SMART DIGITAL SMART DIGITAL PORTS

AN ECOSYSTEM-CENTRIC APPROACH TO SMARTER MARITIME ’S PERSPECTIVE

Maritime and Authority of Singapore

A highly connected and efficient port, and widely recognised as a leading IMC DRIVING FORCES OF SMARTER MARITIME and a vibrant maritime ecosystem are key in international benchmarking studies Singapore sees 3Ds – Digitalisation, factors leading to the success and growth such as ‘The Leading Maritime Capitals Decarbonisation and Disruptions as the of Singapore’s port and maritime industry. of the World’ study by Menon Economics three areas that Singapore can contribute to Working hand-in-hand with industry, trade and ‘Xinhua-Baltic Exchange International a smarter maritime. associations and unions, the Singapore Shipping Centre Development Index’ where Increasing demands for connectivity and Government pushes ahead with many Singapore clinched the top position. emergence of newer technologies, fuels and transformational initiatives to remain Singapore leverages on her strategic business models have made Singapore rethink relevant to world’s maritime industry and location situated at the cross-roads of the way we serve the maritime industry global economy. East-West trade to serve as a key node globally. Rapid and pervasive technological This includes significant investments in in that connects to more changes have precipitated new innovations port infrastructure (physical and digital) to than 600 ports in global supply chains, and business models in nearly every industry. ensure that Singapore retains its position as a with about 1000 ships in the Singapore Maritime is no exception, with ports global hub port and leading maritime centre. port waters at any point of time. Much becoming more automated, ships becoming Today, the Port of Singapore continues to be has evolved from Singapore’s beginnings smarter with a wide array of sensors on one of the leading container hub ports in the as a small trading post. Today, Singapore board, and the rise of new business models world. Last year, Singapore was the second constantly adapts and strives to remain such as marketplace and digital platforms. busiest with 36.6m TEU relevant to the ever changing global trends Equally challenging is to bring on board handled. As the world’s top bunkering port, in shipping, cargo movements and trade talents for our maritime industry to stay the annual bunker sales hit the 49.8 million- flows, driven by market forces, technologies smart and relevant. tonne mark. and innovations. How can Singapore ride Beyond a physical port, Singapore is also the waves of change and to contribute to a SINGAPORE’S INDUSTRY home to one of the highest concentrations smarter maritime, while fulfilling its mission TRANSFORMATION MAP of international shipping groups and a wide of developing Singapore as a premier Faced with these challenges and range of maritime services. Singapore is global hub port and International Maritime opportunities, Maritime and Port Authority also the 5th largest ship registry in World, Centre? of Singapore (MPA) partners with the

EDITION 89 23 SMART DIGITAL PORTS SMART DIGITAL PORTS

Singapore’s next generation port industry, trade associations, unions and including electronic bills of lading, as well as services on the sea, wharf-side services other government agencies to set out to pilot applications of blockchain technology. within the terminals, and the transport chart a set of strategic blueprints called the This will enhance information exchange and logistics network in the hinterland Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map to and from the port, thus facilitating using a new generation of technologies (ITM). It galvanises the maritime ecosystem smoother trade flows. Singapore’s Maritime including robotics, automation, artificial to co-create Maritime Singapore’s future - Single Window project further supports this intelligence and digitalisation. One such one that is smarter. The Sea Transport ITM strategy, by having a single window portal example is the Just-in-Time initiative, builds on MPA’s strategic long term plans to digitally report and submit all port- which enhances ship turnaround time in to develop Singapore’s next generation related documentations, thereby improving the port and optimises the planning of port (Next Generation Port 2030) and IMC efficiency for the maritime industry. port services and resources. The NGP 2030 (IMC2030). As vessels are getting smarter and larger, plan seeks to deliver compelling value for Since the launch of the Sea Transport amidst growing industry consolidation, container shipping lines, to continue to ITM in early 2018, specific initiatives have Singapore is making a strategic move by keep Singapore relevant as a global hub been laid out under the Sea Transport ITM investing ahead of demand in developing a port. to catalyse innovation, drive productivity larger port in the western part of the island In view of land and sea space and improvements, as well as enhance the skills that will double her handling capacity to manpower constraints, Port will of the maritime workforce. up to 65m TEUs. Not only will this port leverage technologies including automation In particular, in the area of innovation, be able to effectively serve the mega and modelling and simulation to optimise MPA has worked alongside various shipping alliances, it will also leverage new port land use for greater productivity. A mix stakeholders in the maritime ecosystem, technologies to push the envelope of port of innovative policies and infrastructures including industry, start-ups, technology connectivity, efficiency and intelligence. will allow for greater sea space optimisation. partners and institutes of higher learning, to The Next Generation Port (NGP) 2030 Smart and connected systems leveraging develop and implement the Sea Transport initiative at the western end of Singapore data analytics and artificial intelligence will ITM. This will ensure the port of Singapore (Tuas) is an opportunity for Singapore enhance the safety and security of vessels is well-positioned to tap on the technology to build a technologically advanced in port waters, to help us meet future developments, to innovate and identify hub port through the innovative use of demands of larger vessels calling at ports. solutions that can help us to achieve a technologies. It will be developed along Overall, Tuas Port seeks to be a test- smarter maritime. four key thrusts - efficient port, intelligent bed for innovative concepts and game- At the same time, riding the wave of port, safe and secure port, and green and changing technologies that will set the Port digitalisation and smart shipping in the community-oriented port. This includes of Singapore apart from competition and maritime sector, Singapore will look at enhancing the value chain of operations maintain Singapore’s position as a premier digitalising maritime documentation covering port operations and marine global hub port and leading IMC.

24 EDITION 89 WWW.PORTTECHNOLOGY.ORG SMART DIGITAL PORTS SMART DIGITAL PORTS

ECOSYSTEM CENTRIC APPROACH IN Figure 2: Start-up Ecosystem INNOVATION Underlying the innovation initiatives described above is MPA’s ecosystem centric approach driven by three key strategies to drive competitiveness and new growth areas: i) Deepening R&D capabilities in key strategic areas ii) Grow maritime start-ups and technology enterprises iii) Develop the MPA Living Lab

DEEPENING R&D CAPABILITIES IN KEY STRATEGIC AREAS The Maritime R&D Roadmap 2025 was launched in 2019. It is jointly led by MPA and the Singapore Maritime Institute, with the involvement of IHLs, Industry and Technology Partners to consolidate R&D focus areas and technology needs of the maritime industry. The Roadmap charts out key thrusts for up incubator and accelerator that seeks to industry and labour movement is of the research community to channel their grow and strengthen the start-up ecosystem paramount importance. R&D efforts, and helps to create better (Figure 2), to enhance the vibrancy of Underpinning Singapore’s success are strategic alignment and resource allocation Singapore’s maritime innovation ecosystem. sound pro-business and forward-thinking by funding agencies, industry and our PIER71 will be an important platform policies, strategic bets and bold investments research and technology communities. It that brings together maritime enterprises in technology and manpower for capability outlines the following five strategic research and technology start-ups, to facilitate the development. thrusts: Efficient and Intelligent World-Class process of mapping the problem statements It may be timely to consider Singapore Next Generation Port, Strategic Sea Space to innovative technology solutions. as the ideal location to bring together the and Maritime Traffic management, Smart Its flagship programme, Smart Port right players in the maritime innovation Fleet Operations and Autonomous Vessels, Challenge (SPC) is a 5-month long competition ecosystem to co-create another hub – the Effective Maritime Safety & Security and that entails maritime enterprises working maritime digital hub, to value add to the Sustainable Maritime Environment & Energy, together through design thinking workshops global supply chain. This is where maritime setting a clear direction for all stakeholders to curate quality challenge statements. solutions of the future are created, where to focus their efforts on. These challenge statements are brought to the best maritime talent can converge, and Centres of Excellence (COE) were also the start-up communities and mentors from where Singapore can be the preferred node established, each focusing on specific the industry to allow cross pollination of for connectivity, innovation and talent. research thrusts/areas, to develop and ideas and solutions. All this will culminate in maintain a long-term quality pool of a pitching day after 10 weeks. maritime researchers and specialised R&D capabilities. This includes co-development DEVELOP THE MPA LIVING LAB ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION of a Maritime R&D Roadmap to chart future The MPA Living Lab provides a technology directions for capability development. partnership platform, with sufficient scale The Maritime and Port Authority of Since then, three research centres have been and real operating conditions in the port Singapore (MPA) regulates and licenses port set up so far: a S$10million research centre of Singapore that technology providers and and marine services and facilities. It also set up for maritime energy and sustainable industry partners can plug into for the co- manages vessel traffic in the Singapore port development in Nanyang Technological development and piloting of innovations. while ensuring safety and security. The port University (MESD @ NTU), an S$18million The MPA Living Lab also offer technology section contains information, guidelines research centre in port operations modelling developers and industry partners a rich and procedures on matters relating to and simulation in National University of maritime data platform and a real operating the port and its operations. The shipping Singapore (C4NGP @ NUS) and the latest environment at the port to co-develop and section covers information on how to addition of a S$10million research centre pilot innovative solutions. register a ship under the Singapore flag,as in maritime safety in Singapore Polytechnic To that end, it consists of both physical well as manning guidelines, procedures and (CEMS @ SP). An upcoming research centre test bed areas at designated anchorages to requirements for owners and masters of in autonomous and smart ships is also in facilitate the trials of technology development Singapore-registered ships. MPA also posts the pipeline to take Maritime Singapore to a such as drones, autonomous ships, and circulars and notices to update the port higher level of capabilities. communication technologies, and a cyber- and shipping community. Also important to test bed area where innovative projects such the communities are information on port, GROW MARITIME START-UPS AND as remote pilotage, next-generation vessel shipping and other MPA tariffs. Available TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES traffic management, and maritime data hubs for download and reference is the maritime MPA and NUS Enterprise collaborated to are housed and experimented. legislation of Singapore. develop the first industry-wide acceleration programme, PIER71 (Port Innovation THE WAY FORWARD ENQUIRIES Ecosystem Reimagined). Located at Block 71 Singapore has identified that to drive (Singapore), a designated space for the co- a smarter maritime, a closer tripartite www.mpa.gov.sg/web/portal/home location of technology start-ups, it is a start- relationship between the government,

EDITION 89 25