Padmesh Prabhune –
The 18th edition of the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), organized by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), successfully concluded last week. Held during 15 to 19 April 2024, at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, the SMW witnessed more than 50 events across the maritime sector.
MPA discussed several issues related to developments on low-emission maritime energy transition technologies, maritime artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and manpower, over the five-day event.
Themed ‘Actions meet Ambition’; SMW 2024 was organized around four pillars, viz – decarbonisation, digitalisation, services, and talent development. Over 10,000 maritime professionals from 80 countries, including delegates from governments, port authorities, international organisations, as well as industry experts and thought leaders, attended this edition of SMW’24.
SMW 2024 was launched by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Mr Chee highlighted that Maritime Singapore has continued to grow year-on-year – a mark of the industry’s vote of confidence in Singapore, and the strong tripartite relationship between business, workers, and the government.
Looking forward, Mr Chee said, “Singapore aims to be a global hub for innovation, reliable and resilient maritime operations, and maritime talent, to better serve the current and future needs of our stakeholders and allow Singapore to contribute to global development and sustainability goals effectively.”
A maritime dialogue was held on the topic of Supply Chain Resilience, Digitalisation and Decarbonisation. The panel, comprising Dr Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Germany, Mr Even Tronstad Sagebakken, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Norway, and Mr Francis Zachariae, Secretary-General, International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) was moderated by Professor Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
In addition, the inaugural Expo@SMW trade exhibition showcased maritime solutions by over 50 companies and startups.
IMO and ISO made their presence felt
Apart from maritime professionals, participants of SMW 2024 included Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary- General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); and Mr Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Speaking at his first maritime event in Singapore since his appointment as the Secretary-General of the IMO in January 2024, Mr Dominguez delivered a keynote speech at the Singapore Maritime Lecture that was moderated by Ambassador Mary Seet-Cheng, Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Pacific Islands Forum.
Mr. Dominguez said: “IMO is on track to adopt mid-term measures by late 2025 to cut GHG emissions, to reach net zero targets. Alongside this regulatory work, there is a need to consider issues such as safety, pricing, infrastructural availability to deliver new fuels, lifecycle emissions, supply chain constraints, barriers to adoption and more.”
He added, “Seafarers will require training to be able to operate new technologies as well as zero or near-zero emission powered vessels safely.”
Highlighting the significance of skill development Dominguez said, “We need ‘early movers’ in the industry as well as forward-looking policy makers to take the necessary risks and secure the right investments that will stimulate long-term solutions for the sector. In this regard, we welcome the efforts being undertaken by Singapore to facilitate collaboration among maritime stakeholders, including the MPA-led Maritime Energy Training Facility.”
Marex Media