Republic well-placed to lead digital, green drive in maritime sector

Low-carbon fuel initiatives, vessel electrification among factors, says expert

- Ovais Subhani

Singapore's shipping hub is well placed to lead the world in digital transformation, decarbonisation and adoption of green technologies for the industry, said classification society DNV's maritime chief executive officer Knut Orbeck-Nilssen.

Initiatives on low-carbon fuels, electrification of harbour vessels and plans to establish the world's longest green and digital shipping corridor with Rotterdam are among factors that will consolidate Singapore's position as one of the most attractive and competitive shipping hubs with future-proof ports and logistics infrastructure, he said.

"This shows the dedication of Singapore as a place where innovation is taking place," he told The Straits Times in an interview on the sidelines of the Singapore Maritime Week 2024 held from April 15 to 19 at the Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre.

On April 15, Singapore was also crowned as the world's top maritime city in the Leading Maritime Cities (LMC) report prepared jointly by DNV and Menon Economics.

"Just coming here to Singapore Maritime Week, I see a lot of international visitors, more than ever before, which proves the point that Singapore is certainly manifesting its role as a global centre for the shipping industry, and that is naturally also manifested by the (LMC) report," said Mr OrbeckNilssen.

He said DNV has and will continue to engage Singapore in its initiatives on digitalisation and decarbonisation. He cited the world's first ammonia bunker trial in the port of Singapore in March as an example of innovative initiatives by the Republic.

The Green Pioneer, a vessel owned by Australian miner Fortescue, conducted the operation with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, government agencies, research institutes and industry partners such as Vopak, which runs an integrated oil, chemical and gas hybrid storage terminal at Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island.