The number of major incidents in the Port of Singapore has dropped over the last 10 years, according to MPA Singapore.
There were fewer than 0.12 major incidents per 100,000 vessel movements in 2018, down from 0.8 in 2009.
“The use of technology and digitalisation can further enhance maritime safety by providing seafarers better access to critical safety-related information and early warning of potential incidents,” Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health, said at the fourth International Safety@Sea Conference.
Besides Safety@Sea, MPA Singapore will also be pushing for digitalisation in two other areas.
Namely, the authority said it would embark on the “Digital OCEANS” strategy to encourage Open or Common Exchange And Network Standardisation. This strategy aims to allow digital platforms of port authorities e.g. maritime single windows of shipping lines and of logistics service providers to link up.
This will allow business entities, government agencies, and vessels to connect seamlessly between different digital platforms and achieve end-to-end connectivity.
Additionally, MPA is supporting the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) in operationalising the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) concept of e-navigation for vessels which aims to make marine navigation safer and digitalise key maritime services.
MPA said that these initiatives will improve efficiency, reduce transaction costs and enhance maritime safety.
MOUs with Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety
During the Safety@Sea Conference, three memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed following the launch of the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) last year.
The MOUs were signed with A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing to conduct research in human behavioural analytics, advanced computational models and intelligent maritime traffic simulation in navigational safety; with Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau to jointly promote and enhance maritime safety investigations via the development of immersive training platforms and programmes; and with Group Nautical Pte Limited to create, design and develop Virtual Reality maritime training courses using immersive technologies.