Events

Singapore: Smart Port Challenge garners over 200 proposals from 35 countries

Proposals from start-ups responded to 14 challenge statements on key issues facing the global maritime industry such as managing ammonia risk and improving crew safety in handling methanol as a fuel.

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2024

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Singapore: Smart Port Challenge garners over 200 proposals from 35 countries

The Singapore’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) attracted a record number of close to 200 proposals from start-ups in 35 countries responding to the 14 challenge statements on key issues facing the global maritime industry.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS) held the annual PIER71™Great Circle 2024 on Tuesday (19 November) at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment opened the event as the Guest-of-Honour which featured the 8th edition of the SPC Grand Finals and a MarineTech Start-up Innovation Showcase.

SPC went global, with eight international roadshows held earlier this year in key maritime hubs across America, Asia, and Europe to expand its reach to overseas start-ups.

The 14 challenge statements were divided into four main categories – Maritime Green Technologies, Smart Shipping, Next Generation Ports and Digitalisation.

The statements under Maritime Green Technologies include managing ammonia risk, improving crew safety in handling methanol as a fuel and enhancing charging and battery performance.

Twenty-eight start-ups were selected to join the 12-week PIER71™ Accelerate programme. This structured accelerator programme helps start-ups test and validate business model and go-to-market strategies for their proposed solutions, guided by mentors and industry domain experts.

Twenty start-ups have secured 30 letters of intent for collaboration with Singapore-based companies, qualifying them for grants of up to SGD 100,000 for proof-of-concept or pilot projects with maritime companies and additional funding’ of up to SGD 250,000 for new product development through the MPA Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund. A pre-event session also connected Smart Port Challenge finalists with potential funding partners.

Three participating start-ups, Sweden-based Cetasol, Hong Kong S.A.R-based Clear Robotics, and South Korean-based Mapsea Corporation, have also established offices in Singapore as part of their regional expansion plan.

Clearbot, Open Ocean Robotics, and GT Wings emerged as the first, second and third placed winners of the SPC Grand Finals 2024 respectively and Thiospark Energy received a Special Mention based on quality of innovation, market potential in Singapore and the region, industry relevance, and team experience.

Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, said, “We are glad that the Smart Port Challenge is supported by global partners across innovation hubs in America, Asia and Europe. With PIER71TM expanding its outreach, this will help grow the start-up enterprise and innovation ecosystem in Singapore serving the global maritime community. I congratulate this year’s finalists and winners and look forward to seeing their solutions come to fruition.”

Professor Chen Tsuhan, Deputy President (Innovation and Enterprise), NUS, said: “PIER71™ has been evolving its programmes to stay ahead of the changing global maritime industry. By expanding our network of mentors, domain experts, and partners worldwide, we help start-ups gain better access to market validation and growth opportunities. We also value our strong partnership with MPA, our co-founding partner, as we continue to work together to drive research, innovation, talent development, and entrepreneurship across the maritime sector.”

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 21 November, 2024

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Legal

Singapore withdraws remaining 127 charges against Hin Leong founder OK Lim

Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges on 17 July.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

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Founder of collapsed oil trader Hin Leong Trading, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as OK Lim, has had the remaining 127 charges against him withdrawn, according to The Straits Times on Monday (20 July).

OK Lim was issued a stern warning and a district court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal for these charges, including those for cheating, on 17 July. The discharge means Lim cannot be prosecuted again for the same offences.

Lim, 84, is currently serving a 13½-year prison sentence after the High Court reduced his original 17½-year jail term in March 2026. He was convicted in 2024 on two cheating charges and one count of abetting forgery in a case prosecutors described as one of Singapore’s most serious trade finance frauds.

Lim was convicted in May 2024 of two charges of cheating the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and one count of abetting forgery that proceeded to trial out of a total of 130 criminal charges.

He was first charged in court on 14 August 2020, and was subsequently handed further charges in court on 25 September 2020, 30 April 2021 and 24 June 2021 for his role in perpetuating fraud on various financial institutions.

A total of 130 charges were eventually brought against him for cheating and forgery-related offences.

Photo credit: Sora Shimazaki
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post.

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024.

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.

Published

17 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Admin

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026