Singapore outlines blueprint for maritime decarbonisation

SINGAPORE is intensifying its decarbonisation efforts in the maritime sector, with the unveiling of a blueprint that sets out strategies and goals to be achieved by 2050 and at least an additional S$300 million to support these initiatives.

Unveiled by Minister for Transport S Iswaran at his ministry's Committee of Supply debate on Wednesday (Mar 9), the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint 2050 will focus on 7 key areas.

These are port terminals; domestic harbour craft; future marine fuels, bunkering standards and infrastructure; the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS); efforts at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other international platforms; research & development and talent; and carbon awareness, carbon accounting and green financing.

Singapore's port terminals aim to lower their absolute emissions by at least 60 per cent compared to 2005 levels by 2030, then ultimately to net zero emissions by 2050, through adoption of cleaner energy, automation and digitalisation, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Harbour craft numbering 1,600, including ferries and tug boats, will operate on low-carbon energy solutions by 2030 and full electric propulsion and net zero fuels by 2050. This will reduce absolute emissions by 15 per cent compared to 2021 levels by 2030; and then by 50 per cent from 2030 levels by 2050.

The city-state expects to be ready to transit to multi-fuel bunkering, offering low and zero-carbon marine fuels including biofuels, methanol, ammonia, and potentially hydrogen, as well as enabling green technologies such as carbon capture, storage and utilisation.

BT in your inbox

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign Up

Sign Up

The SRS will recognise and incentivise owners to operate green ships, with a goal of having 50 per cent of Singapore-flagged fleet to be green ships by 2050. The current fleet stands at some 4,000.

Separately, Chee Hong Tat, the Senior Minister of State for Transport, announced at the debate initiatives to strengthen the capabilities of Singapore port and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the maritime industry.

The Sea Transport Industry Digital Plan (IDP) that helps simplify digitalisation for the SMEs will expand from the sub-sectors of ship agency, harbour craft and bunkering to all sub-sectors, so that ship chandlers, ship brokers, marine surveyors, ship management and others will also benefit.

Chee added that the funding support for adoption of pre-approved solutions will be extended beyond 2022 to benefit eligible maritime companies on an ongoing basis. Over 3,000 SMEs will be eligible to apply for the co-funding to adopt pre-approved digital solutions under the expanded Sea Transport IDP.

As it grows the sea transport sector, Singapore aims to create between 2020 and 2025 some 1,000 "good" positions for locals in traditional roles like port operation managers, as well as emerging roles such as software engineers and supply chain managers.

Chee noted: "Looking at our progress so far, there is scope to grow even more good jobs by 2025, if conditions remain favourable."

The government will attract and support locals to take up shore-based and seafaring careers in the sea transport sector through various programmes, including the Sail Milestone Achievement Programme, the Graduate Mechanical Engineer Conversion Course, and the Career Conversion Programme for Sea Transport Professionals and Associates.