Maritime Port Authority requests proposal for electric harbour ship in SG 

The Maritime Port Authority has issued a request for proposals to create fully electric harbour vessels for Singapore’s port. 

MPA is anticipated to be able to evaluate and validate proposals for suitable e-HC in accordance with its decarbonisation objectives thanks to the invitation, which was issued on the 10th of July.  

The essential safety systems, such as cybersecurity, firefighting capabilities, emergency back-up, and integrated battery management and energy storage systems, would be included in the design. The vessel structure would be optimized for efficiency. 

MPA has started a declaration of-interest process for gatherings to introduce through logistics to plan and advance reception of the harbour craft. 

According to MPA CEO Teo Eng Dih, MPA chief executive, the harbour craft is an essential component of the port ecosystem. 

“The expression of interest is a significant first step to encourage and support early adopters of e-harbour craft.” 

“With common referenced designs and the aggregation of demand, we hope to reduce the upfront premiums and operating costs for new harbour craft,” said Eng Dih 

This year, the Ministry of Transport of Singapore announced that, in accordance with national net-zero goals, the tugboat and harbour craft industries would need to be able to reach net zero by 2050. 

In the Singapore port, there are approximately 1600 harbour vessels providing towage and launch services, ship supplies and bunker delivery, and other marine services. 

The expression of interest, according to the port authority, would enable MPA to evaluate and validate proposals for best-in-class harbour craft reference designs. 

The EoI will focus on the design and support for the transition to electrification of smaller harbour vessels, which typically weigh between 20 and 40 tons, are 10 to 20 meters long, and have combined shaft power of 200 to 400 kilowatts. 

From 2030, all new harbour creates working in the Port of Singapore should be either completely electric, equipped for utilizing B100 biofuel or viable with net zero fill like hydrogen.