Port of Singapore regains momentum despite disruptions ...

Container throughput has since grown by 4.6 per cent from January to May 2021 compared with the same period in 2020, and 3.9 per cent compared ... Containerthroughputhassincegrownby4.6percentfromJanuarytoMay2021comparedwiththesameperiodin2020. STPHOTO:LIMYAOHUI KokYufeng Updated Published June18,2021at4:30PM More Whatsapp Linkedin FBMessenger Telegram Twitter Reddit WeChat Pinterest Print PurchaseArticle CopypermalinkCopytoclipboard https://str.sg/34Ah SINGAPORE-ThePortofSingaporehasbouncedbackfromapandemic-inducedslowdown,handlingmorecargointhefirstfivemonthsof2021thaninthesameperiodsof2020and2019. Amidportclosuresoverseas,shippingdelaysandaglobalcontainershortage,containerthroughputherefellby0.9percentforthewholeof2020,saidSeniorMinisterofStateforTransportCheeHongTat. HewasspeakingatthelaunchoftheSmartPortChallenge2021onFriday(June18). However,theporthereregainedmomentuminthesecondhalfof2020. Containerthroughputhassincegrownby4.6percentfromJanuarytoMay2021comparedwiththesameperiodin2020,and3.9percentcomparedwiththesameperiodin2019,priortothepandemic,hesaid. "NeitherCovid-19northeSuezCanalincidentearlierthisyearpreventedusfromgrowingourportoperations,"MrCheeadded. TheinvestmentpipelineforSingapore'smaritimesectorhasalsoremainedhealthyamidthepandemic. In2020,11newshippinggroupssetupshophereandeightmaritimecompaniesexpandedtheiroperations. Inthefirstfivemonthsof2021,fivemaritimefirmsherehaveeitherexpandedoperationsorestablishednewoneswithsupportfromtheMaritimeandPortAuthorityofSingapore(MPA),MrCheesaid. "Wemustnotrestonourlaurels.Weshouldrideonthismomentumtobuildevenstrongercapabilitiesandpositionourselvestogrowfurther." Onewaytodothisisthroughinnovation,MrCheesaid,citinghowthePortofSingaporehadimplementedcontactlesscargoandbunkeringoperationsandprovidedtelemedicineservicesforseafarersduringthepandemic. MoreOnThisTopic Muralsatshippingterminalsdepictmaritimesector'sroleinsecuringsuppliesduringpandemic Singapore'screw-changepracticesforseafarershailedasmodelforotherports DemandforsuchtechnologicalsolutionsisexpectedtocontinuetoriseandSingaporeiswell-placedtodevelopitsmarinetechsector,headded. TheSmartPortChallenge,nowinitsfifthedition,hasbecomeakeypillarofthiseffort. OrganisedbyPortInnovationEcosystemReimagined @ Block71,acollaborationbetweenMPAandNUSEnterprise,thechallengeputsupproblemstatementsandaimstoidentifyandfundtechnologystart-upsthatcandrivedigitaltransformationinthemaritimesectorandsolvetheseproblems. PastparticipantsincludeBeeX,whichspecialisesinautonomousunderwaterrobotstoinspectpiersandvessels,andPortcast,whichdevelopedaplatformthatcanpredictglobalcontainermovements. Thereare17challengestatementsthisyear,coveringconcernssuchassustainabilityandcrewsafety. Start-upshaveuntilAugust10tosubmittheirproposals. Finalistswillbeeligibletoapplyforagrantofupto$50,000topilottheirprojects. Sevenoflastyear'sparticipants,includingBeeX,havebeenawardedthisgrant. Inall,about$2millioningrantfundinghasbeengivenoutsofar. Afurther$10millionhasbeensetasidetodrivethegrowthofsuchmarinetechcompanieshere. MoreOnThisTopic Maritimesectortoreceive$20billionininvestmentsby2024,newjobstobecreated MPAearmarks$10milliontomakeSingaporeSiliconValleyofmaritimeworld MPAhasalsobeenpartneringventurecapitalfirmstoprovideseedfundingforstart-ups,with$50millioninco-investmentfundsupforgrabslastyear. Thisyear,anotherthreefirmshavecomeonboard,bringinganadditional$30millioninpotentialfunding. MrCheesaidtheauthoritiesmustalsoprovidemarinetechfirmswithaccesstotalent. HesaidMPAwillpartneremployers,theSingaporeShippingAssociation,andtradeunionstoimplementnewcompanytrainingcommitteeinitiativestohelpsmallandmedium-sizedenterprisesinthemaritimesectorwithdigitalisationandtrainingplansfortheirworkers. MPAandtheSingaporeMaritimeOfficers'Unionwillalsoorganiseaseriesofdiscussionswithmaritimecompanies,focusingondigitalisation,upskillingworkers,andattractingmoreSingaporeanstothesector. SaidMrChee:"Thisislikeaddinganewpropellertoourship,sothatitcangofasterandsailfurther." JoinST'sTelegramchannelhereandgetthelatestbreakingnewsdeliveredtoyou. CHEEHONGTAT MARITIMEANDSHIPPING MARITIMEANDPORTAUTHORITYOFSINGAPORE More Whatsapp Linkedin FBMessenger Telegram Reddit WeChat Pinterest Print PurchaseArticle Copypermalink https://str.sg/34Ah Getcomplimentaryaccesstothisarticle Signuporlogintoreadthisarticleinfull PortofSingaporeregainsmomentumdespitedisruptionscausedbyCovid-19pandemic Signup Alreadyhaveanaccount?Login. Alldone!Thisarticleisnowfullyavailableforyou PortofSingaporeregainsmomentumdespitedisruptionscausedbyCovid-19pandemic Readnow Pleaseverifyyoure-mailtoreadthissubscriber-onlyarticleinfull PortofSingaporeregainsmomentumdespitedisruptionscausedbyCovid-19pandemic Resendverificatione-mail Thegiftlinkforthissubscriber-onlyarticlehasexpired. Getunlimitedaccesstoallstoriesat$0.99/monthforthefirst3months. Subscribenow Youhavereachedyourlimitofsubscriber-onlyarticlesthismonth. Getunlimitedaccesstoallstoriesat$0.99/monthforthefirst3months. Subscribenow Readandwin! Read3articlesandstandtowinrewards Let'sgo! Terms&conditionsapply Frequentlyaskedquestions Goodjob,you'veread3articlestoday! Spinthewheelnow Let'sgo! Terms&conditionsapply Frequentlyaskedquestions