A group of industry stakeholders has launched a new consortium which aims to advance electric harbour craft operations in Singapore.
Led by Cyan Renewables, the consortium comprises Bureau Veritas Marine, PSA Marine, Strategic Marine and technology providers SeaCabbie, Sea Forrest and Victory.
The consortium, formed to participate in the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) call for proposal to develop electric harbour craft operations, is supported by Asian liner shipping company, Pacific International Lines (PIL).
As previously reported, earlier this year, Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat, announced that from 2030, new harbour craft operating in Singaporean port waters must be fully electric, be capable of using B100 biofuels, or be compatible with net zero fuels such as hydrogen. However, noted Strategic Marine last week, the country ‘currently lacks commercially viable solutions to enable such a transition.’
The consortium will enable the leasing of renewable vessels (via Cyan Renewables), thus reducing capital outlay for operators; and offer a ride-hailing application for the ordering of launch boats (via SeaCabbie).
According to Strategic Marine, the solution is expected to ‘significantly lower commercial barriers’ and ‘reduce carbon emissions’ for electric harbour craft operations.
Lee Keng Lin, the founding CEO of the consortium leader Cyan Renewables, said: ‘As Asia’s first pure play renewable vessel owner, Cyan Renewables enables operators to access green maritime solutions with minimal capital outlay, significantly reducing barriers against innovation. We are confident in the consortium’s ability to ease the green energy transition for Singapore’s maritime sector and are proud to be leading this effort.’