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SMTC 2021: Electrification of Singapore bunker tankers and harbour craft in government pipeline, says SMI

MPA and SMI will be awarding up to three electrification projects by Q3 2021; the duo are working to maintain Singapore’s status as an attractive shipping hub for the global maritime ecosystem.

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The following interview arranged by Informa Connect is part of pre-event coverage for the upcoming Singapore Maritime Technology Conference 2021 (SMTC 2021), where Manifold Times is an official media partner. Readers can find out more about the virtual event by clicking on the link here.

It is only a matter of time before Singapore’s bunker tanker and harbour craft population start considering the use of electrification technologies for propulsion, forecasts the Executive Director at Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI).

Dr Sanjay Kuttan was in a recent interview with Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times when he shared details of the government’s green initiatives for the local bunkering and harbour craft community.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and SMI issued a joint Call-For-Proposals (CFP) exercise for the electrification of harbour craft in September 2020; a total of 16 companies participated in the joint CFP where seven proposals were shortlisted for consideration.

“We are now heading towards the end of the evaluation period for these projects that will design, build and operate a fully- electric harbour craft, including their supporting electrical charging infrastructure around the Singapore port,” reveals Dr Kuttan.

“We hope that up to three electrification projects will be awarded and approved by the third quarter of 2021 if not sooner. At the end of the day, it is all about the economics of these projects to enable scalable operational solutions and to offer support to our local maritime sector to capture new opportunities arising from the sustainability wave.”

Dr Kuttan is convinced of the environmental benefits offered by electrification technologies but was quick to add commercial factors have also been among key considerations in the Singapore government’s push towards greener maritime technologies.

“The business model for Singapore’s maritime sector to adopt electrification is very important and must make sense. In short, we are working to maintain our status as an attractive shipping hub for the global maritime ecosystem,” he explains.

“In the future, we anticipate the green supply chain to be a key prerequisite of international trade and therefore these efforts are important in helping our local shipping companies to remain relevant and continue their commercial involvement with international maritime trading parties.

“Specifically, we believe major clients will be demanding for access to a green supply chain in the future. So, if Singapore’s harbour craft, including bunker tankers, are green they will have a greater chance to be a factor in the green supply chain equation and secure business from international players.”

“This applies to everything else supporting the ship arriving in the Singapore Port that includes the provision of goods and services, all of which adds to the carbon footprint of the supply chain and therefore will need to be managed carefully.”

The cost of implementing battery technologies onboard vessels has also been steadily decreasing through the years.

Dr Kuttan cited a Bloomberg report which informed the price of a battery pack (volume-weighted average) dropping from the cost of USD 1,191 per kilowatt hour from 2010 to USD 137 per kilowatt hour in 2020.

“The drop in cost of battery packs is from the trickle down effect as a result of research and innovation driven by the automotive sector and to the increasing production of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles,” he notes.

“Also, if battery energy density continues to improve we could one day see a bunker tanker become a floating charging station for electric harbour crafts or even short sea vessels. This is a practical consideration due to the lack of shore-side land space for shore-side charging around the Singapore port.

“The whole shipping industry, including banks adopting the Poseidon principles, is now firmly moving towards the direction of deploying green technologies. It will not be long before technology, business model, and financing converge to a point to form the perfect storm to energise the maritime transformation.”

Note: Dr. Sanjay Kuttan is a moderator for the Industry Panel: Harbour Craft – Electrification & Digitalisation virtual roundtable scheduled to take place on Thursday (22 April) at 18:25 – 19:10 SGT as part of SMTC 2021.

 

Photo credit: Singapore Maritime Institute
Published: 7 April, 2021

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Newbuilding

Singapore: Pinnacle Marine’s first B100 fuelled utility boat starts 1,000-hour research trial

Newbuilding operated by Prestige Ocean Pte Ltd will capture data on bunker fuel emissions, marine fuel behaviour, and performance.

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The 50th vessel constructed by local boat builder Pinnacle Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd, namely President 100, is starting 1,000 hours of real-time research trials in collaboration with several parties from Wednesday (9 July) onwards, it says.

Powered by B100 biodiesel, the newbuilding operated by Prestige Ocean Pte Ltd will capture data on bunker fuel emissions, marine fuel behaviour, and performance.

It will be participating in trials with Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD), Weichai Singapore, China Classification Society, Pacific International Lines (PTE) Ltd, Abo Shoten, Ltd. / 株式会社安保商店 , Abo Singapore, Wilmar International, Gulf Marine, Amspec Testing & Services, and AYK Engineering and Consulting.

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The President 100, Pinnacle Marine’s first full biodiesel utility boat, was launched on Tuesday in the presence of over 100 guests.

“Our latest vessel, President 100, merges legacy and future. Named after our first aluminium boat (“President”) and inspired by B100 biodiesel, it leads the charge for our next 50 vessels — many of which will embrace green technology,” stated Pinnacle Marine in a LinkedIn post.

“The launch was amazing, with strong turnout from across the maritime sector — authorities, shipowners, operators, agencies, chandlers, researchers, offshore engineers, and petrochemical suppliers.”

It added: “We’re excited to see how it paves the way for wider adoption of B100 biodiesel — a cleaner, sustainable path for Singapore’s harbour craft sector.”

 

Photo credit: Pinnacle Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Published: 9 July 2025

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Newbuilding

BHP awards charter contracts for two ammonia dual-fuelled bulk carriers

BHP continues to work with the maritime industry to develop an ammonia bunkering plan for the two vessels when they are delivered from 2028.

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Global resources company BHP on Wednesday (2 July) signed contracts with COSCO Shipping Bulk Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of COSCO shipping Group (COSCO Shipping) for the charter of two ammonia dual-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers.

The new vessels to be built under this arrangement will be two of only a handful of vessels in the world capable of using ammonia as a bunker fuel.

The two vessels, expected to be delivered from 2028, will primarily transport iron ore from Western Australia to Northeast Asia.

When run on lower or low to zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ammonia, these vessels will be capable of reducing GHG emissions by at least 50% and up to 95% on a per voyage basis compared to a conventionally fuelled voyage.

The five-year time charter contracts are expected to contribute towards a reduction in the GHG emissions intensity of BHP chartered shipping.

BHP continues to work with the maritime industry to develop an ammonia bunkering plan – the process of fuelling ships with ammonia – for the two vessels when they are delivered from 2028.

Sourcing lower and low to zero GHG emissions ammonia is subject to an ongoing tender process.

 

Photo credit: BHP
Published: 9 July 2025

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Milestone

Everllence celebrates 1,000th ME-GI engine; milestone unit goes to Hapag-Lloyd

Engine, a 7G95ME-GI type, bound for a Hapag-Lloyd container vessel currently under construction at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

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Everllence, formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions, on Tuesday (8 July) celebrated the order of its 1,000th ME-GI engine that can run on either heavy fuel oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a bunker fuel.

The engine, a 7G95ME-GI type, is bound for a Hapag-Lloyd container vessel currently under construction at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. where it is designated as hull #1721.

Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, said: “We are proud to mark this milestone with our partner, Everllence. The order for the 1,000th ME-GI engine reflects our commitment to decarbonising global supply chains. Dual-fuel technologies like the ME-GI are a key step on our journey to a low-emission fleet and support our ambition to drive change across the industry.”

Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of Everllence, added: “Considering that the strongest interest in the ME-GI engine has come from the container segment, it is fitting that this significant milestone should be reached with an order from such a prestigious container player as Hapag-Lloyd. On the path to net-zero, the marine industry needs pioneers and Hapag-Lloyd is leading the way by example.”

“2025 has seen a large increase in ME-GI orders as methane makes for an excellent transition fuel on the way to decarbonising shipping. The ME-GI’s market-leading efficiency and technological maturity – as well as lowest methane slip – have confirmed its status as the marine industry’s default, dual-fuel, methane-fuelled engine.”

 

Photo credit: Everllence
Published: 9 July 2025

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