Singapore unveils revised maritime tech road map with S$100 million investment; new sector AI push
Focuses include autonomous port operation, alternative energy delivery, smart ships and smart port services
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[SINGAPORE] The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) on Tuesday (Apr 21) unveiled a new national plan to boost maritime technology and research.
MPA also announced a new partnership with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) to increase the adoption of artificial intelligence among companies in the sector.
The Singapore Maritime Technology & Research Roadmap is aimed at advancing the sector’s efficiency and sustainability. Announced at Singapore Maritime Week 2026, it builds on the previous road map that was established in 2019.
The latest plan focuses on four areas:
- autonomous port operation;
- safe and efficient delivery of alternative energy;
- smart ships; and
- intelligent port services.
MPA and SMI said that more than S$100 million will be invested in R&D for these areas over the next five years.
The road map highlights priorities – including digital technologies, decarbonisation and operational integration – to boost resilience, productivity and innovation in Singapore’s maritime ecosystem. It also addresses structural issues such as manpower, land and sea space limitations.
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“Consultations with industry and research stakeholders” were used to inform the road map’s development, said MPA and SMI. These include a 2025 workshop that helped define priorities across near, medium and long-term horizons.
The road map will be available as an e-book.
SMI is an industry think tank that is a joint effort by MPA, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, and the Singapore Economic Development Board.
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Training in AI
MPA and SSA signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to boost the adoption and use of AI by maritime companies in ship agency, ship management and chartering, shipping operations, as well as bunkering operations.
Companies will have access to a “knowledge base of maritime AI use cases to inform their adoption plans, connect with solution providers, and pilot AI applications in their own operating environment”, said MPA and SSA.
The parties will work with institutes of higher learning and service providers to develop training for employees. The initial training runs have already started with 21 companies participating; a wider roll-out will follow later this year.
MPA and SSA said that companies can also “draw on AI Singapore’s AI Readiness Index framework”, to evaluate how ready they are for AI and to understand how to adopt and implement the technology.
Singapore Maritime Week is organised by MPA and runs until Friday at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.
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