Port Technology: Singapore Pursues $1 Billion Port Development

Port Technology
Singapore Pursues $1 Billion Port Development

 25 Apr 2018 09.20am
Artist's impression of the new Tuas Megaport. Image courtesy of the MPA.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has signed an agreement for a US$1.1 billion second phase development of Tuas Terminal — set to boost the total port capacity by 21 million TEUs by 2027.

Japanese Penta Ocean, South Korean Hyundai and Dutch Boskalis all signed the agreement with the MPA to undertake the development work.

The second phase of development, a four-stage operation, will include the design and construction of 387 hectares of reclaimed land surrounded by 9.1km of caisson walls.

When fully developed by 2040, the terminal will have the capacity to handle 65 million TEUs annually — with almost all port functions moved from Singapore’s Central Business District moved over to it.

The signing of the agreement for the development of the Tuas Terminal, involving Penta Ocean, Hyundai, Boskalis and the MPA. 

This is set to make Tuas the world’s biggest fully-automated port, with the ability to handle twice the amount of the total cargo that currently moves through Singapore.
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Along with this agreement, MPA has also signed six other agreements with local and international companies at the Singapore Maritime Technology Conference —to promote innovation, boost efficiency and develop maritime operations.

One such agreement has partnered the MPA with ST Electronics, an arm of ST Engineering, and Norwegian Kongsberg Norcontrol to work on the Next Generation Vessel Traffic Management System (NGVTMS) Innovative Programme.

The two companies will co-invest $7.5 million to create a NGVTMS Lab to research and develop innovative navigation safety and security technology and operations and help improve maritime operation efficiency.

Agreement signed by Mr Ravinder Singh, President of ST Electronics, Andrew Tan, MPA Chief Executive, and Per-Erik Kristoffersen, President of Kongsberg Norcontrol and observed by Norwegian State Secretary, Danial Bjarman-Simonsen; Dr Lam Pin Min and Vincent Chong, President/CEO, ST Engineering. 

MPA has also partnered with Finnish technology group Wärtsilä Corporation to research and promote the development of cyber-physical security and intelligent vessel and port operations.

Wärtsilä will look to provide mentoring for technology start-ups in the industry, as well as pursuing collaborations with higher education institutes around in Singapore.

Marco Ryan, Chief Digital Officer, Wärtsilä Corp and Andrew Tan, MPA Chief Executive signing the MOU, observed by SMS Dr Lam Pin Min and Finland Ambassador, HE Paula Parviainen

Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) and the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine Singapore (TCOMS) have also signed a partnership agreement to pursue the development of autonomous vessels cable of undertaking harbour operations such as berthing, mooring and towing for safer and more cost-effective port and terminal operations.

Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M, Andrew Tan, MPA Chief Executive and Prof. Chan Eng Soon, CEO of TCOMS signing the MOU

Other partnerships have also been signed, including a Memorandum of Intent with eight classification societies on the development of the Singapore Maritime Data Hub and a renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Research Council of Norway to further research a range of issues in the maritime industry.

Chief Executive of MPA Andrew Tan said: “We are glad to have like-minded partners who strongly believe in the importance of digitalisation, technology and innovation.

"These MOUs will help us to take the maritime sector to a new level of development in areas such as automation, data analytics, intelligent systems and cybersecurity.

"Along with support for maritime start-ups, MPA hopes to create an enabling environment for both existing and new players to co-exist side by side as part of a vibrant innovative cluster.

"That way, Maritime Singapore will be able to stay ahead of the curve as a world-class hub port and international maritime centre.”
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