Silk alliance coalition strengthens with Singapore

The MoU between Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (LR MDH) and the MPA is aimed at collaborating on a fleet-specific decarbonisation strategy and implementation plan for ‘The Silk Alliance’ cross-industry initiative to enable zero-emission shipping across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

“The Silk Alliance will enable key stakeholders in Singapore to chart the transition towards low- and zero-carbon options,” said Teo Eng Dih, chief executive of MPA.

“As the world’s largest transhipment container port and bunkering hub, Singapore will take active steps to support the decarbonisation of the container trade in line with IMO’s Revised Strategy to reduce emissions from shipping.”

Deeper collaboration

The MPA’s entry into The Silk Alliance initiative is a significant step forward towards deeper public-private sector collaboration between global maritime industry players and Singapore’s port regulator, focusing on actions to unlock key investments as the green corridor cluster moves into an implementation phase.

Their collaboration will include driving investments into scalable fuel supply infrastructure to meet the demand aggregation signal of members of The Silk Alliance and potential wider regional bunkering demands for alternative fuels.

Both parties will strengthen their commitment to developing partnerships in co-creating the green corridor to trial decarbonisation strategies for container ships operating primarily in Asia to achieve significant emission-saving impact.

Launched in May 2022 with 12 leading cross-supply chain stakeholders, The Silk Alliance brings together an integral group of organisations from both the private and public shipping sectors. Inaugural members include port operator, PSA; shipowner MSC Shipmanagement Ltd; bunker logistical supplier Singfar International and the engine manufacturer, Wärtsilä.

The Silk Alliance was initially focused on a baseline fleet that predominantly bunkers in Singapore and sails across Asia, East Africa, the Middle East, Australia and the Pacific Islands. But eventually, it’s expected to eventually aggregate further to other regional hubs and deepsea routes, such as the Singapore-Rotterdam green and digital shipping corridor.