Joint Call for Proposals to Spur Decarbonisation in Harbourcraft Industry

To support Singapore’s harbour craft industry’s transition towards a low-carbon future, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) have launched a joint call for proposals on the electrification of harbourcraft. Proposals should be put up by consortiums comprising industry players and institutes of higher learning/research institutes.

2 A total of S$9 million from the Maritime GreenFuture Fund will be set aside to co-fund such harbourcraft projects. Proposals should seek to develop commercially-ready fully electric harbourcraft and/or interoperable shore charging infrastructure for electric harbourcraft and other electric vessels operating in the Port of Singapore. Proposals with a viable business model for scalability will be more favourably considered.

3 Mr Kenneth Lim, MPA’s Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director, Innovation, Technology and Talent Development, said, “Singapore is committed to invest in maritime decarbonisation technologies. Through this call, we want to spur collaborative efforts to generate innovative ideas and facilitate cross-sharing of domain expertise in vessel electrification between industry and academia. We look forward to co-creating solutions with our industry partners and institutes of higher learning to make our port more sustainable”.   

4 Dr Sanjay C. Kuttan, SMI’s Executive Director, said, “Green supply chain is the future of shipping and for Singapore to maintain its hub status, innovation must enable the transformation of the shipping industry through co-creation. To accelerate our decarbonisation efforts of the local harbour craft industry, we invite industry innovators to lead a consortium with our local researchers to deliver impact in our fight against climate change.”  

5 The deadline for submission of whitepapers is 31 October 2020. More information on the call for proposals can be found at 
https://www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home/maritime-companies/research-development/mint-fund-call-for-proposals/harbour-craft-electrification-(2020)  and https://www.maritimeinstitute.sg/Programmes-Initiatives?tabs=RnDProgrammes 

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About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore’s strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore’s port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.

For more information, please visit www.mpa.gov.sg 

About the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI)
The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) is a joint effort by the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). 

Established in April 2011, the SMI develops strategies and programmes to achieve its mission with key focus areas in sectors such as port, shipping and maritime services. The SMI charts the maritime research strategy and promotes greater industry-academia R&D collaborations to be undertaken in Singapore.

As a whole-of-Government approach, the agencies work together in initiatives driven through the SMI. The formation of the SMI will strengthen Singapore’s research manpower and capabilities as a global maritime knowledge hub to enhance the overall positioning and competitiveness of the maritime industry.

For more information, please visit www.maritimeinstitute.sg