Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat announced at the Ministry of Transport Committee of Supply Debate that: “From 2030, new harbor 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.”

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.

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 harbor craft are a great place to start. 

“Fossil-fueled harbor 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. 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.”

Photo credit: iStock/dutourdumonde. Singapore Port.