Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2021 was officially opened on Monday (19 March) afternoon by Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Transport, at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
Held for the first time in a hybrid format, the theme for this year’s SMW is “New Frontiers, Shifting Paradigms”. The 15th Singapore Maritime Lecture and the 11th Singapore International Maritime Awards followed the Opening Ceremony of SMW 2021.
Now into its 15th run, SMW is the leading maritime event in the region, and offers a platform for the maritime community to discuss pertinent issues and explore solutions to advance the industry after a period of unprecedented challenges and opportunities brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Comprising a mix of 20 in-person and virtual conferences and forums, 6,000 delegates, including industry professionals, business leaders and government officials, are expected to attend SMW 2021.
Held from 19 to 23 April 2021, the line-up of forums, dialogues and conferences will discuss the pace of digital transformation and decarbonisation efforts, as well as the need for a robust talent pool to meet future opportunities for the maritime industry.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Ong stressed that the maritime sector must constantly strive to stay relevant and do better in a post-pandemic world where the industry landscape will be reshuffled. He suggested four new frontiers for Maritime Singapore – resilience, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and talent.
As part of realising these new frontiers, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is developing the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint 2050 in partnership with industry stakeholders.
The Blueprint will chart out decarbonisation strategies to mitigate Singapore’s maritime transport emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
Minister Ong announced today the launch of a two-month consultation exercise to seek suggestions and views for the Blueprint. The consultation focuses on seven areas:
- Port terminals
- Domestic harbour craft
iii. Future marine fuels and bunkering standards
- Singapore Registry of Ships
- Efforts at the International Maritime Organization
- Carbon accounting awareness and capabilities
vii. Maritime decarbonisation research and development
Suggestions for the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint 2050 can be provided here by 18 June 2021.
Photo credit: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 20 April, 2021
