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Maritime Port Singapore
MPA Singapore
Making Waves
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore jets forward with innovation, sustainability, and talent development
As one of the world’s most industrious shipping and air cargo hubs, Singapore earns its reputation as the “gateway to Asia”. Considered to be the meeting point of trade between the East and West, Singapore provides comprehensive connectivity to local and global markets, positioning the country as a strategic location for organizations seeking to access the emerging Asian market. Singapore links to 600 ports in over 120 countries, providing seafarers and maritime organizations with reliable marine services and facilities.
“As one of the major historical trading hubs in Asia, Singapore has strong business, cultural and linguistic links to many Asian markets. Singapore’s cultural and linguistic connections across Asia, highly-qualified workforce, and openness to top global talent makes Singapore the preferred location to support the global business community in their expansion in Asia,” states the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (2022).
MPA Singapore
In February 1996, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established with the express mission to develop Singapore as the international maritime center and leading global hub port. The organization preserves the country’s maritime interests and serves in many roles, including as National Maritime Representative, International Maritime Centre Champion, Port Planner, and Port Regulator.
Together with shipping businesses and port operators, the MPA’s purpose is to regulate and continue to develop the Singapore port into a thriving international hub for the global maritime community. Alongside its stakeholders, the Port Authority fosters safety, security, and environmental protection in its surrounding port waters. It also facilitates port operations and growth, and seeks to expand the collection of maritime ancillary services.
It appears the MPA is making considerable headway with its objective. The World Shipping Council attests that Singapore is the world’s second-busiest port concerning container throughput. The country has also earned the title of top refueling port for ships and a leading bunkering port, lifting more than 40 million tons of bunkers yearly. In addition to these accolades, Singapore offers some of the most technologically advanced shipbuilding and repairs operations in Southeast Asia. The country holds approximately 65% of the global floating production storage and offloading conversion market, and 70% of the jack-up rig-building market.
Sustainability and green initiatives
Sustainability is no longer wishful thinking for organizations; in 2022, it is a strategic imperative. Climate change, consumer expectations, global regulations, and an entrenched worldwide moral environmental responsibility mean that organizations need to display accountability and demonstrate consistent action to toe the line of the universal ‘going-green’ theme. Against this expectation-laden background, the MPA seeks to limit the impact of shipping by encouraging clean and green maritime activities in Singapore waters. In 2011, the organization pledged an investment of S$100 million toward its five-year Maritime Singapore Green Initiative. In 2019, the initiative was extended to run until 2024. Comprising four programs, the green initiative seeks to further the decarbonization agenda across all shipping activities. The four programs refer to green shipping, a green port, green energy and technology, as well as green awareness. These provide incentives to participants that satisfy and exceed the minimum guidelines laid out by the International Maritime Organization Conventions.
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V-Bunkers
V-Bunkers was created in 2019, building on Vitol’s long-standing presence in bunkering markets worldwide. Vitol is a leading provider of energy globally, serving customers from 40 offices worldwide and chartering 6,200 ship voyages every year. Vitol’s global network of infrastructure includes access to 16 m m3 of storage and to 500 kb/d of refining capacity. This, combined with logistical expertise and market understanding, underpins V-Bunkers’ goal to be a highly dependable, reliable bunker craft operator. V-Bunkers was named Singapore’s best bunker craft operator by the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore within two years of its founding, underscoring our commitment to operational excellence and reliability.
V-Bunkers initially acquired a fleet of 12 modern Singapore-flagged bunker tankers and we have since doubled our fleet size to facilitate growth not only in Singapore but also in new markets. Most recently, we have expanded our geographical range to include China’s largest container ship port, Yangshan, locations across the ARA region and branch offices in the Port of Fujairah.
Our reputation as a supplier of high-quality bunker fuels with an internationally-recognised standard of craft operatorship is reflected in the calibre of our customers. Our delivery volumes as well as the scale of our operations are growing every year. This is a welcome endorsement from partners entrusting us with repeat business as they consider our brand to be synonymous with dependable and timely supply of compliant product. We wish to thank all our loyal customers for their continued support as we seek to deliver ever-higher standards of service and new product offerings: we are actively investing in shipping solutions for a low-carbon future. Our barge fleet conforms to the highest standards of carbon efficiency and many of our bunker tankers are under MPA’s green ship programme for exceeding emission reduction standards.
At V-Bunkers we are continuously looking to adopt the latest shipping technology. Our ownership of Singapore’s only dual fuel LNG bunkering barge is just one of many such initiatives. We are pursuing innovative solutions to further reduce carbon emissions for harbour craft, including energy storage systems and fuel cells. V-Bunkers’ barges are already actively engaged in delivering bio-fuels to a range of early adopters. In our newbuilding program, we have two electric-hybrid notation barges on order that will be delivered in the last quarter of 2022. This is the first time such technology will be deployed in the Port of Singapore for bunker craft and will significantly reduce carbon emissions, contributing towards Singapore’s commitment to be a leader in maritime decarbonisation. In line with this commitment we are also actively developing plans to provide low-carbon and carbon free future fuels such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen.
More Info: www.vbunkers.sg
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MPA Singapore
Lighting the way for talent
In terms of talent attraction and retention, the last two years have changed everything for businesses, leaders, and employees. Globally, companies are desperately searching for new and creative ways to attract talent and cater to individuals’ non-financial needs, such as lifestyle, flexibility, work experience, and travel. In 2013, the MPA established the Global Internship Award (GIA) program, which sponsors learners and provides them with the opportunity to gain global exposure at transnational maritime companies. The students are mentored by industry leaders and gain valuable hands-on learning experience. The participants hail from a variety of disciplines including but not limited to business, arts, law, maritime studies, and information systems. Potential roles for these learners are available across several maritime specialties, such as chartering and ship operations, maritime law or insurance, shipbroking, data analytics, and so forth. With travel restrictions gradually lifting, the host mentoring companies are inviting the GIA recipients to intern at overseas offices in Europe and Southeast Asia, however, some of the program participants will remain in Singapore and undergo remote learning.
Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “The maritime sector is a dynamic, multifaceted, highly globalized industry undergoing an exciting transformation in innovation and decarbonization. There are diverse job opportunities in areas ranging from commercial shipping to maritime technology. In addition, the pandemic and current geopolitical uncertainties demonstrate the importance and resilience of the industry. MPA will continue to work closely with our partners to groom a pipeline of talents for maritime.”
Global trends and ‘the WAVES’
During the Singapore Maritime Week, held this year on 5 and 6 April, the Maritime International Advisory Panel (IAP) held its inaugural meeting. The IAP comprises maritime sector (and related industry) leaders from across the globe and was established by the MPA and Ministry of Transport. The Panel promotes the collaboration of maritime leaders in advancing connectivity within the industry and enhancing supply chains as the Covid-19 pandemic and changing geopolitical landscape have resulted in a growing need for flexible and resilient supply chains. This year, the IAP outlined three key trends that would shape the way forward for a sustainable supply chain. The first trend pertains to the reconfiguration of supply chains through disintermediation, diversification, and regionalization. Technological developments were highlighted as the second trend, emphasizing digitalization and automation as a means to maximize the productivity of supply chains. The third trend
MPA Singapore
relates to the strategic necessity for sustainability, as movers and shakers at both macro and micro levels demand action in light of the current environmental context.
In a seeming solution to these trends, the Port Authority also revealed the development concept for ‘The WAVES’ during Singapore Maritime Week. The MPA (2022) issued a news release with further detail about the concept: “Senior Minister of State for Transport Mr. Chee Hong Tat shared that ‘The WAVES’, or Waterfront for All, innoVation, Enterprise, and Sustainability, is an integrated waterfront development that will be the focal point for maritime innovation, sustainability, and talent development efforts in Singapore…
“The WAVES’ would support Maritime Singapore to capture new opportunities by building connectivity, capabilities, and careers. Slated to be operational by late 2025, ‘The WAVES’ will house research institutes and start-ups, facilitate testbeds and trials of decarbonization technologies, and host maritime training programs to attract and develop talent. Leveraging ‘The WAVES’, MPA also aims to showcase the vibrancy of the maritime industry to the public and foster their affinity for the sea. “Mr Chee added that ‘The WAVES’ would be a waterfront landmark for the public to enjoy and feel connected to the sea. In the longer term, he said ‘The WAVES’ would support the building of maritime careers for our workforce and attract talents to work in MarineTech and decarbonization.”
www.mpa.gov.sg
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