Asmi launches plan to establish Singapore as green maritime and offshore hub
Strategies include creating and redesigning 1,000 job roles, developing workforce that can take on new roles in relevant sectors
A NEW plan aims to turn Singapore into the regional centre for renewables and decarbonisation in the marine and offshore energy (M&O) sector, increasing the Republic’s relevance and capitalising on growth opportunities.
This was announced on Monday (Feb 10) by Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, who was speaking at the Association of Singapore Marine and Offshore Energy Industries (Asmi) CEO Roundtable 2025.
“It sets out our goal for Singapore to become a globally impactful and thriving marine and offshore hub by 2030, and provides a clear road map to achieve this,” he said.
Developed by Asmi with support from Enterprise Singapore, the plan will facilitate offshore renewable energy and maritime decarbonisation, as well as address resource constraints, talent development and growing regional competition.
Dr Tan, who is also the second minister for trade and industry, said that while the M&O sector has now picked itself up post-pandemic, there are several challenges that lie ahead.
This includes the need to rethink current labour-intensive operating models dependent on oil and gas, the emergence of cost-competitive players in China and South Korea, and Singapore’s ageing population that will affect the future profile of the M&O workforce.
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The plan sets out targets to be achieved by 2030, including: signing new contracts that contribute to the development of more than 50 gigawatts of offshore renewable energy projects; and securing new orders to facilitate the avoidance, or reduction, of at least 250 kilotonnes of annual carbon emissions.
The targets also span creating and redesigning 1,000 job roles and developing a workforce that can take on new roles in offshore renewables, sustainability, digitalisation and advanced manufacturing. In addition, the plan intends to achieve an average annual productivity growth of 5 per cent until 2030.
The plan’s approach consists of three prongs: diversifying current M&O portfolios into green or renewable opportunities; scaling internationally while promoting companies’ Singapore origins; and transforming through digitalisation, sustainability and workforce development.
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Dr Tan cited offshore wind and vessel retrofitting as an example where Singapore companies are poised to grow and could carve out new niches.
In 2024, Singapore companies secured more than 30 new offshore wind projects in Europe and Apac, while ship repair and retrofit companies that offer decarbonisation solutions are in high demand for exports into markets like Japan and the UK, he noted.
Simon Kuik, president of Asmi, said: “Singapore’s M&O sector is at a pivotal point, with new opportunities in offshore renewables and maritime decarbonisation. To stay competitive, companies must innovate, adapt and build new capabilities.”
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