The climate action NGO Pacific Environment has hailed Singapore’s commitment to having all harbour craft in the port electrified and capable of running on 100% biofuels or ‘net zero fuels’ by 2030 as a move which could help ‘jumpstart’ the energy transition.
Speaking at a Ministry of Transport Committee of Supply Debate on Friday (3 March), Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat stated: ‘From 2030, new harbour craft operating in our port waters must be fully electric, be capable of using B100 biofuels, or be compatible with net zero fuels such as hydrogen.’
Chee Hong Tat continued: ‘MPA has made good progress in supporting the electrification of harbour craft. Pilots for the first full-electric ferry by the consortium led by Keppel Offshore & Marine and full-electric lighter craft by the consortium led by SeaTech Solutions will commence later this year. MPA is also working with terminal and harbour craft operators to pilot the implementation of charging stations. The first charging station will be deployed by Shell at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore on Pulau Bukom by the first half of 2023 to support full-electric ferries owned and operated by Penguin International. This will form part of a larger charging infrastructure implementation masterplan, which MPA will roll out by 2025.’
In a statement sent to Bunkerspot last night (6 March), Allyson Browne, Climate Campaign Manager for Ports, Pacific Environment, said: ‘We applaud Singapore’s commitment to move towards 100% zero-emission port and ships through its 2050 net zero emissions targets. This transition requires a jumpstart this decade, and harbour craft are a great place to start. Fossil-fuelled harbour crafts – including ferries, tugboats, crew and supply boats, fishing vessels, excursion vessels and others – produce air quality pollutants and GHG emissions that warm our planet. We must transition these vessels to electric and zero-emission fueled-engines as quickly as possible.’
Browne added: ‘It is imperative that leading port cities like Singapore accelerate their commitment and action towards zero-emission shipping in order to protect the health of port communities, address the climate crisis and dramatically reduce pollution at the ports.’
Allyson Browne, Climate Campaign Manager for Ports, Pacific Environment, was one of the contributors to this year's Bunkerspot Annual Survey, which gathered the views of top industry thought leaders on the main factors impacting the global marine fuel industry, including the Ukraine crisis, the energy transition, marine fuel availability, quality and pricing, and regulation. Click here to access the Bunkerspot 2023 Survey.
