Opening Address by Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, at the Opening of Singapore Safety@Sea Week

KING CANUTE AND THE SAFETY OF SEAFARERS

Mr Loh Khum Yean, Chairman, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

1.           Good morning and welcome to Singapore Safety@Sea Week 2026. It is a pleasure to see so many partners from across our maritime community today.

2.           Today, we sail along stormy seas. Recent events in the Strait of Hormuz remind us how a journey at sea remains dangerous, and not just because of Nature’s storms but also because of disagreements among men.

3.           Today, we need more than ever to safeguard and uphold the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. Seafarers have always sailed the open seas which connect all corners of the world. This freedom is today under threat.

4.           We face geopolitical tensions, climate-related disruptions and emerging technological risks. When the freedom and safety of navigation are threatened, it is seafarers, and their families, who bear the real human cost.

5.           The history buffs amongst us may have read about King Canute the Great, the Viking who was, in the 11th century, the King of an empire that covered England, Denmark and Norway. There is a famous story of him ordering the tide not to rise onto his land. Needless to say, it was an exercise in vain. In reality, King Canute did not, as many commonly think, try to stop the tide. He in fact, staged it as a demonstration to show that he recognised the strength of the sea – and this power is greater even than the power of kings.

6.           Like King Canute, we are powerless to stop the tide. Today, we continue to be in the sea’s grip, of natural events and towering waves. But we can and must stand against risks and dangers that can be prevented by care, attention and investment of time and resources.

7.           For Singapore, this is not a distant concern. As a small island nation whose prosperity depends on open, secure and well-functioning sea lanes, including the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, maritime safety is fundamental to our way of life. That is why Singapore Safety@Sea Week is such an important platform.

8.           Over the coming days, we will exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and strengthen partnerships. These conversations matter because maritime safety cannot be achieved by any single authority, company or country. It is built collectively - through common standards, mutual trust, and a willingness to learn from one another.

9.           This year's theme, "All Hands on Deck – Safety First!", captures that spirit well. Safety is a shared responsibility across the entire maritime community – regulators, industry and operators alike – and is strongest when innovation is guided by operational realities.

10.        Today, I will focus on three priorities of maritime safety: First, technology; second, risk, and third, people at the heart of every safety decision. These priorities are interconnected.

Building Resilient, Trusted Technology

11.        Technology is transforming maritime operations. Artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems are changing how ships are operated, maintained and monitored. These technologies can reduce repetitive and hazardous work, improve situational awareness, and help operators respond more quickly to emerging risks. But technology itself does not make us safer. It is how we design, govern and integrate it into operations that makes the difference. Innovation succeeds only when those who rely on it have confidence that it is safe and reliable.

12.        This is why international standards matter. Earlier this year, the International Maritime Organization adopted the world's first International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, or the MASS Code. Although the Code is currently non-mandatory, it establishes a common bar for how these vessels are designed, navigated, and secured against cyber threats and makes clear where accountability lies.

13.        Singapore is proud to have contributed actively to the development of this Code. To put the work into practice, we have opened a sandbox for MASS trials in our own port waters, including the trial of NYK's autonomous car carrier Elder Leader this April.

14.        New technology can strengthen, but also compromise, maritime safety. To make sure that we achieve the first – and avoid the second – requires close collaboration between regulators, researchers and industry. I am therefore pleased that MPA will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding today with Ocean Infinity. Ocean Infinity is a marine robotics and technology company specialising in remote and autonomous maritime operations. Through this collaboration, Ocean Infinity will share operational insights and practical lessons drawn from its Armada fleet of Remotely Operated Vehicles, or ROVs, – the first in the industry to earn DNV’s Statement of Compliance for remote operations. This collaboration will deepen our understanding of autonomous vessels and Remote Operations Centres, and support capability development and operational experimentation.

15.        MPA will also be partnering ST Engineering to trial autonomous capabilities on its vessel Mata Ikan. This trial leverages Autonomast, an all-in-one modular system that converts existing vessels for autonomous operation. This will inform how MPA procures and safely operates fully autonomous, remotely operated Uncrewed Surface Vessels in the future.

16.        These initiatives reflect Singapore's approach to innovation. We pursue technology as a means to an important end - safer seas, more resilient ports and greater peace of mind for everyone who depends on them.

Preparing for Tomorrow's Risks, Today

17.        Technology is only one part of the equation. The other is our ability to anticipate risks. The global transition towards cleaner shipping is gathering pace. Alternative fuels such as methanol and ammonia will play an important role in supporting the industry's decarbonisation goals.

18.        This transition is both necessary and welcome. But new fuel brings new safety considerations. We must not learn these lessons the hard way – through accidents, injury and loss. As we accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels, we must understand their properties and prepare our emergency response capabilities.

19.        That is why MPA has commissioned DASH – which stands for Dispersion Analysis and Simulations for Handling of future fuels. DASH uses advanced modelling to better understand how substances such as methanol and ammonia behave in the event of an accidental release, so we can devise effective plans for prevention and mitigation.

20.        However, modelling potential hazards is only half the picture – detecting anomalies early and responding swiftly is paramount. This is where the IPOC system comes in – our Integrated Port Operations Command, Control and Communications system, developed in close partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Agency. IPOC brings together real-time information from across our port operations into a single operational picture allowing officers to detect risks early, coordinate responses more effectively and deploy resources more quickly. Today's launch marks another significant milestone in Singapore's journey towards smarter and safer port operations.

21.        Beyond our own systems, industry-led initiatives are just as vital to strengthening detection and response across the supply chain. The Cargo Safety Programme by the World Shipping Council is one such effort, and I am pleased that we have Mr Randy Chen, Vice Chairman of Wan Hai Lines, to share more about these efforts later. 

22.        Preparing for tomorrow’s risks today also means that our journey towards decarbonisation is underpinned by a philosophy of safety from the outset. Singapore has committed to achieving a fully electric or net-zero compatible harbour craft fleet by 2050. This transition means that battery safety will become increasingly important.

23.        This is why I welcome the Future Ship and System Design programme, led by the Singapore Institute of Technology together with MPA, the Singapore Maritime Institute, and industry partners. A key focus is the development of a battery room safety evaluation framework to better understand and mitigate battery fire risks, support the design of more fire-resilient battery compartments, and strengthen emergency response protocols. Efforts like these ensure that our drive towards decarbonisation and our commitment to safety go hand in hand.

People at the Heart of Safety

24.        All of us who take to the seas know that there is an element of risk involved. For all that we have discussed this morning – maritime safety has always been, and will always be, about people.

25.        We can write rules, we can deploy technology, but in the end, we rely on each other – on the human spirit of caring for our fellowmen, of courage and conscientiousness.

26.        It is right, then, that we take time today to recognise those who embody this spirit — seafarers who go above and beyond for others at sea. In a moment, we will present the MPA Safety@Sea Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Search and Rescue Efforts in 2025, honouring those whose actions made a real difference when it mattered most. In years past, this award has honoured masters and crews who made bold calls to divert far from their planned course, often against difficult weather or heavy traffic, to save lives at sea.

27.        This year is no different – take the crew of the Singapore-flagged Wan Hai A19, who answered a call from the US Coast Guard to rescue two survivors adrift west of the Galapagos Islands. Manoeuvring a large cargo ship close enough to pull survivors from choppy seas was no small feat.

28.        We honour the crew of the Mina Oldendorff, who, on a dark night in the Yellow Sea, spotted a burning fishing vessel. Despite the danger, they steered so close as to be able to use the ship’s line-throwing apparatus and rescued two survivors stranded near the flames — they stayed the course even though it took them three tries to succeed.

29.        Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in honouring the award winners for their courage and selflessness.

Conclusion

30.        Maritime safety is about technology and process, it is also about the human spirit and our willingness to collaborate and build partnerships — between regulators and industry, between technology and the people who use it, and between nations with a shared stake in keeping our seas safe.

31.        As we kick off this year’s Safety@Sea Week, let us carry a shared determination to make a difference. To everyone here today — thank you for your commitment to making our seas safer. Like King Canute, we should not try to hold back the tide. Rather we should work to keep the seas open and free, so that together, we can continue to ride the waves and fulfil our rich and wonderful maritime destinies.

32.        Thank you.