THE Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will expand its collaboration with oil and gas company Shell Eastern Trading to advance the adoption of electric harbour craft and the development of low-and-zero-carbon fuels in Singapore.

This comes as part of a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between MPA and Shell on Monday (Apr 17) to accelerate maritime decarbonisation efforts here. In 2017, MPA signed an MOU with Shell to cooperate in the research and development and test-bedding of projects within the maritime industry in areas of clean fuel technologies, automation and digitalisation.

To support the adoption of electric harbour craft, MPA and Shell will identify energy-related development opportunities, including collaboration on charging infrastructure for the craft.

Both parties will also collaborate on the research and development of low-and-zero-carbon fuels. This includes training crew in handling, operating and maintaining vessels operating on such fuels.

Chief executive of MPA Teo Eng Dih noted that the partnership will harness both MPA’s and Shell’s expertise in maritime decarbonisation, renewable energy and innovation.

“The MOU is an important step towards achieving our 2030 goal for all new harbour craft to be fully electric, capable of using 100 per cent biofuels or compatible with net-zero fuels, as well as to achieve net-zero emissions in our harbour craft, pleasure craft and tugboat sectors by 2050,” he said.

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The MOU signing took place at an event held by Shell to unveil the first of a series of electric ferries developed by the company and local shipbuilder and shipowner, Penguin International.

It was inked between Teo and Nick Potter, general manager of Shell Shipping and Maritime for Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

MPA also said it will work with Shell to make its charging facilities at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore available for users of other electric harbour craft.