The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has achieved a first in the maritime industry and public sector with its inaugural Sustainability and Integrated Report titled “Towards a Future Ready Maritime Singapore“. The report follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4’s Comprehensive Guidelines for Sustainability Reporting as well as Integrated Reporting adhering to the International Integrated Reporting Council’s (IIRC) Framework.
For Financial Year 2014, MPA has departed from its previous reporting format and adopted a more holistic approach in reporting its performance to its stakeholders, covering both internal and external stakeholders comprising its customers and partners, suppliers and vendors, as well as its employees.
This shift reflects the move by MPA to adopt a more integrated approach in discharging its roles and responsibilities, whereby beyond promoting and regulating the maritime industry and ensuring the smooth operations at the port, it will also champion broader efforts with the maritime community in ensuring the maritime industry creates a positive impact on society, economy and environment.
Recent initiatives include setting up the MPA Sustainability Office last year to drive programmes such as the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI) in encouraging more members of the shipping community to adopt eco-friendly ship designs and construction and operations. The Office has also spearheaded initiatives such as the installation of solar panels at MPA’s piers and facilities, use of more energy efficient lighting at its premises, promotion of recycling, as well as driving the safety, risk and sustainability management initiatives for the maritime industry such as through the Singapore Registry of Ships Forum and Enterprise Risk Management Forum.
Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, said
“MPA is proud to be among the first public sector agencies to achieve this significant milestone with our inaugural Sustainability and Integrated Report. As one of the world’s busiest ports and a leading international maritime centre, it is important that MPA takes the lead in promoting good practices within the maritime community that will enhance our position as a clean, efficient and safe port. We hope the maritime community will continue to support MPA’s initiatives as we work towards building a Future Ready Maritime Singapore that is competitive as it is sustainable.”
Paul Druckman, CEO, International Integrated Reporting Council said,
“I congratulate MPA on the publication of their first integrated report and for their leadership in embarking on their <IR> journey. Companies in the maritime sector around the world, and especially port authorities, should use this as a leading example for corporate reporting in the sector, and I urge them to follow MPA’s example by raising the quality of their reporting to this high standard. MPA’s report provides relevant information about the company, its corporate structure, strategic themes, performance and operations in a visually appealing way. It is a further example of the innovation in corporate reporting emerging from South East Asia, and Singapore in particular.”
Singapore 2014 Maritime Performance – At a glance
The report also includes actions taken by the MPA Singapore for Environmental Sustainability:
- Reducing emissions from bunkering and ship fuel
Ensuring availability of ECA compliant fuel
When the sulphur limit within the ECAs are reduced from 1% to 0.1% m/m in 2015, MPA wants to assure bunker buyers that they will be able to lift fuel that complies with IMO’s new fuel standard in Singapore. We are working with the fuel industry to ensure the availability of ECAcompliant marine fuel oil in the Port of Singapore.
Preparing for LNG bunkering, to reduce sulphur emissions
Following Singapore’s announcement in 2013 of its plans to invest in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, MPA has been preparing to meet the new stringent operational demands of LNG shipping and bunkering in the port of Singapore.
- Protecting waters from contaminants and pollutants
MPA has in place the Marine Emergency Action Procedure (MEAP) to deal with oil and chemical spills, as well as other marine incidents
effectively. In dealing with incidents involving bulk chemicals, hazardous and noxious substances (HNS), carried by ship at sea and at terminals, MPA has developed the Chemical Contingency Plan (Marine), which is also a supplement to the MEAP. To test and demonstrate Singapore’s readiness to respond effectively to marine incidents, regular emergency exercises are conducted with the relevant agencies, port facility operators and shipowners to test the response actions detailed in the MEAP. Also, MPA has supported equipment manufacturers to obtain basis approval from IMO to develop ballast water treatment systems.
- Running a clean and efficient port
MPA provides free waste collection services for ships berthing in the port. The waste collected is brought to the National Environment Agency’s Tuas waste-to-energy plant for proper disposal. MPA also provides disposal services for bulky waste for a fee.
- Minimizing congestion of port roads
To maintain a smooth traffic flow within and around the port, MPA worked with LTA during the early port planning stage to plan and design an efficient road system for the port
- Building a next generation port
The new Tuas port will be implemented in four phases, leading to the development of a mega container terminal
- Minimizing waste, water usage and energy consumtion
Ways for energy conservation in 2014 are as follows:
– Supported Earth Hour 2014 by switching off lights at Marina South Pier for an hour.
– Replaced incandescent lightings with LED lights in a pilot project (see box story “LED for A Brighter Future”).
– Kept ambient temperature in offices at a comfortable 25°C.
– Placed stickers next to light switches and office equipment as a reminder to switch them off when not in use.
– Implemented energy-saving technology, such as dual-flushing cistern to minimise water usage, and motion sensors for taps and lights in the washrooms to reduce wastage.
Learn more about MPA Singapore’s performance and highlights during 2014 by reading the Annual Report
Source & Image Credits: MPA Singapore
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