Business

SMTC 2021: Electrification of Singapore bunker tankers and harbour craft in government pipeline, says SMI

MPA and SMI will be awarding up to three electrification projects by Q3 2021; the duo are working to maintain Singapore’s status as an attractive shipping hub for the global maritime ecosystem.

Published

5 years ago

April 7, 2021

Admin

The following interview arranged by Informa Connect is part of pre-event coverage for the upcoming Singapore Maritime Technology Conference 2021 (SMTC 2021), where Manifold Times is an official media partner. Readers can find out more about the virtual event by clicking on the link here.

It is only a matter of time before Singapore’s bunker tanker and harbour craft population start considering the use of electrification technologies for propulsion, forecasts the Executive Director at Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI).

Dr Sanjay Kuttan was in a recent interview with Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times when he shared details of the government’s green initiatives for the local bunkering and harbour craft community.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and SMI issued a joint Call-For-Proposals (CFP) exercise for the electrification of harbour craft in September 2020; a total of 16 companies participated in the joint CFP where seven proposals were shortlisted for consideration.

“We are now heading towards the end of the evaluation period for these projects that will design, build and operate a fully- electric harbour craft, including their supporting electrical charging infrastructure around the Singapore port,” reveals Dr Kuttan.

“We hope that up to three electrification projects will be awarded and approved by the third quarter of 2021 if not sooner. At the end of the day, it is all about the economics of these projects to enable scalable operational solutions and to offer support to our local maritime sector to capture new opportunities arising from the sustainability wave.”

Dr Kuttan is convinced of the environmental benefits offered by electrification technologies but was quick to add commercial factors have also been among key considerations in the Singapore government’s push towards greener maritime technologies.

“The business model for Singapore’s maritime sector to adopt electrification is very important and must make sense. In short, we are working to maintain our status as an attractive shipping hub for the global maritime ecosystem,” he explains.

“In the future, we anticipate the green supply chain to be a key prerequisite of international trade and therefore these efforts are important in helping our local shipping companies to remain relevant and continue their commercial involvement with international maritime trading parties.

“Specifically, we believe major clients will be demanding for access to a green supply chain in the future. So, if Singapore’s harbour craft, including bunker tankers, are green they will have a greater chance to be a factor in the green supply chain equation and secure business from international players.”

“This applies to everything else supporting the ship arriving in the Singapore Port that includes the provision of goods and services, all of which adds to the carbon footprint of the supply chain and therefore will need to be managed carefully.”

The cost of implementing battery technologies onboard vessels has also been steadily decreasing through the years.

Dr Kuttan cited a Bloomberg report which informed the price of a battery pack (volume-weighted average) dropping from the cost of USD 1,191 per kilowatt hour from 2010 to USD 137 per kilowatt hour in 2020.

“The drop in cost of battery packs is from the trickle down effect as a result of research and innovation driven by the automotive sector and to the increasing production of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles,” he notes.

“Also, if battery energy density continues to improve we could one day see a bunker tanker become a floating charging station for electric harbour crafts or even short sea vessels. This is a practical consideration due to the lack of shore-side land space for shore-side charging around the Singapore port.

“The whole shipping industry, including banks adopting the Poseidon principles, is now firmly moving towards the direction of deploying green technologies. It will not be long before technology, business model, and financing converge to a point to form the perfect storm to energise the maritime transformation.”

Note: Dr. Sanjay Kuttan is a moderator for the Industry Panel: Harbour Craft – Electrification & Digitalisation virtual roundtable scheduled to take place on Thursday (22 April) at 18:25 – 19:10 SGT as part of SMTC 2021.

Photo credit: Singapore Maritime Institute
Published: 7 April, 2021

Winding up

Singapore: Nan Shan Maritime liquidator issues notice of intended dividend

Creditors will need to produce proofs of debt to liquidator of Nan Shan Maritime by 14 July, according to Government Gazette notice.

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Admin

A notice to declare intended dividend of Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd to its creditors has been posted on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (30 June).

The following are the details of the notice of intended dividend:

Name of Company : Nan Shan Maritime (Pte.) Ltd. (In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701967H
Address of Registered Office : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Last Day for Receiving Proofs : 14 July 2026
Name of Liquidator : Tam Chee Chong
Address : c/o 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903

Photo credit: steve pb from Pixabay
Published: 1 July, 2026

Fuel Testing

VPS strengthens China presence with new Shanghai marine fuel testing facility

Investment in the new testing laboratory comes as marine fuel volumes in Chinese ports continue to grow and customers increasingly demand faster testing and advisory services.

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Admin

VPS strengthens China presence with new Shanghai marine fuel testing facility

Marine fuels testing company VPS on Tuesday (1 July) announced the opening of its brand new testing laboratory in Shanghai, China.

The company said this strategic investment strengthens VPS’ global laboratory network and reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering faster, locally-based testing services to customers operating in one of the world’s most important maritime markets.

“Shanghai has emerged as one of the fastest growing marine bunkering hubs and is expected to play a major role in the future supply of both traditional fossil fuels and emerging low-to-zero carbon fuels,” it said in a statement.

“The new Shanghai laboratory will provide comprehensive marine fuel testing services, enabling customers to benefit from further improved turnaround times and enhanced operational decision making.”

The facility will support vessel owners, operators, charterers and fuel suppliers, with rapid, independent analysis and technical expertise, helping stakeholders to manage fuel quality risks, protect assets and maintain regulatory compliance.

Dr. Malcolm Cooper, CEO at VPS, said: “VPS is pleased to announce the opening of our new Shanghai Laboratory, which will provide fuel quality testing for bunker fuels including methanol. China is central to the global shipping industry being the world’s largest shipbuilder, producer of shipping containers and operator of the biggest commercial fleet. Shanghai is therefore the perfect home for our latest laboratory, as VPS is the world’s leading fuel testing company”.

The investment comes as marine fuel volumes in Chinese ports continue to grow and customers increasingly demand faster testing and advisory services. The new facility further enhances the VPS global footprint, which already includes laboratories in Rotterdam, Singapore, Fujairah, Houston and Manchester, supported by an international team of technical experts, sales professionals and customer service specialists.

In addition to supporting conventional marine fuels, the Shanghai laboratory will provide testing and advisory services relevant to the industry’s growing adoption of low-to-zero carbon fuels, assisting customers to navigate emerging fuel quality performance and compliance challenges.

Andrew Morton, VPS MD-AMEA, stated: “The opening of our new laboratory in Shanghai’s Lingang New Area, positions VPS at the heart of one of China’s most important maritime and industrial growth hubs. This investment reflects our confidence in the Chinese maritime market, our commitment to supporting customers closer to where they operate and our belief that Asia will remain at the forefront of shipping’s energy transition.”

The Shanghai laboratory will serve both domestic and international customers operating throughout China and across the wider Asia-Pacific region, supporting ongoing growth in marine fuel testing demand and providing a platform for future expansion of VPS services within the Chinese maritime sector.

Photo credit: VPS
Published: 1 July, 2026

Bunker Fuel

AD Ports Group and IRH Global Trading to advance bunkering at Khalifa Port

Both signed a MoU, outlining potential collaboration in bunkering services to vessels calling at Khalifa Port and the development of alternative bunker fuels such as LNG, biofuels, and methanol.

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Admin

AD Ports Group and IRH Global Trading to advance bunkering at Khalifa Port

AD Ports Group on Tuesday (30 June) said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IRH Global Trading Ltd. to explore strategic cooperation in bunkering services and alternative marine fuels at Khalifa Port.

The MoU outlines potential collaboration across a range of areas, including the provision of bunkering services to vessels calling at Khalifa Port, the development of alternative fuel solutions such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), biofuels, and methanol, and the exploration of opportunities related to fuel storage infrastructure, terminal facilities, and fuel sampling and testing capabilities.

Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO, Ports Cluster – AD Ports Group, said: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to forging strategic alliances that create long-term, sustainable value.

“By working alongside trusted partners such as IRH, we are enhancing our capabilities and supporting the development of future-ready infrastructure and services that reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading global trade and logistics hub, in line with the vision of our wise leadership.”

Ali Rashed Alrashdi, Group CEO – International Resources Holding, said: “This collaboration with AD Ports Group reflects IRH’s commitment to build strategic partnerships that drive real economic impact.

“As we continue to develop our global energy trading platform, bunkering and alternative marine fuels represent a high-potential area of growth. We see Khalifa Port as an ideal base from which to explore these opportunities, and we look forward to working closely with AD Ports Group to bring them to life.”

Through this collaboration, AD Ports Group and IRH Global Trading aim to further enhance Khalifa Port’s value proposition as a multi-purpose, deep-water port that supports efficient, sustainable, and future-oriented maritime operations.

IRH Global Trading is a global commodities trading firm with interests across the mining and energy value chain and plans to build a diversified global minerals and energy trading platform, including LNG, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), crude oil, and petroleum products.

Photo credit: AD Ports Group
Published: 1 July, 2026