“Singapore aims to collaborate with like-minded partners to strengthen maritime capabilities and port resilience worldwide”
Singapore stands among the world’s top maritime hubs and serves as a critical gateway for trade. Beyond enabling expansion of infrastructure, the country has placed strong emphasis on enhancing the efficiency and performance of its ports. Decarbonisation has been a key priority in line with efforts to reduce the carbon footprint, while the integration of new and advanced technologies has helped enhance overall productivity. At the recent Singapore Maritime Week, Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law, Singapore, highlighted Singapore’s growing focus on decarbonisation and digitalisation of the maritime sector and investment in the sector’s talent. Edited excerpts…
Current scenario
The intensity and complexity of current geopolitical challenges draw the focus away from environmental, technological and social factors. However, these form a vital part of the future of the maritime sector, bringing out the importance to keep them in firm view.
The increasing volatility of energy markets has strengthened the case for rapid decarbonisation. It requires collective action to curtail the negative spillovers from economic activities. While often discussed in terms of resource sustainability and business resilience, it largely links to ensuring planetary health and people’s continued ability to flourish. Decarbonisation is transforming the maritime sector by reshaping fuels, vessels and port infrastructure.
Further, digitalisation is also shaping the sector, with numerous technological advancements changing port and vessel operations. This digital transformation is making maritime operations safer, smarter and more sustainable. Moreover, as the industry transforms, the maritime workforce must be equipped with new skill sets to seize emerging opportunities. Singapore is placing strong emphasis on these areas.
Supporting maritime decarbonisation
Preparing for a multi-fuel future
Singapore is preparing its port for a multi-fuel future. As alternative fuels pose unique challenges and risks, robust operational standards are being developed to guide their deployment. These standards set out safety protocols, guidelines for crew training and regulations on the safe handling of alternative fuels. Developing technical standards also require collaborations and Singapore is working closely with international partners to share and deepen its expertise in deploying alternative fuels. The Green and Digital Shipping Corridor established with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2023 facilitated knowledge exchange and joint studies. This partnership has now been extended for another three years. Additionally, coordinating efforts across stakeholders including shipowners, ports and fuel suppliers can accelerate the shift towards cleaner marine fuels.
Over the past three years, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has conducted extensive safety studies and fuel trials, including two for ammonia and four for methanol. The Technical Reference on Methanol Bunkering was published in 2025 and works are under way for the first Technical Reference for Ammonia Bunkering.
Decarbonising the harbour craft sector
Singapore is also focusing on decarbonising vessels, starting with the harbour craft sector. The Port of Singapore has around 1,600 harbour craft performing a range of essential marine services such as bunkering, towage, ship supplies and crew transfers. In 2023, Singapore announced the requirement for all new harbour craft operating in port waters to be either fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuel, or compatible with net zero fuels. Preparations for this transition have since been under way.
Biofuels are a largely mature near-term decarbonisation pathway and are currently commercially available. The MPA published a technical reference in May 2025 to support their use. The Singapore government is also partnering with local institutes of higher learning to study the use of B100 marine biofuel on larger harbour craft with higher power, or longer-range requirements like tankers and tugboats.
While electrification is showing strong potential, particularly for harbour craft engaged in passenger and ship supply services, adoption is still in the early phases. Recognising that infrastructural provisions are necessary for this technology to gain traction, the MPA facilitated the deployment of Singapore’s first public charger pilot at Marina South Pier in 2024. Building on this foundation, plans are under way for electric harbour craft charging infrastructure based on detailed studies of routes and needs for crew transfer, and cargo supply vessels. In the coming years, chargers are expected to be deployed at key terminals and piers such as Marina South Pier, West Coast Pier and within the Western Industrial Area.
Further, by 2030, the network of public chargers is targeted to be expanded across Singapore’s southern coastline. Trials will also be carried out for the use of battery-powered charging solutions to provide greater flexibility for harbour craft operations. While challenges like the high upfront costs of electric harbour craft exist, efforts are under way to bridge this gap. For example, the Harbour Craft Decarbonisation Taskforce which was convened by the MPA and local shipping associations in October 2025, has concluded its work.
Technology and innovation
Digitalisation represents another driving force transforming the maritime industry. Singapore has invested heavily in port automation capabilities and solutions in pursuit of its vision for a fully automated port. For example, driverless automated guided vehicles and automated quay cranes were deployed in the development of Phase 1 of Tuas port. These technologies are boosting operational efficiency, manpower productivity and safety. Moreover, representing the next frontier, Singapore also serves as an ideal test bed to study the applications of autonomous technologies, given its position as one of the busiest ports in the world.
Singapore is soon expected to invite design proposals for an autonomous inter-gateway container feeder, a vessel that transfers containers between terminals. Studies are being carried out on the use of remote operations for liquefied natural gas bunkering. The MPA is also supporting a joint industry project between DNV, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services and the Singapore Institute of Technology. These initiatives will explore remote and autonomous technologies, real-time monitoring and remote vessel operations, allowing the country to establish new operational frameworks.
While new technologies promise significant productivity gains, there is a need to safeguard digital infrastructure and ensure that the entire ecosystem is well positioned to harness these technologies. To ensure this, Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in April 2026 with the Singapore Shipping Association to accelerate AI adoption across the industry and provide targeted support to SMEs. An MoU was also signed with the Hamburg Port Authority and leading universities from both Singapore and Germany to share expertise and develop more robust cybersecurity defences. These MoUs underscore Singapore’s approach to digitalisation to capture benefits for the entire ecosystem and transform the industry in a reliable and secure manner.
In sum
The maritime industry must remain anchored on longer-term priorities despite emerging challenges. Focusing on decarbonisation, equipping the industry and workforce for digitalisation and continued investment in people are essential. Looking ahead, Singapore aims to collaborate with like-minded partners to strengthen maritime capabilities and port resilience worldwide.
