The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has initiated an expression of interest (EOI) inviting proposals for the design and promotion of full-electric harbour craft in Singapore. This initiative, launched on July 10, aims to assess and validate the most cost-effective reference designs for these vessels.

The proposals will focus on developing design standards and guidelines for vessel structures optimized for efficiency, integrating battery management and energy storage systems, and ensuring essential safety systems, including emergency back-up, cybersecurity, and firefighting capabilities.

In addition, the EOI seeks to explore the commercial viability and scalability of various business models based on an aggregated harbour craft fleet, meeting the demand at the Port of Singapore. This strategy will help facilitate the development of green financing models for electric harbour craft.

Teo Eng Dih, MPA’s chief executive, emphasized that having common reference designs and aggregated demand could significantly reduce the upfront costs and operating expenses associated with new harbour craft. This initiative also aims to enhance the skills of Singapore’s maritime workforce.

Currently, around 400 smaller harbour craft are operational among approximately 1,600 vessels providing various marine services within the Port of Singapore. The MPA’s focus will begin with transitioning these smaller crafts to electrification.

The suitability of electrification as a decarbonization pathway will depend on various factors, including the operating profiles and energy needs of the harbour craft. Notably, the Ministry of Transport has mandated that all harbour craft operating in the Port of Singapore be either fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuel, or compatible with net-zero fuels such as hydrogen by 2030.

Operators planning new harbour craft must notify the MPA starting January 2027 to allow for design adjustments ahead of the 2030 target. Interested parties can find more information and submit their proposals on the MPA website by 11:59 PM on September 15.