New initiatives to enhance safety at Sea in Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will be launching several new initiatives as part of continued efforts to enhance safety at sea, especially in the Port of Singapore. A new maritime research Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) will also be set up by Singapore Maritime Institute and Singapore Polytechnic to enhance navigational safety. These were announced by Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health, Dr Lam Pin Min, at the official opening of the International Safety@Sea Conference at the Marina Mandarin Hotel this morning, June 20, 2018.

Toh Ah Cheong, Executive Director of Singapore Maritime Institute signed an MOU with Mr Hee Joh Liang, Deputy Principal Development, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) to develop a new maritime research Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety. Observing were Mr Andrew Tan, Dr Lam Pin Min and Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO of SP. Photo courtesy: gov.sg

Singapore Polytechnic’s CEMS will focus on research and innovations that enhance navigational safety. It will contribute to the training and development of future-ready seafarers, through the use of emerging digital technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality.

To capture vessel movements more efficiently and accurately, MPA will upgrade the Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) this year. This includes improvements to the resolution of CCTV and video analytics capabilities, and expansion of the data bandwidth between the VTIS and radar stations to enhance situational awareness through ensuring high-resolution radar plots.

To facilitate real-time data transfer between shore and ships in the port, MPA will be investing SGD500,000 in the development of the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) over the next three years. This is part of the Next Generation Vessel Traffic Management System R&D project at the MPA Living Lab. With greater data exchange between shore and ships, predictive analysis relating to navigational safety such as traffic hotspots and collision risks could be made at the shore and shared with ships. The VDES is currently being developed and prototyped. Field trials will be carried out under the MPA Living Lab from the second half of this year across a range of e-Navigation and digital applications.

From left to right: Dr Heike Deggim, Director, Director of Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr NIam Chiang Meng, Chairman, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Transport & Ministry of Health, Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Mr Michael Phoon, Executive Director, Singapore Shipping Association launching the opening of the conference. Photo courtesy: gov.sg

Organised by MPA, the third International Safety@Sea Conference was held as part of the International Safety@Sea Week. Over 250 international maritime professionals attended the two-day conference, themed Towards Safer Navigation – Lessons, Insights and Trends, to share best practices, exchange ideas and collaborate to enhance maritime safety.