Opening Remarks by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport at MarineTech Conference 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.        A very warm welcome to this year’s Marinetech Conference.

2.        With innovation and technological breakthroughs, Maritime technology or Marinetech has the potential to transform and improve the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of the international maritime industry. 

3.     Collaboration between all stakeholders – government, academia, industry, and unions – will be vital to develop and deploy effective solutions.

Singapore’s Strengths as a Marinetech Hub

4.     The port of Singapore provides fertile ground, or perhaps I should say fertile seas, for productive partnerships in marinetech innovation to flourish and blossom.

5.     First, as a busy hub port, we can provide ample opportunities to push technological frontiers as a living laboratory for researchers and companies to test-bed your new technologies and solutions.

6.     Since 2011, MPA and PSA have been jointly funding research into new technologies to improve the productivity and sustainability of our container operations, through the Port Technology Research & Development Programme. 

7.     Through this programme, PSA has made progress in automating and greening Singapore’s container terminals. It has deployed Automated Guided Vehicles at Tuas Port, which are battery powered and emit 50% less in terms of greenhouse gases compared to traditional diesel-powered prime movers.  

8.     The AGVs do not have zero emissions because our electricity is generated mostly from natural gas, but it is still an improvement compared to traditional diesel-powered vehicles. PSA is also evaluating the feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell-powered prime movers and electric prime movers, to further lower its carbon emissions.

9.     I am pleased to announce that MPA and PSA will be renewing their partnership under the Port Technology Research & Development Programme for the fifth time. 

10.    The renewed partnership MOU will prioritise new technologies for PSA terminals in impactful areas of research, such as automation, robotics, digital and sustainability solutions. This includes robotic solutions for coning and deconing of containers and the test-bedding of smart grid and energy storage systems. PSA will be working with industry partners, institutes of higher learning, and research institutions on many of these projects.  

11.    Through these initiatives, we provide support for our local innovation and research ecosystem, and I hope we can attract more research and start-up activities to Singapore.

12.    Second, we will continue to create a supportive and pro-business environment for technology pathfinders and trailblazers to experiment with new solutions. An example is the use of maritime drones to increase the flexibility and efficiency of ship-to-shore deliveries and remote ship inspections.

13.    If we can deploy these drones safely and effectively in Singapore’s bustling air and sea space, it will give other maritime authorities and companies greater confidence that the same arrangements can be replicated in other ports around the world.

14.    To provide a space to test-bed and develop drone technologies, we launched our first maritime drone estate during the Singapore Maritime Week in 2021. We have also taken steps to provide the enabling infrastructure for drones and other technologies.

15.    Our maritime 5G network will be rolled out in phases in the major anchorages, fairways, port terminals, and boarding grounds, starting from this year and to be completed by mid-2025. When completed, Singapore will be the first port in the world to provide full 5G connectivity across our port waters.

16.    Our next step is to launch a Call for Proposal (CFP) later this year to set up a drone port for ship supplies deliveries. The CFP will act as a pathfinder for public agencies and private companies to develop a concept of operations for drones that is suited to Singapore’s operating environment as a busy hub port.

17.    This is a work in progress, but we are determined to make full use of digital technologies to enhance our port efficiency and productivity, provide safer navigation and better services to our shipping customers, and contribute to improving the resilience of global supply chains, in collaboration with other governments and the global maritime industry.  

18.    Third, we will continue to develop a strong local core of skilled talent, while keeping Singapore as an attractive international hub for manpower development and training. Singapore will remain open and connected with the world. We welcome international talent from different countries to complement the strengths of our local workforce. This enables companies to build strong teams from around the world with the mix of skills and experience that they need to achieve success.

19.    We also encourage our workers to gain international experience through overseas postings and attachments, and for our students to make full use of learning opportunities such as overseas internships and exchanges that are offered by MPA, the Singapore Maritime Foundation and our partners.

Continued Growth of Singapore’s Marinetech Hub

20.    By leveraging on these strengths, Singapore’s marinetech hub can continue to grow from strength to strength. We have been recognised internationally in rankings such as the DNV-Menon Leading Maritime Cities of the World report, which ranked Singapore first overall in the Maritime Technology category.

21.    The Singapore Maritime Institute has established R&D centres to further push the envelope of newer technologies in decarbonisation, digitalisation and cybersecurity. Our start-up space with the National University of Singapore, through PIER71^TM, has attracted close to 100 start-ups from around the world to base in Singapore to develop digital and decarbonisation solutions.

22.    Our target is to grow this number to 150 start-ups by 2025. Importantly, we will help those who have good ideas and solutions to expand their operations in Singapore and abroad. Many companies from around the world have decided to pursue collaborations here in Singapore to be part of our vibrant maritime ecosystem. 

23.    I am happy to announce three such partnerships today. First, ZEBOX will be setting up its first Asia-Pacific hub in Singapore, in partnership with CMA CGM, PSA unboXed, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, and Synergy Marine Group^[1]. 

24.    EnterpriseSG has supported ZEBOX Asia-Pacific in working with Singapore-based start-ups to match promising solutions with problem statements posed by its corporate partners, in areas such as supply chain optimisation, transport, logistics, and energy. 

25.    Second, A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing will be signing a new master agreement framework with seven industry partners to co-develop artificial intelligence solutions for the maritime sector. This partnership will pursue development and operationalisation of AI in areas such as near-collision detection and predictive vessel maintenance.

26.    For workers who are worried about the prospect of AI replacing jobs, there is no need to worry. We will still need human workers to perform important roles, but AI can help us do our job better, improve your productivity, and make your job easier and more interesting. The successful use of AI has the potential to transform business processes and operations – leading to greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability. 

27.    Third, the Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA), which was formed in March 2022 under the leadership of Kuok (Singapore) Limited Maritime Group, will be welcoming 11 new members. Together, the 18 CSA members will work on technological solutions to electrify, digitalise, and decarbonise Singapore’s next-generation coastal logistics ecosystem.

28.    Their goals include designing and deploying e-tug and e-supply vessels, as well as developing logistics and fleet optimisation solutions to reduce marine traffic by 20%. I look forward to seeing the fruits of these exciting collaborations in the years to come.

International Collaboration

29.    Beyond our shores, Singapore is working with like-minded partners around the world to establish Green and Digital Shipping Corridors (GDSC). Vessels must be able to take on sustainable fuel at key ports that they call at around the world, just like they do currently with conventional fuels.

30.    We can also better manage vessel movements if digital information can be standardised and seamlessly exchanged between ports and with the shipping lines, while preserving sovereignty and data security. The impact of our marinetech solutions would be amplified if such solutions and standards are adopted across like-minded ports around the world.

31.    We look forward to working with our partners to experiment with new sustainable fuels and digital solutions, improve the interoperability of our port systems, and establish international standards in this regard.

Conclusion

32.     Please allow me to conclude by wishing everyone a fruitful conference ahead and let us continue working together to innovate solutions to transform the global maritime sector for a greener, smarter and more resilient future. 

33.    Thank you.

^[1] CMA CGM is the world’s third-largest shipping line, and the founding partner of ZEBOX, a maritime start-up incubator and accelerator. PSA unboXed is the corporate innovation and venture capital arm of PSA International. Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore is a classification society and offshore safety and verification body. Synergy Marine Group is a ship management company.