During the Singapore Maritime Technology Conference (SMTC), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and two Agreements with local and international partners. These agreements aim to enhance Singapore’s connectivity, maritime R&D capabilities and innovation culture.
Mr. Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, mentioned:
We are glad to have like-minded partners who strongly believe in the importance of digitalisation, technology and innovation. These MOUs will help us to take the maritime sector to a new level of development in areas such as automation, data analytics, intelligent systems and cybersecurity.
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The seven agreements that MPA Singapore has signed are the following:
1. Tuas Terminal Phase II Development
Penta Ocean (Japan), Hyundai (South Korea) and Boskalis (The Netherlands) inked an agreement for the Tuas Terminal Phase II development worth SGD$1.46 billion (USD $1.1 billion). This regards the second phase of development which will increase the total port capacity by another 21 million TEUs by 2027. When fully developed by the 2040s, Tuas Terminal will be able to handle up to up to 65 million TEUs annually.
2. Renewal of MPA-Research Council of Norway MOU
MPA renewd its MoU with the Research Council of Norway (RCN) until 2021. According to the agreement MPA Singapore and RCN will colalborate in maritime R&D, education and training in the areas of Maritime Safety, Maritime Operations, Maritime Information and Communications Technology, Maritime Environment and Sustainable Energy Technology, and Offshore and Marine Engineering. The two parties will co-organise the International Maritime-Port Technology and Development (MTEC) and conduct a Norway-Singapore Joint Call for Proposals.
3. Kongsberg Norcontrol-ST Electronics-MPA Next Generation Vessel Traffic Management System (NGVTMS) Innovation Programme
MPA Singapore awarded the Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund to the consortium of ST Electronics, and Kongsberg Norcontrol to deliver the Next Generation Vessel Traffic Management System (NGVTMS) Innovation Programme. The consortium will invest about SGD$9.9 million (USD $7.5 million) to create a NGVTMS Lab which will aim to improve navigation safety and security as well as the efficiency of maritime operations.
4. MPA-Wärtsilä MOU on Maritime R&D and Innovation
MPA Singapore will cooperate with Wärtsilä Corporation to develop maritime technologies in the areas of digital acceleration, cyber-physical security and intelligent vessel and port operations. As part of the agreement, Wärtsilä will mentor innovations start-ups in Singapore.
5. NUS Enterprise-PortXL MOU to develop the Maritime Innovation Eco-system of Singapore
NUS Enterprise from the National University of Singapore (NUS) will partner with PortXL to increase the diversity of Singapore’s maritime innovation. Both parties will encourage start-ups to participate in pilot projects and provide access to the maritime industry in Singapore and in Rotterdam.
6. MPA-Keppel O&M-TCOMS MOU to jointly develop autonomous vessels
MPA Singapore will cooeprate with Keppel Offshore & Marine and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine Singapore (TCOMS) to jointly develop autonomous vessels capable of conducting harbour operations, like channelling, berthing, mooring and towing, for more efficient operations. (See Annex F for more details.)
7. Other efforts to leverage digitalisation and enhance innovation
MPA Singapore has also inked an Memorandum of Intent with eight classification societies for the development of the Singapore Maritime Data Hub (SG-MDH). The eight classification societies are American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, China Classification Society, DNV GL, Korean Register of Shipping, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai and Registro Italiano Navale.
The SG-MDH will help enable the development and test-bedding of innovative digital apps and services for the maritime industry. SG-MDH will also serve as a platform for technology companies, startups and maritime stakeholders to develop innovative maritime solutions.
In addition, MPA Singapore also announced that it will introduce the MINT Fund Call for Proposals and the Smart Port Challenge in June 2018.
