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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.

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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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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation bio bunker fuel supply volume in H1 2025 surpasses 2024 total

Company supplied over 78,000 metric tonnes of marine biofuel in Hong Kong in the first six months of 2025, surpassing its total biofuel supply for the whole of 2024.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation bio bunker fuel supply volume in H1 2025 surpasses 2024 total

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Friday (4 July) said it has supplied over 78,000 metric tonnes (mt) of marine biofuel in Hong Kong in the first six months of 2025.

As such, the company said its biofuel volume for the first half of the year exceeded its total biofuel supply for the whole of 2024. 

“This record-breaking achievement highlights our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the maritime industry,” the company said in a social media post. 

“From January to June 2025, our team surpassed last year’s total, proving that dedication and excellence knows no limits—and exceeded 2024 by 80%!”

Manifold Times previously reported CPN setting a record for China’s largest B24 marine biofuel bunkering operation.

CPN delivered 6,300 mt of B24-VLSFO in Hong Kong to container ship XIN LOS ANGELES on 15 May. The supply exceeded CPN’s previous record of 5,500 mt delivered to the same ship in February 2025.

In April, the company also commenced supply of B30 biofuel in Hong Kong. 

Related: Hong Kong: CPN hits new record for China’s largest B24 biofuel bunkering operation
Related: CPN achieves largest B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Hong Kong and China
Related: Chimbusco Pan Nation launches B30 bio bunker fuel supply in Hong Hong

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 July, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Titan adopts FuelBoss by Ofiniti for digital bunkering and live delivery insights

Per-Christian Dettwiler, CPO of Titan, says the firm has reached a scale where manual coordination and paper-driven workflows are no longer sustainable and needed a digital platform that can evolve with it.

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Titan adopts FuelBoss by Ofiniti for digital bunkering and live delivery insights

Ofiniti, a provider of digital solutions for maritime bunker operations, on Thursday (3 July) said LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan Clean Fuels (Titan) is adopting its FuelBoss platform to meet higher demand for cleaner marine fuels and offer digitalised bunker operations. 

Ofiniti said Titan, which started as a small-scale LNG bunkering initiative, has rapidly evolved into a larger regional player in LNG and bio-LNG. 

“Confidence is continuing to grow in the sector, with recent reports showing that LNG accounts for 87 of the 151 alternative-fuelled vessels ordered in H1 of 2025,” the company said in a social media post. 

Subsequently, Titan is bolstering its capacity to handle higher demand with the FuelBoss software providing a digital backbone for increasing operational planning, scheduling and execution.

“We have reached a scale where manual coordination and paper-driven workflows are no longer sustainable. To maintain reliability, efficiency, and transparency across our growing operations, we needed a digital platform that can evolve with us. FuelBoss gives us the structure and visibility to execute consistently – no matter the vessel, port, or partner involved,” said Per-Christian Dettwiler, Chief Operating Officer of Titan.

FuelBoss enables real-time delivery coordination between vessels, suppliers, terminals, surveyors, and customers. This means reduced operational friction, more transparent communication, and the ability to meet the rising expectations of a broad customer base from cruise operators to deep-sea cargo fleets. 

“Titan exemplifies what a future-ready marine fuel supplier looks like: fast-growing, ambitious, and uncompromising on service quality. With clients spanning both regulated and high-performance environments, they expect structured, digital workflows by default, with eBDN being a part of this. We’re proud to support Titan on their mission to scale clean fuel delivery with confidence,” said Martin Christian Wold, VP Business Development of Ofiniti.

 

Photo credit: Ofiniti
Published: 7 July, 2025

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Bunker Fuel

Bunker Partner expands from trading to first physical supply operation in West Africa

‘Traditionally focused on B2B trading, this step marks a significant milestone as we begin expanding our physical footprint—starting with West Africa,’ the company says.

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Bunker Partner expands from trading to first physical supply operation in West Africa

Estonia-based marine fuels and commodities trading company Bunker Partner on Friday (4 July) announced the official launch of its first physical bunker supply operation in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, coinciding with its 10th anniversary. 

“Traditionally focused on B2B trading, this step marks a significant milestone as we begin expanding our physical footprint—starting with West Africa,” it said in a social media post. 

The company is offering ship-to-ship delivery of marine fuels that meet ISO 8217:2010 and 2017 specifications through Africa Star 1 bunker barge in Abidjan. 

“This move represents the next chapter in Bunker Partner’s growth as a group, and we’re excited to serve our clients even more directly in this key region,” it said. 

 

Photo credit: Bunker Partner
Published: 7 July, 2025

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