Opening Address by Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law, at Singapore Nor-Shipping Seminar 2025

Mr Even Tronstad Sagebakken, State Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, 

His Excellency Leif Trana, Ambassador of Norway to Singapore,

Mr Otto Tidemand, Honorary Consul-General of Singapore in Oslo,

Mr Erik Borgen, Chairman of the Singapore Norway Chamber of Commerce,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

1.     A very good morning to you. I am very glad to be here at the Singapore at Nor-Shipping Seminar. This is my first attendance at Nor-Shipping, and I am looking forward to the seminar. 

2.     I would like to thank State Secretary Even Tronstad Sagebakken for joining us today and delivering his thoughtful speech. We had a good discussion earlier this March in Singapore during the Singapore Maritime Week, including a heated conversation about football. I would also like to thank Ambassador Leif Trana, Erik and the many supporters of Singapore-Norway relations in the audience today. 

3.     As maritime nations, Singapore and Norway have an established and longstanding partnership. In fact, our friendship is older than Singapore itself – Norway established a consulate in Singapore in 1906, a year after Norway became independent, recognising Singapore’s importance as a harbour for Norwegian vessels. There is much that we have done together in the past, and much more we can do together for the future. 

4.     It is therefore fitting that the theme for this year’s seminar, organised by the Singapore Norway Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Singapore Maritime Foundation and Nor-Shipping 2025, is “future-proofing maritime trade”. The maritime industry is undergoing profound transformation, shaped by geopolitical shifts, and the macro trends of digitalisation and decarbonisation.  To stay ahead, partnerships – such as the one between Singapore and Norway – are critical.

5.     Although we are both maritime nations, we are quite different in our endowments. Norway is richly blessed – with oil, and gas underground, with fish in its surrounding seas and with hydropower from its rivers and mountains. Singapore has, well, none of the above. We do however, have the same drive and ambition as – and many common interests with – Norway. 

6.     Let me highlight three: in climate, ideas and people.

Climate: Decarbonisation

7.     First, we must work together to secure a more sustainable future for ourselves and our future generations. 

a.     Norway and Singapore have often facilitated difficult discussions at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This is no different at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). I am happy to see that Mr Oftedal is one of the panelists at the seminar today. MPA, as Vice-Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, worked with Mr Oftedal in his capacity as Chair of the IMO Working Group on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships, to drive the adoption of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy and facilitate consensus on the milestone IMO Net-Zero framework. We look forward to the adoption of the measures in October 2025, to provide certainty for the maritime industry and fuel producers.

b.     The maritime communities from both countries are also developing new standards and practices. In 2024, MPA, together with Norwegian classification society DNV, supported the world’s first use of ammonia as a marine fuel onboard Fortescue’s Singapore-flagged dual-fuelled Green Pioneer. MPA and DNV worked together on the technical assessment of the vessel and ensured the safe adoption of new technology and systems onboard. Cristina, who is DNV’s Chief Operating Officer based in Singapore, is here with us today as the moderator for the panel discussions. 

c.     These experiences are summarised into practical guides at platforms such as the Maritime Technologies Forum, which founding members include the Norwegian Maritime Authority and DNV. 

8.     Such efforts bring together the expertise of our countries to decarbonise the maritime industry as a whole. 

Ideas: Digitalisation and Innovation

9.     Second, Singapore and Norway have, together, incubated and nurtured many new ideas that have transformed the seas and how we do business. These new ideas are key to improving the efficiency and resilience of our maritime sector.

10.    MPA has worked closely with Norwegian industry leaders to enhance our digitalisation capabilities. We are developing a next-generation vessel traffic system which can identify traffic hotspots and incorporate collision avoidance algorithms. Together, we make the seas safer, even as vessel traffic becomes more complex.

11.    Singaporean and Norwegian companies have also collaborated to deliver innovative solutions for the maritime ecosystem. For example, in 2024, Singaporean companies Lita Ocean and SeaTech Solutions signed an agreement with Norwegian companies Pascal Technologies and Evoy to develop a fully electric high-speed harbour craft tailored for use in Singapore’s waters. Norway’s ECOsubsea has also partnered Singapore-based Eng Hup Shipping to deploy its robots for underwater hull cleaning, improving the efficiency of cleaning compared to conventional methods. These industry partnerships have allowed Norwegian and Singaporean companies to grow and exploit opportunities in both markets and across the world. 

People: Workforce Development

12.    Third, as seafaring nations, we must continue to attract talented individuals to the maritime sector.

a.     The MPA-Global Internship Award provides opportunities for students to gain on-the-job training and global exposure at reputable international maritime companies in Singapore and overseas, including in Scandinavia. 

b.     As part of knowledge exchange, MPA also regularly hosts Norwegian management trainees from members of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association.  

c.     In the area of new fuels, MPA has worked together with industry partners to establish the Maritime Energy Training Facility to train maritime personnel to safely and efficiently handle alternative fuels like methanol and ammonia. Over 500 maritime professionals have been trained and we welcome Norwegian shipowners, especially those who have ordered new vessels, to send trainees for these new courses handling new fuels and systems. 

13.    Singapore and Norway are both committed to developing maritime talent. We welcome more Norwegian partners to co-develop new products and services for the global market.  

Conclusion

14.    The maritime industry is critical to our economic growth and global connectivity, contributing over 6% of Singapore’s GDP. We will continue to work closely with our partners to explore new frontiers of growth. Singapore and Norway have made great strides together in the areas of decarbonisation, innovation and digitalisation, and workforce development. Our continued collaboration stands us in good stead to navigate the winds and waves of the future.

15.    I wish everyone a fruitful seminar today. Thank you.