ALTERNATIVE FUELS GREENPORT

Asian LNG bunkering cooperation

9 years ago

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ports and Harbours Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) in order to better promote the use of LNG in the region.

MPA and MLIT were among the signatories of a MoU signed in Singapore last year to widen the network of LNG bunker ready ports

Other areas of cooperation under the MOC will include sustainable port planning, port management and technological development.

“The situation surrounding port sectors is dramatically changing. For example, the size of container vessels is getting larger. Shipping lines are restructuring their business strategies, including decisions on alliances. The IMO is strengthening regulations on emissions from vessels,” said Michio Kikuchi, Director-General, MLIT.

“For the Asian region to develop, it is very important that Japan and Singapore address these common issues in a collaborative manner. Based on this MOC, we are striving to forge a closer partnership with MPA to contribute to sustainable development of ports in Japan and Singapore.”

This sustainable development, said MPA’s chief executive, Andrew Tan, will include work with leading ports such as Yokohama to promote LNG bunkering in the region.

The two organisations alrady enjoy a strong cooperative working relationship at international and regional forums such as the IMO and the Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

Further, MPA and MLIT were among the signatories of a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Singapore in October 2016, to widen the network of LNG bunker ready ports in Europe, US and Asia.