11-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has initiated an expression of interest (EOI) to seek proposals for the design and advancement of full-electric harbour craft in Singapore.
According to MPA, the purpose of the EOI is to evaluate and validate proposals for the most efficient and cost-effective reference designs of full-electric harbour craft. This includes the establishment of design standards and guidelines for vessel structures that are optimized for efficiency, integrated battery management and energy storage systems, as well as essential safety features like emergency backup, cybersecurity, and firefighting capabilities.
The reference designs will complement local research capabilities and contribute to the development of full-electric harbour craft for various applications, MPA stated.
Additionally, the EOI invites proposals that demonstrate the commercial viability and scalability of different business models based on an aggregated fleet of harbour craft to meet the demands at the Port of Singapore. This initiative will facilitate the creation of green financing models to support the development of electric harbour craft, added MPA.
MPA Chief Executive Teo Eng Dih expressed hopes that the common reference designs and aggregated demand will help reduce upfront premiums and operating costs for new harbour craft. This will also contribute to the advancement of green financing options and enhance the skills of the maritime workforce.
The EOI will initially focus on the design and support for transitioning smaller harbour craft to electrification. Currently, out of the 1,600 harbour craft operating within the Port of Singapore, around 400 are smaller harbour craft involved in various marine services.
MPA emphasized that the suitability of electrification as a decarbonisation pathway depends on factors such as the operating profile and energy requirements of the harbour craft.
The Ministry of Transport has mandated that all harbour craft operating in the Port of Singapore must be fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuel, or compatible with net-zero fuels like hydrogen from 2030 onwards.
To ensure sufficient time for adjustment to the new designs, operators are required to inform MPA of any plans for new harbour craft starting from January 2027, ahead of the 2030 goal.
Interested parties can visit the MPA website for more information and submit their proposals by September 15, 11:59 PM.
