Asia/Pacific News
MPA: Managing The Environmental Impact of Shipping "A Priority" For Singapore
Singapore has been putting increasing emphasis on sustainability of the maritime industry in recent years, with a number of programmes designed to reduce emissions and protect the marine environment, local newspaper the Strait Times reports.
"Managing the environmental impact of shipping is a priority, even as the port is developed to meet economic targets," said a spokesman for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), adding that Singapore is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including many of the world's coral and mangrove species.
The Maritime Singapore Green Initiative, launched by the MPA in 2011, includes programs to encourage ships to adopt environmentally friendly fuels and technologies.
The MPA has also created a $100 million Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund to pay for research and development of new, green technology, and it conducts studies on regulatory and incentive measures to encourage eco-friendly practices.
"The mega terminal at Tuas, which will consolidate all existing container operations when it opens in about 10 years, is also being designed with sustainability in mind," the spokesman said.
DNV GL and the Maritime and MPA reached an agreement earlier this year to work together on research and development to promote sustainability.
