MISC Group on Tuesday (20 June) said through its entities AET and Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM), inked milestone collaboration agreements with WinGD and DNV respectively, in conjunction with the Malaysia Maritime Week 2023. 

The collaboration agreements between AET, ALAM, and WinGD aim to drive the development of ammonia engines for ammonia dual-fuelled vessels, marking a historical milestone as the first of its kind in the world for deep-sea vessels. 

“This strategic collaboration reinforces the Group’s commitment to finding sustainable and safe transition pathways to zero-emission shipping operations, for MISC Group and the maritime industry’s shipping operations. This Agreement also plays a crucial role in the development and training of mariners to safely manage vessels built with new technologies and ammonia engines,” MISC said in a statement. 

The collaboration agreement between ALAM and DNV encompasses various domains, including research and development and the enhancement of current syllabuses for training maritime professionals at all levels, geared towards meeting the workforce needs of the low and zero-carbon pathway. 

The signing of the agreement is pivotal in strengthening the education and training framework for the seafaring fraternity in charting a net-zero future for the maritime industry, according to MISC. 

MISC’s President & Group Chief Executive Officer, Captain Rajalingam Subramaniam, said: “I am very pleased with the positive outcome of our collaborative efforts, leading to the signing of two important Collaboration Agreements. These agreements mark a significant step towards a just transition and certainly brings us closer to ALAM’s goal of becoming the Maritime University of choice in Asia.”

“My sincere appreciation to WinGD and DNV for their invaluable collaboration in establishing these respective alliances. As we embark on our business transformative journey, MISC remains committed to fostering alliances with a growing list of like-minded industry partners for a purposeful just transition in managing societal emissions for generations to come.”

Dr Rudolf Holtbecker, Director Operations, WinGD, said: “The success of the energy transition in shipping will take much more than technology and fuel flexibility. The crew on board these vessels need to be equipped with the knowledge and confidence required to ensure safe and efficient operation.”

“The main engine technology will be familiar as our fuel flexible portfolio is based on our well-proven core technology. By partnering with AET & ALAM we can establish a solid foundation of knowledge and hands-on experience for crew to confidently operate these new vessels with safety and fuel efficiency built in.”

On the back of the transformation of the global maritime industry, the collaboration with DNV is pivotal as sharing of the industry’s best practices will result in either upskilling or re-skilling of the current workforce to ensure their relevancy and thrive in the new operating environment, in addition to attracting new talent with the required competencies to join the industry.

Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Regional Manager Southeast Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime at DNV, said: “Decarbonisation and digitalisation are steadily changing the maritime landscape as we collectively strive towards a net-zero future. This necessitates the upskilling and training of seafarers to ensure they have the skills and competence to operate new fuels and technologies introduced onboard safely and efficiently. 

“Our co-operation with ALAM will enable them to tap on DNV’s extensive global training network and access comprehensive training programmes for both onboard and onshore personnel, imparting best-in-class industry practices and knowledge to shape the next generation of maritime leaders.”

Signatories of these Collaboration Agreements are John Baptist, Head of Decarbonisation, MISC, Dr. Carmelo Cartalemi, General Manager, Global Sales, WinGD, Khairul Azhar Bunyamin, DNV Malaysia Country Chair and ALAM’s Chief Executive, Prof. Dr. Hamdan Suhaimi.

The witnesses of the signing were YB Datuk Haji Hasbi Habibollah, Deputy Minister of Transport Malaysia, Captain Haji Mohamad Halim bin Ahmed, Director General of Marine, Malaysia Marine Department, Y.Bhg. Dato’ Normah Osman, Deputy Secretary General Policy, Ministry of Transport, Captain Rajalingam Subramaniam, President & Group Chief Executive Officer, MISC, Mohamed Safwan Othman, Chairman, Malaysia Shipowners’ Association (MASA) and Roger Specker, Managing Director, Singapore, WinGD.

Photo credit: MISC Group
Published: 21 June, 2023