Business

Singapore officials visit Norway and Greece for maritime collaboration talks

Meetings focused on enhancing maritime collaborations between Singapore and Norway and Greece, especially in decarbonisation and digitalisation initiatives.

Published

3 years ago

June 8, 2022

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Singapore’s Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Transport Chee Hong Tat made a visit to Norway and Greece from 29 May to 6 June 2022, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (7 June).

SMS Chee was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and MPA.

Engagement with Maritime Officials and Companies in Norway and Greece

In Oslo, SMS Chee met Mr Vidar Ulriksen, State Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industries and Fisheries, Norway. The meeting reinforced the strong maritime cooperation between both countries. Both sides also exchanged views on how the two Governments can work together to support the transformation of the maritime sector.

In Athens, SMS Chee called on Mr Ioannis Plakiotakis, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Greece. Both parties affirmed the strong and longstanding ties between Singapore and Greece as key maritime partners.

SMS Chee also met with representatives across the maritime industry value chain including from shipping companies, maritime services and industry associations in Norway and Greece.

Norwegian and Greek maritime companies have a significant presence in Singapore, contributing to our economy and providing good jobs for locals.

The meetings focused on enhancing maritime collaborations between Singapore and Norway and Greece, in particular Singapore’s commitment to work together with the industry and other entities to spearhead decarbonisation and digitalisation initiatives. The meetings also highlighted the need for the maritime community to better attract and reskill talent for future industry needs.

“Norway and Greece are important maritime nations with rich heritage, deep expertise, and vibrant entrepreneurship,” said SMS Chee.

“We value our partnerships with their governments and businesses. The transformation of the global maritime industry through digitalisation and decarbonisation will create new economic opportunities for Maritime Singapore.”

“We can learn from one another and work together to create a greener and better future of the maritime industry.”

Singapore Pavilion at Posidonia 2022

SMS Chee attended the opening ceremony of the Singapore Pavilion as Guest-of-Honour on 6 June at Posidonia 2022. One of the largest international shipping exhibitions on the global calendar, the 27th Posidonia event was held at the Athens Metropolitan Expo from 6 to 10 June 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition brought the international community of maritime thought leaders and experts together to discuss pertinent maritime issues such as decarbonisation, digitalisation, and human capital development over high-profile conferences, seminars, and technical workshops.

Co-organised by the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), the 203sqm Singapore Pavilion was designed to showcase Singapore’s maritime capabilities and maritime innovations, as well as to facilitate strategic expansion of business networks with international maritime partners for Singapore’s maritime companies. This is the 9th consecutive staging of the Singapore Pavilion at the biennial event since ASMI and SMF first participated in 2004.

Supported by Enterprise Singapore, nine maritime companies from Singapore participated in this year’s tradeshow to showcase the full spectrum of their expertise in shipbuilding and repair, supply of engines and equipment, and provision of shipping solutions.

Accelerating maritime decarbonisation with Eastern Pacific Shipping

Along with the opening of the Singapore Pavilion at Posidonia 2022, SMS Chee also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MPA and a consortium comprising Eastern Pacific Shipping, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and American Bureau of Shipping.

The MOU seeks to review and design ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel gas tankers that will sail under the Singapore Flag. This supports the greening of the Singapore Registry of Ships, one of the key pillars of the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint, in which MPA had set the target of having at least 50% of the SRS fleet to be classified as Green Ships under MPA’s Green Ship Programme by 2050.

Note: For more information on exhibitors at the Singapore Pavilion, refer to Annex A here.

Photo credit: Ministry of Transport / Chee Hong Tat
Published: 8 June, 2022

Biofuel

Ulsan Port aims to become leading bio bunker fuel supply hub in Northeast Asia

UPA’s Director Byeong-gu Kim unveiled comprehensive plans to promote marine biofuel adoption centered on Ulsan Port at 2nd Forum on the Commercialization of Biofuels for Maritime Vessels in Seoul.

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

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Ulsan Port aims to become leading bio bunker fuel supply hub in Northeast Asia

Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) on Thursday (24 April) said it is looking to position the port as a leading biofuel supply hub in Northeast Asia.

UPA, Korea’s port operator for energy and petrochemical logistics, emphasised its strategic role in building a stable marine biofuel supply chain aligned with tightening global regulations.

UPA's Director Byeong-gu Kim unveiled comprehensive plans to promote marine biofuel adoption centered on Ulsan Port at a recent biofuel forum in Seoul, highlighting the port's strategic advantages including its world-class petrochemical infrastructure, extensive storage facilities, and specialised handling expertise.

The presentation showcased UPA's commitment to developing the necessary facilities and operational frameworks to become Northeast Asia's “premier biofuel bunkering destination”.

“As IMO environmental regulations intensify, Ulsan Port Authority is strategically positioned to lead the transition to alternative fuels,” stated UPA President Jae-young Byeon.

“Marine biofuels represent a practical alternative that can be implemented immediately without requiring new vessel construction or retrofitting. UPA will continue to strengthen port-centered biofuel supply networks and create a competitive eco-friendly marine fuel market through our advanced infrastructure and technical expertise.”

Chief Executive of the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center (KMC), Hong Sun-bae, emphasised that “the strategic partnership between the shipping industry and the logistics sector has become more important than ever in this era of climate-friendly economic transition.”

The 2nd Forum on the Commercialisation of Biofuels for Maritime Vessels, hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and co-organized by UPA and KMC, drew around 300 key stakeholders from across the shipping, energy, terminal, shipbuilding, and finance sectors.

The event underscored the increasing urgency of eco-friendly fuel adoption, following the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s approval of mid-term greenhouse gas reduction measures.

Expert sessions featured actionable insights and market intelligence from key players in the maritime and energy sectors:

Key outcomes from the 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC83) by Team Leader Dae-jung Hwang of KMC
Biofuel utilisation and demonstration cases by Manager Dae-sik Seo of HMM
Current usage status and challenges of B100 biofuel by Manager Min-guk Jang of G-Marine Service
Market outlook for marine biofuels by Chief Surveyor Jae-hoon Lim of DNV
Case studies of biofuel applications for marine engines by Team Leader Jae-yup Seo of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering
Global marine biofuel market trends and bunkering developments by Senior Manager Yul-kyung Hong of Hyundai Fuels

Photo credit: Ulsan Port Authority
Published: 25 April, 2025

Shipping Corridor

SFOC report proposes green methanol-fuelled Korea-Europe shipping corridor

Corridor will run between Pyeongtaek Port—the largest hub for automobile imports and exports in South Korea—and major European ports of Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Southampton.

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Admin

SFOC report proposes green methanol-fuelled Korea-Europe green shipping corridor

Korean non-government organisation Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) on Wednesday (23 April) released a report proposing the establishment of a green methanol-fuelled South Korea-Europe shipping corridor.

The proposed corridor will run between Pyeongtaek Port—the largest hub for automobile imports and exports in South Korea—and major European ports of Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, and Southampton, presenting strategic pathways for the decarbonization of the maritime sector.

South Korea has announced its “Greenship-K Program” to accelerate the adoption of eco-friendly vessels and set a national goal to achieve a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by 2050.

Focusing on a green methanol-fuelled Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) operation model, the report quantitatively assessed the potential for greenhouse gas reduction along key routes. Notably, the Bremerhaven–Pyeongtaek route alone is estimated to reduce more than 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, given its high cargo volume.

The report proposed the adoption of green methanol as the primary fuel for the corridor, with a long-term goal to transition toward e-methanol. This shift is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 70% compared to conventional fossil fuel use.

Beyond fuel switching, the report emphasised the importance of securing a stable green fuel supply chain, establishing supportive legal and institutional frameworks, and fostering close public-private cooperation among shipping companies, cargo owners, port operators, and fuel suppliers to make the corridor a viable reality.

“With these foundational elements in place, Pyeongtaek Port is well positioned to become the starting point of Korea’s transition toward a decarbonised maritime sector,” SFOC said.

Note: The full report by SFOC can be viewed here and it is also available in Korean here.

Photo credit: Solutions for Our Climate
Published: 25 April, 2025

Biofuel

MASH Makes powers first vessel trial with bio bunker fuel from carbon-negative process

NORDEN and MASH Make completed the world’s first commercial vessel trial using B20 blend produced from a carbon-negative process; vessel operated on a roundtrip voyage from Singapore to Brazil.

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Admin

MASH Makes powers first vessel trial with bio bunker fuel from carbon-negative process

Global shipping company DS NORDEN and renewable energy company MASH Makes on Thursday (21 April) successfully completed the world’s first commercial vessel trial using biofuel produced from a carbon-negative process.

The vessel operated on a roundtrip voyage from Singapore to Brazil, successfully using 65 tonnes of fuel blend with 20% MASH Makes biofuel in its auxiliary engine.

“This trial proves that MASH Makes’ biofuel is suitable for marine engines, and it marks an important milestone towards bringing the fuel into our operation,” said Henrik Røjel, Head of Decarbonisation and Climate Solutions, NORDEN.

The trial demonstrated that MASH Makes’ biofuel is technically a drop-in fuel, compatible with existing systems and capable of reducing reliance on fossil fuels in specific marine applications.

The results point to a practical path for shipowners to cut emissions without waiting for new infrastructure.

If the new agreement by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to cap and price excess emissions globally is ratified in October 2025, MASH Makes offers a solution that enables shipowners to start significantly reducing their emissions well before the agreement takes effect in 2028.

“Our biofuel meets the technical requirements of the shipping industry and can be used in unmodified engines. It’s a seamless, scalable alternative ready to cut emissions today,” said MASH Makes CEO Jakob Bejbro Andersen.

Unlike emerging fuels like green hydrogen or ammonia, which require new infrastructure, MASH Makes biofuel integrates directly with existing systems.

NORDEN acquired a minority stake in MASH Makes in 2023 to strengthen its future supply of renewable fuels. Since the acquisition, the two companies have worked closely together to validate the biofuel for marine usage.

Photo credit: DS NORDEN
Published: 25 April, 2025