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

Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization,

Mr Francis Zacharie, Secretary-General, International Organization for Maritime Aids to Navigation,

Mr Michael Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-Governance, Belize,

Mr Andy Williams, Minister for Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation, Grenada,

Mr Loh Khum Yean, Deputy Chairman, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.     Good morning and welcome to International Safety @ Sea Week 2025. A warm welcome to our guests joining from the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium as well; the Symposium has brought the aviation and maritime sectors together for meaningful discussions on issues of common interest, such as safety.

2.     This year’s theme – “The Future of Maritime Safety: Navigating the Next Frontier”, is timely and fitting. The maritime industry is facing increasingly complex global challenges such as heightened geopolitical tensions and climate change.

a.     We read about the unfortunate attack on a bulk carrier in the Red Sea just last week, underscoring the urgent need to ensure the safety and well-being of seafarers. The tragic loss of crew members in these attacks remind us that behind every seafarer is their family and loved ones – parents, spouses, children and siblings who share the sacrifices.

b.     Changing weather patterns and more frequent extreme weather events are making navigation increasingly unpredictable and increasing the risk of maritime incidents as well. In October last year, Storm Christine’s landfall on the northeastern coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines stranded 150 vessels and forced 315 vessels to detour from their course and seek shelter. One container ship even suffered a broken anchor chain during the storm, causing it to run aground with its 17 crew still onboard.

3.     Such incidents underscore the need for the industry to address these challenges, including by digitalising and decarbonising.

a.     In April this year, under the leadership of Mr Dominguez, the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, approved a basket of mid-term measures to enable the global shipping industry to achieve net zero emissions by or around 2050. This sets the stage for greater adoption of alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

b.     Concurrently, technological advances, such as autonomous vessels and drones, are reshaping maritime operations for greater resilience and efficiency.

4.     However, digitalisation and decarbonisation bring with them additional novel safety risks.

a.     Many alternative fuels have different characteristics and risk profiles from conventional fuels, introducing new hazards, such as harmful chemical plumes in the event of spills.

b.      The adoption of unmanned technologies alongside conventional vessels will be accompanied by new challenges as we adapt to mixed navigation environments.

c.     It is thus imperative that we address safety risks in tandem with these developments, so that we can seize the opportunities they present and chart a sustainable course for the industry.

5.     It is not all rough seas and dark skies ahead. We can ride the waves if we push ahead on three key areas: we must equip our workforce to meet future challenges, harness collective expertise through close collaborations and partnerships, and draw upon technology and innovation to augment our capabilities.

Equipping our workforce 

6.     The maritime workforce is our first line of defence against emerging risks and safety challenges. To ensure a safe and efficient transition towards decarbonisation, we must equip our global maritime workforce with the knowledge and skills to handle new technologies and alternative fuels, and update standards and training guidelines. Orders for alternative-fuelled vessels grew by over 50 percent in 2024, and are set to accelerate further with the slated adoption of IMO’s mid-term measures later this year. The Maritime Just Transition Task Force estimates that 450,000 seafarers will need additional training to handle alternative fuels by 2030.

7.     Singapore actively supports the upskilling of the global maritime workforce. We launched the Maritime Energy Training Facility, or METF, last year to train maritime workers in the safe handling of alternative fuels and new technologies. As we will soon observe at the Chemical Spill Exercise, spills of alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol pose very different challenges and require different responses. The METF has trained more than 600 seafarers and maritime professionals to date, making good progress towards our target of training more than 10,000 seafarers by the 2030s. MPA is also developing the METF digital platform, a one-stop digital shopfront providing individuals and companies easy access to training courses. The digital platform will be ready by end 2025.

8.     Singapore also actively contributes to the development of global standards and training guidelines through our role as Chair of the IMO’s Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping Sub-Committee Working Group. With Mr Darrick Leow from MPA leading the Working Group, we are working with fellow members to adapt global standards for seafarer training to our evolving operational landscape, and develop training guidelines to ensure the relevance of seafarers’ skills.

9.     Building on our experiences, Singapore is honoured to co-host with IMO the inaugural seminar on training of seafarers on ships using alternative fuels and new technologies that will be held this week. Through a “train-the-trainer” model, the seminar will promote knowledge and skills sharing among maritime administrations, academic institutions and industry bodies, and support the development of national training programmes. I wish the 30 representatives attending the seminar fruitful discussions in the week ahead.

10.    Our people are central to maritime safety – a well-equipped workforce forms the backbone of maritime safety. As we tackle complex global challenges, people must remain at the centre of maritime safety.

Harnessing collective expertise through close collaborations and partnerships

11.    Safety lies not in any one individual’s hands, but is the maritime community’s collective responsibility. Looking around the room, I am heartened by the diverse representation of our guests, local and international – from industry associations, industry leaders, maritime service providers, training and research institutions, and even officers on shore leave who made a deliberate effort to attend this event. This demonstrates the unity, strength and resilience of our maritime community, which in turn provides a strong foundation for collaborations.

12.    Collaborations and partnerships allow us to tap on expertise from different stakeholders to advance collective knowledge and enable the development of innovative solutions for maritime safety. International organisations and industry bodies play an essential role in coalescing diverse viewpoints and catalysing collaborations.

13.    One such organisation is the International Chamber of Shipping, or ICS, which I am pleased to announce will be establishing a regional office in Singapore. As the global trade association for shipowners and operators representing over 80 percent of the world’s merchant fleet, ICS advocates for the industry’s interests and facilitates the development of best practices to advance maritime safety. ICS’ regional office in Singapore contributes to our thriving ecosystem, reflecting Singapore’s commitment to being a trusted global hub port and contributing to the advancement of maritime safety.

14.    Partnerships can also drive the adoption of safety best practices. For example, MPA and France’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation across various areas, including maritime safety and security, in May this year. MPA also renewed its partnership with Bureau Veritas last month to enhance collaboration in innovative digital and decarbonisation solutions, including solutions for vessel maintenance and condition assessments that can enhance safety. Through partnerships among Governments and industry stakeholders, we can ensure that safety remains at the forefront as new fuels and digital innovations come online. Singapore continues to welcome partnerships that catalyse developments in maritime safety.

Augmenting capabilities with technology and innovation

15.    Finally, we can complement human capabilities by leveraging technology and innovation to better predict, prevent, and respond quickly to safety hazards and incidents at sea. Safety begins with situational awareness; technologies such as drones, satellite imagery, and smart sensors provide data to paint a situational picture, while Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist with sense-making and support timely decision making.

16.    Just a few months ago, in March, we launched Singapore’s Maritime Digital Twin, a dynamic, real-time digital replica of our port. Integrating live data across multiple sources, the Maritime Digital Twin not only provides a situational picture of our port, but simulates scenarios, detects anomalies, and predicts issues or potential incidents for swifter responses.

17.    In addition to the Maritime Digital Twin, I am happy to share that MPA will progressively install smart buoys in our waterways from 2026, to enhance our situational awareness. Equipped with environmental sensors and communication systems to relay live data to shore, these smart buoys serve as digital sentinels supporting safe navigation. Their capabilities can be expanded in future to relay information to ships and provide warnings, such as of adverse sea conditions.

18.    While new technologies enhance our capabilities for maritime safety, they come with unique risks as well. It is thus imperative to trial such technologies in controlled safe environments, incorporate appropriate safety protocols and standards into operational frameworks, and ensure seamless integration to operating models. For example, MPA, Skyports Drone Services, CBS Ventures, and TFG Marine are in the midst of conducting Singapore’s first shore-to-ship drone delivery and retrieval operations involving tankers, with the final trials set to be completed later this week. The trials will contribute to the establishment of safety protocols for maritime drone operations in hazardous environments, ensuring that such innovations can be deployed safely. 

Conclusion

19.    Maritime safety is fundamental to enabling the industry to ride the waves of digitalisation and decarbonisation and thrive in the face of complex global challenges. With fortitude and a shared sense of purpose and mission, we will be able to navigate the next frontier safely and smoothly whilst ensuring our workers arrive home safely to their loved ones.

20.    I wish you a meaningful and insightful conference ahead. Thank you.