As part of its efforts to remain efficient through technology innovation, MPA Singapore has awarded a total of S$1.625 million to 11 joint industry projects in the areas of maritime digitalization and additive manufacturing for ship and marine parts.
The announcement came by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs at the Smart Port Challenge 2020 Finals, an annual innovation competition by maritime corporates in Singapore.
As the world’s busiest transshipment hub, Singapore must embrace technologies to ensure operations remain efficient. We believe that solutions that work in our busy waters are likely to work in other parts of the world. Hence, we proactively partner the industry and provide an environment that is needed to grow an innovative maritime ecosystem,
…said Mr Chee.
Five of these projects, to be completed by the third quarter of 2021, will address operational resilience and productivity needs. These projects seek to help transform the way operations are carried out in the post-COVID new normal and strengthen resilience.
Another six projects, due for completion by the first quarter of 2022, will look at using additive manufacturing for Singapore to become a hub for just-in-time provision of marine parts.
The consortiums behind these projects aim to deepen additive manufacturing capabilities in Singapore and trial the use of at least 26 3D-printed parts onboard Singapore-registered vessels to test the viability of these parts.
Earlier this year, MPA had launched joint calls for proposals in these two areas with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) and National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) and received 40 proposals from the maritime industry.
We are very encouraged that from identifying some 100 ship parts in Phase 1, we will be trialing the use of at least 26 3D printed parts onboard Singapore-registered vessels in Phase 2. We look forward to the wider adoption and acceptance of such transformation technologies by the global maritime community,
…stated Mr Michael Phoon, SSA Executive Director.
The selected projects have been co-funded by MPA’s Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund, which aims to support maritime companies to digitalise and trial technologies that can help to develop Singapore as a centre of excellence for maritime R&D and technology solutions.
The MPA-NAMIC-SSA Joint Industry Programme has provided a platform for multiple industry cluster teams – comprising of 3D printing service providers, public-sector research performers, classification societies, and major ship companies – to accelerate the deployment of certified and field-trialled 3D printed maritime parts. This accelerated approach deepens the industry engagement, harnessing the collective resources and innovative capabilities to develop Singapore into a global AM hub for the maritime industry, cementing Singapore’s position as a world-class global maritime centre and hub port,
…added Dr Ho Chaw Sing, NAMIC Managing Director.
