The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is trialling with the concept of charging vessels at the port. For this experiment it has selected the Pyxis Energy, Pyxis Maritime and SP Mobility partnership, Seatrium O&G (International) and Yinson Electric for their vessel charging concepts to be piloted in Singapore.
The proposal put forward by Pyxis and SP Mobility will be tried and tested at Marina South Pier, while MPA will check with Seatrium and Yinson to further improve upon their concepts prior to testing.
Earlier MPA had issued a call for proposals (CFP) on 29 August 2023, announcing plans to develop, operate, and maintain e-HC (electric harbour craft) charging points in Singapore. The CFP concluded on 19 October 2023, with MPA receiving 12 proposals from various companies and consortiums for the two-year pilot, extendable for an additional year.
According to a statement, the chosen concept by Pyxis Energy, Pyxis Maritime, and SP Mobility is based on Direct Current (DC) charging. It stood out for its proposed price charging model, experience, and successful track record in implementing charging points for electric vehicles.
The proposed charging point adheres to the national electric vehicle charging standard set by Technical Reference 25:2022, serving as a benchmark while MPA develops national standards for e-HC charging infrastructure.
The pilot, scheduled from March 2024 to March 2026, with an option for extension until March 2027, will take place at Marina South Pier. Pending the pilot’s success, the concept may be expanded to other sites in the Port of Singapore. Data collected during the pilot will contribute to the development of a national e-HC charging infrastructure masterplan, implementation plan, and standards.
In addition, the reference for the development of these standards will be the national electric vehicle charging standard outlined in Technical Reference (TR) 25:2022, covering safety requirements, testing, and inspection for electric vehicle charging stations.
Apart from Pyxis Energy’s proposal, MPA has also evaluated the innovative mobile charging concept by Seatrium O&G (International) and a high-power (350-450kW) DC Charger proposed by Yinson Electric. MPA plans to collaborate with these companies for further development through research and development (R&D) initiatives in Singapore.
From 2030, all new harbour craft operating in the Port of Singapore must be fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuel, or compatible with net zero fuels like hydrogen. MPA aims to progressively introduce charging infrastructure for e-HC operations in Singapore from 2025.
Also, continuous monitoring of technology trends and pilot programs will support the development of electrification charging standards for domestic maritime activities. The call for proposals followed an Expression of Interest launched in July 2023 for proposals to design and promote the adoption of full-e-HC in Singapore.
