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Singapore: SMW 2026 opens, drawing 20,000 participants from 80 countries and regions

Discussions during the wider conference programme will cover issues including maritime decarbonisation, digital transformation and innovation, as well as cybersecurity and financing.

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Swapnil Bapat on Unsplash

The Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026 was officially launched on Tuesday (21 April) by Mr Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance. 

This year marked SMW’s 20th edition – reflecting two decades of convening global maritime leaders, shaping ideas and advancing the industry.

Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the annual event is taking place from 20 to 24 April this year, and brings together more than 20,000 participants from close to 80 countries and regions, including Ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders and maritime professionals. Participants will exchange views on shared challenges and practical pathways forward for international shipping.

At the opening ceremony, Mr Siow announced the launch of OCEANS-X, a new data and Application Programming Interface (API) eXchange platform developed by MPA to enable secure system-to-system connectivity across the maritime ecosystem and more efficient port services, which will strengthen Singapore’s role as a global hub port and international maritime centre.

MPA said OCEANS-X will allow maritime companies and government agencies to exchange trusted data directly. This in turn enables integrated digital services for better service delivery, more efficient port operations, smoother trade flows, and stronger connectivity with global ports.

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, delivered the Singapore Maritime Lecture at the opening of SMW 2026. Mr Gan also took part in a fireside chat, moderated by Ms Yong Hsin Yue, Managing Director, Kuok Group Singapore. 

Topics discussed included geopolitical and global trade shifts, structural transformations in areas like digitalisation and decarbonisation, and the ability of maritime hubs to navigate these changes in an increasingly fragmented world.

Among the notable attendees at SMW 2026 is Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, who will share perspectives on advancing collective outcomes for global shipping amid differing national priorities. 

The Ministerial Roundtable, hosted by Mr Jeffrey Siow, will bring together Ministers and heads of maritime organisations from 10 countries to discuss collective actions on sustainability, digitalisation, and regulatory cooperation.

The wider conference programme draws perspectives from industry, finance, logistics, sustainability and classification societies. Discussions will cover issues including maritime decarbonisation, digital transformation and innovation, as well as cybersecurity, financing, and workforce transformation.

EXPO@SMW is taking place from 21 to 23 April as the exhibition pillar of SMW. It gathers stakeholders from across the maritime ecosystem to showcase innovative solutions, emerging technologies and collaborative projects supporting the industry’s transformation. 

A key highlight is the Maritime SG Showcase themed “From Research to Reality: Reimagining Ports and Ships”, featuring projects such as the Maritime Digital Twin Live Simulation Platform, OCEANS-X Digital Platform and other industry-academia research projects led by the Singapore Maritime Institute. The Tech Village will also feature start-ups from across the maritime ecosystem. EXPO@SMW is open to the public.

The PIER71TM Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2026 will also be launched at SMW 2026 on 22 April at EXPO@SMW. Now in its 10th edition, the annual global competition invites startups, both local and foreign, to develop innovative solutions addressing key challenges and opportunities in the maritime industry. Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport, will officiate at the event and deliver a speech.

SMW will also reach out to youths through initiatives such as Youth@SMW and Talent Pavilion at EXPO@SMW on 23 April. These initiatives, supported by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and training service providers, aim to raise awareness of maritime careers and provide information on education and career pathways across the sector. 

Participants can attend career talks and presentations by companies, students and young professionals, and connect with industry, education and training partners.  Mr Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State for Transport, will open Youth@SMW and deliver an opening address on 23 April. Participants at Youth@SMW s can also choose from the  learning journeys to understand port operations and the emerging technologies in the sector. These include visits to Everllence facilities, the PSA Innovation Centre, vessel tours to Pulau Bukom and Penguin Shipyard, and guided tours at Talent@SMW.

A series of public engagement activities will be held from 25 to 26 April 2026 at the Singapore Maritime Gallery located at Marina South Pier (MSP) and HarbourFront Cruise Centre. Visitors can catch a glimpse of  vessels on display  at MSP, including MPA Guardian and Mata Ikan, the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Blue Dolphin, and electric vessels from Penguin and Yinson Greentech. 

At HarbourFront Cruise Centre, visitors can also view EON, Singapore’s first fully electric harbour tug built by PaxOcean and owned by Kuok Maritime Group under the Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA). Tickets for visits to these vessels, including the Singapore Maritime Discoveries tours, can be booked online here

 

Photo credit: Swapnil Bapat on Unsplash
Published: 21 April, 2026

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Business

Straits Energy proposes MYR 90 million capital reduction to offset accumulated losses

Straits Energy Resources proposed to undertake a reduction of MYR 90 million of its issued share capital to offset accumulated losses of the company and strengthen its financial position.

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Bursa Malaysia-listed Straits Energy Resources Berhad (Straits) on Monday (21 September) proposed to undertake a reduction of MYR 90 million (USD 22 million) of its issued share capital to offset accumulated losses of the company and strengthen its financial position.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the company said the proposed capital reduction entails the reduction of the issued share capital of Straits via the cancellation of the company’s paid-up share capital, which is substantially lost or unrepresented by available assets. 

The corresponding credit of MYR 90 million arising from the proposed exercise will be utilised to partially offset the accumulated losses while any balance credit will be credited to the capital reserve account which would serve as an additional credit buffer to set off future losses of the company.

The MYR 90 million was determined by the Board, after taking into consideration amongst others, the unaudited accumulated losses of the company for the financial year ended 30 June 2026 of MYR 101.91 million.

The proposal will not have any effect on the number or percentage of shares held by the substantial shareholders of the company as it does not involve any issuance, cancellation or transfer of shares held by the shareholders.

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances and subject to all required approvals being obtained, the proposed capital reduction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027,” the company added. 

 

Photo credit: Straits Energy Resources
Published: 24 September, 2026

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Business

Monjasa strengthens Colombia bunker supply with BIRE-approved barges

Company says “Roma 101” and “Roma 304” have passed BIRE inspections, confirming compliance with international standards required for collaboration with oil majors.

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Monjasa strengthens Colombia bunker supply with BIRE-approved barges

Marine fuel supplier Monjasa on Wednesday (23 September) said it has strengthened its physical marine fuel supply operations in Colombia, with two of its Cartagena-based barges completing inspections under the Barge Inspection Report Exchange (BIRE).

The barges, Roma 101 and Roma 304, have capacities of 1,340 metric tonnes (mt) and 3,640 mt, respectively, according to Monjasa.

The company said the successful inspections confirmed compliance with international standards required for collaboration with oil majors.

The development forms part of Monjasa’s wider expansion of its marine fuel activities in Colombia, where the company said it now operates across the full supply chain.

“We have become the first international marine fuels company to operate across the full supply chain. From oil wells and refinery processes to storage, logistics and final ship-to-ship deliveries,” said Trading Director Camilo Angulo Ferrand. 

“We are putting all of our local knowledge into play and investing significant resources to ensure safe and reliable marine fuels operations across Colombia.”

Ferrand and Senior Trader Sebastian Vasquez are among those overseeing the day-to-day operations and driving the development forward.

Monjasa said the latest developments follow 15 years of collaboration with customers, suppliers and local partners in Colombia.

The company completed the first bunker supply of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) in Cartagena in 2019

Related: Monjasa starts 0.5% sulphur VLSFO deliveries at Colombia port
Related: Monjasa prepares to supply bio bunker fuels in Latin America while demand increases

 

Photo credit: Monjasa
Published: 24 September, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Höegh Autoliners orders six more ammonia, methanol-ready Aurora class PCTCs

Höegh Autoliner inked a contract with China Merchants Group for six additional Aurora class PCTCs, which will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) and delivered between 2029 and 2031.

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Höegh Autoliners orders six more ammonia, methanol-ready Aurora class PCTCs

Höegh Autoliners on Tuesday (22 September) said it has formally signed a contract with China Merchants Group (CMG) for six additional Aurora class pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). 

The contract was signed during a high-level meeting in Naples attended by senior representatives from both companies, including Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group. Chair of Höegh Autoliners, Leif O. Høegh, and Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners.

The six additional dual-fuel LNG and zero-carbon-ready vessels will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (CMHI) and delivered between 2029 and 2031. 

With 18 Aurora Class vessels in the programme, Höegh Autoliners is building the fleet needed for a zero- emission future and setting the pace for the transformation of deep-sea shipping.

The Aurora Class vessels can carry up to 9,100 cars and reduce carbon emissions per transported car by up to 58 per cent compared with conventional PCTCs. They have DNV’s ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations and are designed to be converted to run on future zero-carbon fuels.

Leif O. Høegh, Chair of the Board of Directors of Höegh Autoliners, said: “For nearly 100 years, we have developed, adapted and led the way through major changes in shipping. It is in our DNA to keep moving and challenge what is possible. This signing continues that story. We are investing in the vessels that will define our fleet for decades and help move our industry towards zero emissions.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, said: “This is not just another vessel-building agreement. It is a statement about the future of deep-sea shipping and the role we intend to play in shaping it. The Aurora Class is at the heart of our fleet renewal and our path to a sustainable future. By expanding the programme to 18 vessels, we are securing efficient, flexible and future-ready capacity while setting the pace towards zero-emission operations.”

Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group, said: “Höegh Autoliners is a pioneer in international shipping and will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. We would like to offer our congratulations in advance! Over the past century, Höegh Autoliners has achieved remarkable development and has grown into a leading company in the global RoRo shipping sector. We truly admire what you have accomplished.”

 

Photo credit: Höegh Autoliners
Published: 24 September, 2026

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