MPA, IEA strengthen ties on shipping decarbonization and digitalization

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen the partnership between the two organizations and accelerate maritime decarbonization and digitalization. 

In line with the goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and international energy and climate targets, the MPA and IEA will collaborate to advance the development and transition to zero and near-zero emission fuels, technologies that support maritime decarbonization, as well as digital technologies that support sustainability solutions.

The MoU, which was signed at Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), will also enable the sharing of best practices across maritime and energy industries, support the adoption and transition of zero and near-zero emission fuels by these industries through capacity-building training programs, and contribute to relevant fuel-related projects and initiatives such as the IMO-Singapore NextGEN and NEXTGen Connect Initiatives.

Furthermore, the IEA will benefit from MPA’s networks and expertise as input to its analysis of global and regional development of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives, and in turn, will support broader knowledge and experience sharing by facilitating staff on loan from the MPA to IEA.4.

“Greater international collaboration in maritime and energy industries is critical for international shipping to meet international decarbonisation goals. MPA looks forward to accelerating maritime decarbonisation and digitalisation with IEA, and supporting the work of the new IEA Regional Cooperation Centre to be established in Singapore,” Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, said.

“Shipping is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise and we need to spur development and deployment of new technologies to slow and then reverse the rise in its emissions. This will require strong collaboration at a national and international level. We are committed to a close partnership with Southeast Asia, as witnessed by the recent announcement of our new IEA Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore, the IEA’s first office outside of its headquarters in Paris, France,” Tim Gould, Chief Energy Economist, IEA, said.

Singapore became an IEA Association Country in 2016. 

To remind, the NextGEN and NextGEN Connect initiatives were first established in 2021. The goal was to bring industry players together to offer inclusive solutions for maritime decarbonization for implementation along shipping routes and support the capacity building and training of countries.

They support the IMO’s Revised Strategy for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, adopted in July 2023, and the IMO’s resolution MEPC.367(79), adopted in December 2022, on the facilitation of value chain collaboration through shipping routes and maritime hubs.