The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) jointly launched the Maritime Clean Energy Research Programme (MCERP) today, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by MPA Chief Executive Mr Lam Yi Young and NTU Provost Professor Bertil Andersson.
MCERP will focus on research platforms that promote green, carbon-neutral, energy management solutions. The research will be conducted through the Centre for Maritime Energy Research (CMER), a new centre under the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N). The programme will leverage activities within other centres in ERI@N and target to develop system-level solutions in the green shipping and green port domain.
Co-funded by MPA's Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund and NTU, research grants of up to $8 million and $2 million will be contributed by MPA and NTU respectively over a five-year period. MPA and NTU will also work towards securing industry co-funding of up to $5 million.
The first Call for Proposals for the MCERP research grant opens today, and applicants are encouraged to work out the proposals in consultation with maritime companies. The evaluation panel will constitute members from NTU, MPA and members of the maritime industry.
Said Mr Lam Yi Young, "Through the MINT Fund, MPA has been actively supporting R&D and test-bedding of maritime technologies by universities, research institutes and companies in Singapore. Two core areas under the MINT Fund are clean energy and environment technology. The Maritime Clean Energy Research Programme comes under these areas and will help in the development of technologies toward greener shipping and port management."
Professor Bertil Andersson added, "Environmental issues in the shipping / maritime industry are fast gaining prominence with increased awareness of the environmental footprints caused by shipping activities. In line with one of NTU's Five Peaks of Excellence, Sustainable Earth, the programme we are launching today is timely and I applaud this opportunity to partner with the MPA, with ship builders and owners, ship operators, technology solutions providers, and classification societies to address the rapidly growing, global energy concerns related to ports and shipping."
In conjunction with the MCERP, Mr Lam Yi Young and Professor Bertil Andersson also witnessed the signing of an MOU and Letter of Intent between NTU and six industry partners who have expressed intent to explore collaborations with ERI@N's Centre for Maritime Energy Research. The five MOU partners are: American Bureau of Shipping, APL Co. Pte Ltd, DNV Pte Ltd, Keppel Offshore and Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd and Sembcorp Marine Ltd. The Letter of Intent was signed by Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte Ltd.