The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced several new initiatives to help shippers meet the IMO’s regulations on sulfur emission, as well as make their operations more environmentally-friendly through digitalization, at the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) Forum.
Among the new initiatives will be an expansion of the MPA’s Green Ship Programme, which will now have an incentive to encourage the adoption of engines using alternative fuels with lower carbon content such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). The theme of the SRS Forum 2019 was ‘2020 and Beyond’.
As well as that, it will also launch new incentives for the use of LNG bunker during port stay and for ships exceeding the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index requirements.
Part of the MPA’s goals are to make LNG the core alternative fuel for shippers post January 2020, when no more than 0.5% of sulfur will be permitted in a vessel’s emissions.
The opening speech of the SRS Forum was delivered by MPA’s Chief Executive Quah Ley Hoon and she said Singapore’s vision was to be “the global hub port and the international maritime centre for the shipping world.
“Our future state must be one that is powered by greener fuels, new shipping capabilities, new maritime talent, interoperable digital platforms and players beyond the traditional realm of maritime.”
Singapore is the world’s leading bunkering hub and says it is “on track” to be LNG-bunkering ready, according to MPA. To aid that effort, MPA has supported the building of two LNG-bunkering vessels to facilitate ship-to-ship LNG bunkering for ocean-going vessels from Q3 2020.
Furthermore, MPA is strengthening the digital connectivity of Singapore, and by the end of 2019 it wants all services provided by its One Stop Document Centre to be available online.
