Organised by the SSA Decarbonization Committee, the Forum offers a platform for industry leaders, financial institutions, and maritime professionals to exchange ideas, share innovations, and collaborate on sustainable solutions. Close to 100 SSA members and industry stakeholders attended the Forum.
The Forum featured industry experts who covered a range of topics from the development of green maritime infrastructure to innovative financial models. Speakers from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) provided updates on Singapore’s decarbonization efforts and the vital role of cybersecurity in this journey.
During his welcome remarks, Mr. Lee Keng Lin, Chairman of the SSA Decarbonization Committee said “It’s evident that while we’ve made significant strides, much more is required from the industry to achieve our sustainability goals. For instance, the critical need for accessible financing. Additionally, there is a call for greater alignment in regulatory standards to facilitate smoother transitions and investments into decarbonization technologies.
He made a call for regulators, infrastructure owners or operators, banks, asset owners, and other stakeholders to come together to “create an inclusive and equitable pathway for decarbonizing the maritime industry. This includes a strong focus on crew training, ensuring that personnel are equipped with the skills necessary for transitioning to greener practices.”
Accelerating Maritime Decarbonization
A key takeaway from the Forum was that regulatory frameworks, technology and people must come together in the shipping industry’s quest to achieve net zero by 2050. Furthermore, there will be increasing opportunities for domestic harbour craft operators to contribute to the needs of a green shipping industry by helping major lines reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
Mr. New Wei Siang, Director for Decarbonization and Net-Zero Pathways at MPA, emphasized that the government encourages a dual pronged approach of energy efficiency and optimisation, and developing clean energy solutions in decarbonizing Singapore’s harbour craft sector.
One such solution the industry could explore is electrification. Mr. Jan Viggo Johansen, Managing Director of marinEV at Yinson Greentech, showcased the potential of electrification in maritime operations. He discussed the development of innovative technologies, such as hydro flooding solutions and battery swapping, to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Mr. Song Hanyu, Manager at the Singapore Maritime Institute, emphasized the role of research and innovation in advancing maritime decarbonization and highlighted the development of AR/VR training platforms and the exploration of new energy sources like methanol and ammonia.
Captain Chatur Wahyu, Director of the Singapore Maritime Academy, underscored the need for a skilled workforce to drive the green transition. He highlighted the successful implementation of the Methanol Handling Training Course and the ongoing development of training programs for emerging technologies at the Academy.
Sustainable Ship Designs
The role of green ship designs in lowering the industry’s environmental footprint was explored in Mr. Prabjot Singh Chopra’s presentation. The Vice President of Technology at SeaTech Solutions International explored the intersection of sustainability and design, presenting innovative green designs tailored specifically for harborcraft and encouraged collaboration within the industry to build a sustainable ecosystem.
Strengthening Maritime Cybersecurity
Acknowledging the industry’s move towards greater use of technology as part of its decarbonization efforts, Mr. Ong Chin Beng, Chief Information Security Officer at MPA, addressed the growing cyber threats facing the maritime industry. He introduced the Maritime Cyber Assurance and Operations Centre (MCAOC) spearheaded by MPA, a centralized platform to bolster cyber resilience by amalgamating cyber threat detection, monitoring, response and even cyber training for companies. He also stressed the importance of system awareness, governance, and international collaboration to mitigate cyber risks.
Designing Sustainable Pathways for Businesses
For shipping companies pivoting to new growth opportunities in the green economy, investing time and effort into designing their own sustainability roadmap is a good starting point. Ms. Ronita Dutta, Managing Director at Paia from CBRE Singapore, shared that such endeavours allow businesses to map out their emissions reduction strategies and plan carbon management activities accordingly. These could range from executing energy efficiency plans, substituting their energy sources and offsetting residual emissions through carbon credits.
Industry Collaboration and Future Outlook
The forum concluded with a roundtable discussion, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders from regulators to financial institutions and industry players. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities in Singapore’s maritime decarbonization journey, exploring potential solutions and strategies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. The forum showcased the solutions and alternatives to the participants and participants were heartened that the collaboration is key to position Singapore as a global leader in sustainable and secure maritime operations.
“A lot of work is being done in the sector to find out what are the best options, especially for the harbor craft sector. The forum helps us to get insights and explore the possibilities, the type of avenues and the options that can be considered. Otherwise, everyone will be working in silo, and the journey towards decarbonization will be much more difficult.”
Sunil Parasha, Seacabbie Pte Ltd
“The path towards net-zero is a long journey and something that cannot be ignored. Safety, commercial viability, and environmental sustainability remain key priorities for the local shipping industry.”
Mr. Lee Keng Lin, Chairman of the SSA Decarbonization Committee
