- Over 1,800 global participants unite to address maritime safety challenges.
- MPA showcases tech-driven preparedness, including drone trials and spill exercises.
- Smart buoys to be deployed from 2026 to enhance navigation safety.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is hosting the 12th edition of Safety@Sea Week from 15 to 18 July 2025. For the first time, the event is being held as an international edition, welcoming global maritime leaders under the theme “The Future of Maritime Safety: Navigating the Next Frontier.” This annual initiative fosters maritime safety awareness and provides a platform for meaningful discussions across the global maritime community.
Tackling Future Maritime Challenges
Opening the event, Mr. Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, acknowledged the mounting complexities facing the maritime sector—geopolitical tensions, climate change, and rapid shifts in digitalisation and decarbonisation. He emphasised three key strategies to navigate these issues: upskilling the workforce, leveraging partnerships and collective knowledge, and embracing technology and innovation.
Global Collaboration and Industry Insights
IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez delivered a keynote address focusing on the need for robust safety regulations amid the evolving maritime environment. He highlighted areas of transformation such as Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships and sustainable ship design, while stressing the importance of government-industry collaboration and campaigns like Safety@Sea Singapore in cultivating a safety-first culture.
Conference Highlights and Community Engagement
The conference features 19 speakers across three plenary sessions, exploring themes like the role of human factors in maritime safety and learning from past incidents. A newly introduced segment, Safety@Sea Community Conversations, brings together diverse stakeholders—from shipping companies to terminal operators—to share experiences and best practices in safety culture development.
With over 1,800 participants from more than 40 nations, the event includes several key programmes. These include the Responders Plus Programme (RPP) Maritime Workshop co-hosted with the Singapore Civil Defence Force, and safety forums for the harbour and pleasure craft communities, aimed at enhancing local maritime safety practices.
Strengthening Preparedness Through Chemical Spill Response Exercise
As part of the week’s activities, MPA conducted a large-scale multi-agency chemical spill exercise off Singapore’s southern coast. The simulation involved a methanol spill resulting from a tanker collision and included containment, evacuation, and hazard monitoring responses by over 150 personnel from 11 vessels and more than 10 agencies. Observers included Mr. Murali, Mr. Dominguez, and Mr. Francis Zachariae, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation.
Advanced technologies were demonstrated during the exercise, including drone-based 3D vessel imaging, a misting system to control chemical plumes, and Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for air quality monitoring. MPA also utilized its Maritime Digital Twin and chemical plume modelling to guide real-time decisions. This drill supports Singapore’s broader preparations for methanol bunkering and offered valuable lessons in handling alternative fuels safely. Following an open call, MPA received 13 applications for methanol bunkering licenses, which are currently under review for issuance by Q4 2025.
Pioneering Drone Trials for Shore-to-Ship Operations
In partnership with Skyports Drone Services, TFG Marine, and CBS Ventures, MPA is conducting Singapore’s first drone trials for shore-to-ship deliveries. These trials are aimed at reducing dependency on harbour craft, minimising environmental impact, and improving crew safety by avoiding manual cargo transfers. Safety measures, including managing electrostatic discharge, are being evaluated to support future scaled implementation of this technology.
Smart Buoys for Smarter Navigation
To further enhance navigational safety, MPA will begin deploying smart buoys in Singapore’s waterways starting in 2026. These upgraded buoys will collect and transmit real-time environmental data such as currents and wave patterns. The information will support dynamic vessel traffic management and enable faster, more informed decision-making, bolstering the overall safety of maritime navigation in the region.
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Source: Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore
