipping Institute
• Cao Xianfeng, Deputy Chief Digital Planner, COSCO Shipping (Qidong) Offshore Co., Ltd

Conference Framework

May 16 (am) 

Plenary Session: Green Development Strategies and Pioneer Practices Towards Zero Carbon Goals

May 16 (pm)

Sub-Forum I: Green Shipbuilding and Retrofitting Forum
Sub-Forum II: Green Shipping Ecosystem Cooperation Forum

Key Topics

• Maritime regulatory focus under policy guidance towards zero-carbon goals
• Global green ship type product key technologies and applications
• Analysis of paths to improve the efficiency of existing ships
• How shipping companies can achieve sustainable green transformation
• Innovative design methods for green ship types
• Development and design of methanol dual-fuel ship types
• Innovation and application of ship engines and propulsion systems
• Technological application and outlook of wind energy as auxiliary power for ships
• Prospects and challenges of ammonia fuel application
• Innovation in new marine fuels and supply systems
• Upgrading of ship battery systems to meet shipping emission reduction
• Fluid power energy-saving technology and practice to promote the green and low-carbon development of the shipping industry
• Green ship repair, intelligent painting and VOCs management in ship and marine engineering
• Exploration and practice in digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of the ship repair and modification industry
• Practice of ship energy consumption data analysis and carbon intensity management
• SCR technology innovation for NOx reduction in ship diesel engines
• The latest technological applications of "carbon capture" in the shipping industry
• Ballast water management systems in line with international standards
• Shore power systems combined with green electricity to assist shipping decarbonization
• Supply status and choice analysis of the marine green fuel market

Host:

• Shanghai International Shipping Center Development and Promotion Organization

Co-organisers:

• Shanghai Maritime University 
• Shanghai Institute of Navigation
• Jiangsu Association of Shipbuilding Industry
• Jiangsu Society of Naval Architects And Marine Engineers

Supporting Organisations:

• Shanghai Port Association
• Hubei Association of Shipbuilding Industry
• Shanghai International Shipping institute

Interested parties may contact:

Yulia Zhang
T: (+8621) 6095 7179
M:(+86) 158 3615 6079 (Also on WeChat）
E-mail: [email protected] 

Note: More information on the summit, including registration, can be found here. 

Photo credit: Shine Consultant
Published: 21 March, 2025

Classification society DNV on Thursday (20 March) said it recently signed a Joint Industry Project (JIP) agreement with HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hydrogen to develop and validate Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology for carbon capture in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC).

SOFCs are high-efficiency fuel cells that generate electricity using natural gas, ammonia, or hydrogen as fuel. As part of this agreement, HD KSOE and its subsidiary HD Hydrogen will explore the integration of PSA-based carbon capture technology into SOFCs for shipboard power generation. The ultimate goal is to replace conventional ship propulsion and power generation engines with SOFC systems, significantly reducing maritime carbon emissions.

Seunghwan Oh, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at HD Hydrogen, said: "PSA technology is a key enabler in the era of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Integrating this technology with SOFCs, one of the most efficient power generation systems available, can substantially contribute to maritime decarbonization." 

Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager for DNV Korea & Japan, said: "The decarbonization of shipping is a complex challenge, requiring a mix of solutions to bridge the transition to carbon-neutral fuels. Energy efficiency measures and onboard carbon capture technologies can play a crucial role in reducing emissions while the industry works towards securing reliable supplies of alternative fuels. This collaboration represents an important step in exploring practical and scalable carbon reduction strategies for the maritime sector."

PSA technology selectively captures and releases CO2 by cyclically altering pressure within a capture chamber. This approach is expected to be at least 40% more energy-efficient than conventional CO2 absorption technologies used in marine applications.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 21 March, 2025