The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) on Friday (1 December) welcomed the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as an associate member, further strengthening MTF’s collaborative approach to advancing safety and sustainability in the maritime industry.

The founding members of MTF include ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s Register, ClassNK, Japan’s Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Norwegian Maritime Authority and the U.K.’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency. 

As the port authority, maritime and port planner, and National Maritime Representative, MPA plays an important role in driving the global maritime transformation. MPA will bring its regulatory expertise, technology and innovation experience and networks to the partnership with MTF. MPA will also collaborate with the classification societies and Flag States on research and projects in areas such as safe testing, crew training and adoption of alternative marine fuels.

Knut Arild Hareide, Director General of Shipping and Navigation for the Norwegian Maritime Authority, attending and signing on behalf of the MTF founding members, said: “It’s great to have more Flag State representation within MTF, adding to our collective experience and expanding MTF’s global footprint and reach. We will continue to work with all our MTF member partners as we work together to help guide the maritime industry through the challenges ahead.”

Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, said: “MPA is truly a collaborative partner in safety and sustainability across the maritime industry. It is committed to advancing emissions reduction through a variety of measures including green and digital shipping corridors and the use of future fuels. MPA’s fresh perspectives on decarbonisation, digitalisation and automation will be an asset to the Maritime Technologies Forum, and we are delighted to welcome them as an associate member.”

Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, said: “This collaboration with MTF builds on MPA’s existing partnership and ongoing work with various classification societies and Flag States.    Collaboration and knowledge sharing with like-minded partners is key to addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges. MPA looks forward to working with MTF to undertake research and projects to further technological innovations, and develop regulations and standards to ensure the safe implementation of maritime technologies and solutions.”

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 4 December, 2023

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Monday (23 October) said the 10th edition of the International Safety@Sea (IS@S) Week, from 23 to 27 October 2023, was launched by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance during the IS@S Conference. 

Themed “Advancing Maritime Safety in a Green and Digital Age”, the 10th edition of the International Safety@Sea (IS@S) Week, organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), brings together maritime experts and top practitioners from the local and international maritime community to discuss challenges and new opportunities concerning maritime safety in the decarbonisation and digitalisation age.

This year’s conference will feature over 20 local and international speakers. Mr Chee also shared various MPA-led initiatives to enhance safety at sea in his opening speech. More than 350 participants from close to 20 countries are expected to attend the event. 

Several initiatives were announced or will be conducted during IS@S week:

a. New community volunteer programme pilot to enhance safety at sea;

b. Multi-agency Ferry Rescue Exercise (FEREX), which will be centred on an electric ferry mishap for the first time; and

c. Presentation of International Safety@Sea Awards.

MPA will also be organising the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) Forum in the same week, which will discuss the opportunities arising from digital initiatives and the adoption of the 2023 International Maritime Organization Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships.

Ensuring safety at sea is a shared responsibility. MPA and the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council (NMSSC) are developing a new volunteer programme to build and train a network of community volunteers. This would complement government agencies’ response to search and rescue efforts within Singapore waters. MPA will consult various stakeholders and share further details in 2024.

During the IS@S Conference, Chairman of NMSSC presented the IS@S Awards to two companies for their outstanding contributions to Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts in 2022.

NYK Shipmanagement Pte Ltd, and the master and crew of HELIOS LEADER, were recognised for their role in a challenging SAR operation amidst adverse weather conditions on 7 November 2022. More than 300 people were rescued from a sinking boat in the South China Sea, and brought onboard the ship about four hours after it received the distress message from MRCC Singapore.

Pacific International Lines, and the master and crew of KOTA SURIA, were recognised for assistance rendered after responding to a distress message off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea on 9 April 2022. Despite the security risks in this location, they deviated from course for about four hours before finding and rescuing the entire crew of a cargo vessel that had stopped at sea due to water ingress and flooding of the engine room. KOTA SURIA was only able to resume its voyage seven days later after the rescued crew onboard KOTA SURIA disembarked at Cape Town.

As part of IS@S Week, the annual multi-agency Ferry Rescue Exercise (FEREX) will be conducted to validate Singapore’s operational readiness and response capabilities in the event of a ferry mishap incident, on 24 October. FEREX comprises a Table-Top Exercise and a Ground Deployment Exercise, involving eight vessels, a helicopter and over 180 personnel from close to 30 agencies, industry

partners, and observer organisations. FEREX will simulate seaward and landward exercises off Pulau Bukom and at the Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal.

The exercise will simulate excessive heat and battery fire in one of the two battery compartments onboard the electric ferry, and the resultant passengers’ evacuation, medical treatment and fire containment efforts by ferry crew and government agencies.

Note: The full IS@S conference programme can be found here.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 24 October, 2023

The Zero Emission Shipping Mission recently invited industry stakeholders to participate in the Safety of Crew in Low/Zero Emission Ships (SCILZ) project about crew training and safety for seafarers working on vessels using ammonia, methanol and hydrogen as propulsion. 

“Crew safety is a key theme when considering transitioning to vessels fueled by alternative fuels,” it said in a social media post.

The project seeks to contribute to knowledge exchange on existing and planned procedures for ensuring crew safety and facilitating crew training on vessels using alternative bunker fuels, with the aim to support first-movers by highlighting the early industry experiences and insights on how to ensure the safety of the seafarers.   

“The objective of the project is to showcase existing and planned procedures for crew training and safety for seafarers using ammonia, methanol and hydrogen as propulsion, and contribute to knowledge sharing among industry stakeholders. The procedures could cover crew training, general operation and bunkering,” it added. 

Participants are expected to: 

• Participate in one to three workshops with the aim to share plans and experiences, and
• To provide their own existing and planned procedures for crew training and safety on alternative fueled vessels.

Note: Those interested in participating in the project can contact Mira Bergem at [email protected] by 9 November.

Photo credit: Zero Emission Shipping Mission
Published: 23 October, 2023