Singapore focuses on developing regulations for safety and standards of future alternate marine fuels
Singapore is
gearing up to develop regulations and standards for safety and supply of future
alternative fuels for shipping, as moves to decarbonise the industry
accelerate.
“I believe that
the pandemic has really accelerated and brought to the fore decarbonisation,”
Caroline Yang, President of Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) said.
“For the
maritime industry because we invest in assets that are supposed to have a long
run rate of 20 – 30 years, how do we make sure we start our programme right now
so we actually make sure we achieve the 2050 GHG emission goal by the IMO?” she
told a media briefing organised by the Maritime & Port Authority Singapore
(MPA) ahead of next week’s Singapore Maritime Week 2021.
Decarbonisation
is one of three key elements being explored at SMW 2021 under the theme “New
frontiers, new paradigms”, along with digitalisation and talent.
Quah Ley Hoon,
chief executive of the MPA, said SMW 2021 aimed to look at what is the future
for shipping, which impacts not just vessel owners but also bunkering and the
entire supply chain.
“What’s the
future ship? This can affect the type of bunkering we could put place, affect the
type of regulation that is put in place. If it’s ammonia, biofuel, whether its
hydrogen fuel cells, or solar, that requires global collaboration for standards
safety and bunkering,” she explained.
Noting the
experience Singapore has had with developing standards for LNG bunkering and
safety this has taken eight years of international collaboration. “We need to
start quickly, it’s aproblem that cannot be pushed down the road.”
For its part the
SSA has set up a new alternative marine fuels sub-committee. “As an association
we believe this will be thee item on the agenda in the next few years,” Yang
said.
“For the
bunkering side to keep apace so we know what fuels are coming onstream so we
are not blindsided by it, and the other thing is the standards development, to
make sure when these fuels are available they can be safely supplied in
Singapore port,” she added.
The 15th SMW
runs from 19 – 23 April and will comprise a mix of 19 hybrid and online events,
with over 100 speakers and 6,000 participants.
Included in
these events will be the annual Singapore Maritime Lecture where Yee Yang
Chien, President and CEO of MISC will deliver a keynote speech “Making the
Future Possible”.
There will also
be Sea Asia virtual preview co-organised by Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF)
and Informa Markets.
Tan Beng Tee,
Executive Director of SMF said: “Singapore is in a very good place for
businesses to meet and share views and also demonstrate thought leadership and
this will be done through Sea Asia. We are holding a virtual Sea Asia this time
around with a bigger hybrid event in September.”
IMS