SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and PSA Singapore will invest a combined S$30 million ($21.5 million) to boost research and test-bedding of new technologies for Singapore’s future Tuas Terminal as well as automation and robotics in the maritime sector, MPA said.
The fresh injection of funds is for the MPA-PSA’s Port Technology Research and Development Programme, which was extended for a third term of another three years.
The renewed Memorandum of Understanding is one of five MOUs that MPA signed Thursday with local and international partners at the Singapore Maritime Technology Conference, held in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week 2017.
The maritime port authority also extended an existing MOU with Jurong Port and other technology providers to research and test-bed port equipment mechanization, automation of port operations, data analytics for tracking of equipment and resources, and improved designs for safety equipment.
The MPA-JP MOU has been renamed as “Jurong Port Transformation – Developing Next Generation Multipurpose Port”, and extended for a second term of another five years.
Both MPA and Jurong Port have each allocated a sum of S$8 million to this joint program.
The remaining MOUs signed are MPA-Lloyd’s Register on maritime technologies; MPA, Alpha Ori, LR and NUS’ Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine; and MPA-ST Electronics MOU on maritime R&D and Innovation.
MPA Chief Executive Andrew Tan said: “These MOUs are in line with our efforts to take the maritime sector into its next stage of development, where data analytics, intelligent systems, and the Internet of Things will open up new opportunities for our port operators such as PSA and Jurong Port, and Singapore-based companies and research institutions to develop innovative solutions.”
“We believe the time is ripe to leverage new technologies to ensure Maritime Singapore stays ahead of the curve as a world class port and international maritime centre,” Tan added.
