Singapore’s shipping player Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) and marinEV, a business unit of compatriot Yinson GreenTech, have joined forces on sustainable port services.
EPS revealed the company will prioritize the use of electric vessels for port services when its vessels call at the Port of Singapore, claiming that this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance operational efficiency and contribute to cleaner and quieter port operations.
Reportedly, this partnership aligns with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) decarbonization blueprint, aiming for a 15% reduction in absolute emissions from harborcrafts by 2030 and a 50% reduction by 2050.
“EPS is working closely with marinEV and their partnered harbourcraft operators to ensure we collectively meet these targets,” EPS said.
To remind, EPS and Yinson GreenTech signed a letter of intent (LoI) to work together on electric vessel deployments in Singapore in April 2024. The collaboration, spearheaded by marinEV, was said to mark a significant step towards cleaner and more sustainable maritime operations in Singapore.
In June 2024, the companies completed the first cargo and crew deliveries made with a fully electric vessel Hydromover, and later in the year, marinEV started the vessel’s commercial trials . Launched in November 2023, Hydromover is a lightweight, 18.5-meter vessel equipped with swappable batteries, allowing it to transport up to 25 tonnes of cargo. Being all-electric, the ship has zero emissions and targets to achieve up to 50% operational cost savings due to improved energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs.
In 2024, MarinEV also launched the Hydromover 2.0 project , with sea trials set to begin in 2025. This 23-meter-long vessel is designed with enhancements that include larger deck space that can carry up to 30 metric tons of cargo payload, including batteries, or 25% more compared to Hydromover 1.0. The ship will feature Australia-based digital shipbuilder Incat Crowther’s “efficient hull form.” Incat Crowther’s project scope also covers design assessment for the battery system’s functionality and safety features, including fire protection and system certification.