SIMIC

Marcus Hand | Mar 09, 2022

The Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint: Working Towards 2050 was unveiled on Wednesday to chart concrete, long term strategies to develop a sustainable maritime sector.

The blueprint outlines seven key areas that will be focused on by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) with at least SGD300m in additional funding for the initiatives in the blueprint.

Related: Decarbonising shipping could be a $6trn effort

For vessels flying the Singapore flag under the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) there will be incentives for owners to operate green ships. A green notation was introduced for vessels under the SRS in November last year. Further incentives will aim to working towards 50% of the Singapore-flag fleet being green ships by 2050. It’s understood the exact definition of a green ship is still being discussed.

As the world’s largest bunkering port Singapore is looking towards a multi-fuel future and developing bunkering standards and infrastructure for this. It will include supplying low and zero-carbon marine fuels including biofuels, methanol, ammonia, and potentially hydrogen, while enabling green technologies such as carbon capture, storage and utilisation.

Related: Podcast: In Conversation with DNV and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation

Singapore operates the world’s second largest container port, and biggest transhipment hub, and has set targets for a low and zero carbon future. It is aimed to have a 60% reduction in emissions over 2005 levels by 2030, and zero emissions from port operations by 2050.

Domestic harbour craft will all need to operate on low-carbon energy solutions by 2030 and full electric power and net zero fuels by 2050.

Singapore aims to be a global hub for maritime decarbonisation R&D. Last the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) was set jointly by the MPA and six founding industry partners.

Singapore would also aim to become a green finance hub, including accounting and reporting.