Singapore port to trial autonomous and remote marine operations

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and marine technology firm Ocean Infinity are set to trial autonomous and remote marine operations within the city-state's busy port waters. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, is part of broader maritime safety initiatives announced during the 13th Singapore Safety@Sea Week.

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Both parties will also support capability development, operational experimentation and research partnerships.

The agreement will see Ocean Infinity share its extensive experience and practical lessons from operating autonomous and remote maritime systems. MPA will contribute its expertise to guide the design and execution of the trials, focusing on safety and operational considerations. Both parties will also collaborate on capability development, operational experimentation, and research partnerships.

These trials are expected to yield valuable operational insights into autonomous vessels and Remote Operations Centres. The findings will inform future decisions on how such advanced technologies can be safely integrated into Singapore's port environment. Ocean Infinity is known for its specialization in robotics and subsea data acquisition, operating a fleet of remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

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The trials will provide further operational insights into autonomous vessels and Remote Operations Centres, and inform how such technologies can be safely introduced in Singapore port waters in the future.

Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport, Murali Pillai, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, noting that Ocean Infinity's Armada fleet is the first in the industry to receive a statement of compliance for remote operations from DNV, a maritime classification society. He stated that the partnership will deepen the understanding of autonomous vessels and Remote Operations Centres, supporting crucial capability development and operational experimentation.

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This collaboration will deepen our understanding of autonomous vessels and Remote Operations Centres, and support capability development and operational experimentation.

In addition to the autonomous operations trial, MPA also launched an Integrated Port Operations Command, Control and Communications (IPOC) system. This system, developed with the Defence Science and Technology Agency and ST Engineering, aims to improve situational awareness at sea by compiling real-time data from various sources. This will enable MPA officers to have a comprehensive, real-time view of port operations, facilitating better coordination, information sharing, and faster, more informed decision-making to identify potential risks.

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The new map-based tools allow these officers to coordinate operations, share information and identify potential risks, supporting faster and more informed decisions and deployment of resources.