In a big step toward reducing emissions in one of the busiest ports in the world, ABS, Marinteknik Shipbuilders (S) Pte. Ltd., SeaTech Solutions International (S) Pte. Ltd., as well as VINSSEN Co., Ltd. have gone ahead and signed a research collaboration agreement to assist in advancing the development of a hydrogen fuel cell harbor craft pilot study in Singapore.
The agreement combines complementary skills in vessel ownership, fuel cell propulsion, and ship design as well as marine technology to push hydrogen as a viable marine fuel for harbor operations.
According to ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Patrick Ryan, “ABS is uniquely positioned to support this promising pilot. Our Singapore office is one of our largest, reflecting years of investment to deliver advanced technology and engineering services and survey operations in the Pacific. This concentration of capability in Singapore makes ABS a true innovation teammate for a project of this ambition. We look forward to working with Marinteknik, SeaTech, VINSSEN and the MPA to help prove out hydrogen fuel cell technology as a viable pathway for harbor craft and the broader maritime industry.”
Senior Director, Innovation, Technology and Talent Development/Chief Transformation Officer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Ng Yi Han opined that “The Port of Singapore is home to about 1,600 harbor craft. Decarbonising the fleet requires solutions that can meet different vessel types and operating profiles. MPA is working with ABS and industry partners to develop and pilot new technologies under this project. These efforts will build capabilities and support the adoption of practical, lower-emission solutions across the sector.”
Phase one will see the consortium conduct desktop studies on the feasibility of establishing a hydrogen-powered harbor craft in Singapore, including vessel concept design, design evaluation along with optimisation, techno-economic analysis, risk assessment and mitigation, and commercial viability for wider adoption. Depending on the results from phase one, phase two could involve building the ship and conducting sea trials.
As per the general manager of Marinteknik, Alex Wong, “Having delivered two fully electric harbor crafts, Marinteknik is thrilled to embark on this milestone project: the first hydrogen-powered vessel for the Singapore maritime sector. We are conducting in-depth studies with local harbor craft operators, analysing their specific operating profiles and requirements so that we can tailor our vessel’s design to meet the practical, real-world demands of the industry.”
Vice President Technology, SeaTech, Prabjot Singh Chopra, remarked that “Through this collaboration, we look forward to working closely with our partners to optimise vessel design, integrate hydrogen fuel cell systems safely and in full compliance, and enhance operational efficiency. This project marks a significant milestone in sustainable maritime solutions, and we are proud to contribute to Singapore’s decarbonization efforts and the broader global energy transition.”
“At VINSSEN, we deliver hydrogen fuel cell systems paired with battery solutions through our integrated power management system – i-PMS, enabling optimized performance, efficiency and operational reliability. We believe hydrogen fuel cell harbor craft pilot study will serve as a meaningful reference for the wider adoption of hydrogen-powered vessels across the region and beyond,” said the CEO of VINSSEN, Chilhan Lee.
It is worth noting that the Singapore office of ABS is home to the global ABS Electrification Center, which supports and explores batteries as well as hybrid energy sources, and the ABS Singapore Innovation and Research Center. It is also one of the global operations centres of ABS that is focused on expanding remote survey capabilities and one of the five global ABS sustainability centres, which offers full sustainability solutions to the marine and offshore clients.