The number of major incidents in the Port of Singapore has fallen over the last 10 years, with less than 0.12 major incidents per 100,000 vessel movements in 2018, which is a decrease from 0.8 in 2009.
Speaking at the fourth International Safety@Sea Conference held on August 29, Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health, thanked the maritime community ‘for the good work in improving maritime safety.’
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He added that the use of technology and digitalization will be able to further improve maritime safety by providing seafarers better access to crucial safety-related information and early warning of potential incidents.
However, in addition to Safety@Sea, MPA Singapore will also be pushing for digitalization in two other areas:
- MPA will launch a “Digital OCEANS” strategy to encourage Open or Common Exchange And Network Standardisation. This strategy has as a target to enable digital platforms of port authorities e.g. maritime single windows of shipping lines and of logistics service providers to link up. This will allow business entities, government agencies, and vessels to connect between different digital platforms and achieve end-to-end connectivity. For example, MPA is developing a Maritime Single Window (MSW) to provide a single portal access to submit documents for port clearance. The MSW will have the ability to exchange relevant data through standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs);
- MPA is supporting the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) in operationalising the IMO concept of e-navigation for vessels which aims to make marine navigation safer and digitalise key maritime services. These initiatives will improve efficiency, reduce transaction costs and enhance maritime safety.
MoUs with Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety
Dr Lam also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) after the launch of the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) last year. Established by the Singapore Maritime Institute and Singapore Polytechnic, CEMS gives emphasis on research and innovations that improve navigational safety.
It also contributes to the training and development of future-ready seafarers, by using emerging digital technologies, like augmented reality and virtual reality. The three MoUs are:
- MoUs with A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing to conduct research in human behavioural analytics, advanced computational models and intelligent maritime traffic simulation in navigational safety;
- MoUs with Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau to jointly promote and enhance maritime safety investigations via the development of immersive training platforms and programmes;
- MoUs with Group Nautical Pte Limited to create, design and develop Virtual Reality maritime training courses using immersive technologies.
The fourth International Safety@Sea Conference was held as part of the International Safety@Sea Week to increase safety awareness and instil a safety first culture.
The annual International Safety@Sea Week runs from 26 to 30 August 2019. Besides the conference, there are also workshops, professional visits and a ferry rescue exercise in its line-up of activities.
