Singapore Green Initiative

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore’s strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore’s port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.

Promoting green shipping

The Maritime Singapore Green Initiative was announced by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in 2011 to reduce the environmental impact of shipping and related activities and to promote clean and green shipping in Singapore. MPA pledged an investment of up to S$100 million over five years for the initiative. The Green Initiative comprises three programmes – the Green Ship Programme, the Green Port Programme and the Green Technology Programme. These voluntary programmes are designed to recognise and provide incentives to companies that adopt clean and green shipping practices over and above the minimum required by the IMO conventions.

The Green Ship Programme encourages Singapore-flagged ships to reduce carbon dioxide and sulphur oxides emissions. Qualifying ships that adopt energy efficient ship designs exceeding IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index and/or adopt approved SOx scrubber technology exceeding IMO’s emission requirements can enjoy up to 75% reduction of Initial Registration Fees and up to 50% rebate on Annual Tonnage Tax.

The Green Port Programme encourages ocean-going ships calling at the Port of Singapore to reduce the emission of pollutants. Ships that use approved abatement technology or burn clean fuel while at berth can enjoy 15% reduction in port dues, while ships that do so throughout their entire port stay within the port limits can enjoy 25% reduction.

The Green Technology Programme encourages local maritime companies to develop and adopt green technologies. Companies can apply for grants of up to 50% of qualifying costs to co-fund the development and adoption of green technological solutions.

As part of the Green Initiative, we also launched the Maritime Singapore Green Pledge and invited maritime companies to pledge their commitment to promote and support clean and green shipping in Singapore. So far, 40 organisations have signed the Maritime Singapore Green Pledge. These include shipping lines, oil majors, tanker operators, marine fuel suppliers, shipyards, port terminal operators and classification societies.

We are very encouraged by the good response from the industry to the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative over the past two years. We can clearly see the will on the part of many maritime companies to be greener, as well as the many innovative ways that companies have come up with to go green.

Since its creation in 1996, MPA has placed great emphasis on R&D in the port and maritime industry. We believe that with technological advancements, shipping and port activities can continue to grow without causing ever greater impact on the environment. One of MPA’s key initiatives for promoting maritime R&D is the S$150 million Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT Fund), to help maritime companies in doing R&D of new maritime technologies. A key focus of the MINT Fund is in clean energy and green shipping and port operations.

Maritime institute

In order to give maritime R&D a boost, we set up the Singapore Maritime Institute in 2011 as a national level body to co-ordinate and drive maritime education and R&D across all our universities and polytechnics. A total of S$350 million has been set aside to support the work of the Singapore Maritime Institute.

Given the scale of shipping activities in the world, the total environmental impact of shipping is not insignificant. Promoting a clean and green environment is of great importance to us. Through the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative, MINT Fund and partnerships with the industry, universities, research institutes and other government agencies, MPA is working towards the development of a sustainable Maritime Singapore and protection of the marine environment.