SINGAPORE's Maritime and Port Authority plans to invest US$5 million to co-fund the research and development of alternative fuels in the run-up to the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) new global rule that caps the sulphur content in marine fuels to 0
SINGAPORE's Maritime and Port Authority plans to invest US$5 million to co-fund the research and development of alternative fuels in the run-up to the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) new global rule that caps the sulphur content in marine fuels to 0.5 per cent, effective from January 1, 2020. Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min told delegates at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) that the MPA is working closely with industry to ensure the Lion City will be ready to comply with the new IMO regulation and will make available a list of licensed bunker suppliers of low sulphur fuels in Singapore by mid-2019.
To kick start the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, the MPA has co-funded the construction of eight LNG-fuelled vessels, London's SP Global Plats reported.
The first two were delivered this year to Kipper SMIT Towage and Manu Maritime, which have since conducted a total of 15 LNG bunkering operations, Mr Lam said.
'We expect this number to grow as more LNG-fuelled vessels are delivered,' he said.
Outside of Singapore, the MPA continues to work closely with like-minded ports through the LNG Bunkering Port Focus Group, he said. To add greater momentum towards making LNG bunkering a reality, the MPA has welcomed the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority into the focus group with the signing of a memorandum of understanding at SIBCON.
Separately, MPA has joined SEALNG's membership coalition to further align its efforts with the global LNG bunkering supply chain. SEALNG is a global coalition of players in the LNG shipping value chain targeted to drive the widespread adoption of LNG as a marine fuel.
