Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026 was officially inaugurated today by Mr Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance, marking the event’s milestone 20th edition. Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), SMW 2026 runs from 20 to 24 April, bringing together more than 20,000 participants from nearly 80 countries — including ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders, and maritime professionals.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Siow announced the launch of OCEANS-X, a new data and API exchange platform developed by MPA to enable secure system-to-system connectivity across the maritime ecosystem. The platform is designed to deliver more efficient port services and reinforce Singapore’s standing as a global hub port and international maritime centre.
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, delivered the Singapore Maritime Lecture at the opening, followed by a fireside chat moderated by Ms Yong Hsin Yue, Managing Director of Kuok Group Singapore. The conversation spanned geopolitical and global trade shifts, digitalisation and decarbonisation, and the ability of maritime hubs to navigate an increasingly fragmented world.
Among the prominent attendees is Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, who is expected to share perspectives on advancing collective outcomes for global shipping amid diverging national priorities. A Ministerial Roundtable hosted by Mr Siow will convene ministers and heads of maritime organisations from 10 countries to deliberate on sustainability, digitalisation, and regulatory cooperation.
The wider conference programme draws from finance, logistics, sustainability, and classification societies, covering maritime decarbonisation, digital transformation, cybersecurity, workforce development, and innovation.
On the exhibition front, EXPO@SMW runs from 21 to 23 April, showcasing innovative technologies and collaborative projects from across the maritime ecosystem. A highlight is the Maritime SG Showcase themed “From Research to Reality: Reimagining Ports and Ships”, featuring the Maritime Digital Twin Live Simulation Platform, the OCEANS-X Digital Platform, and industry-academia research from the Singapore Maritime Institute. Admission to EXPO@SMW is free and open to the public.
The PIER71 Smart Port Challenge 2026 — now in its 10th edition — will also be launched at the event on 22 April, inviting startups globally to develop solutions addressing key maritime industry challenges.
Public engagement activities are scheduled for 25 to 26 April at the Singapore Maritime Gallery at Marina South Pier and HarbourFront Cruise Centre, where visitors can view vessels including Singapore’s first fully electric harbour tug, EON, built by PaxOcean and operated under the Coastal Sustainability Alliance.
Maritime Gateway is the exclusive Indian media partner for Singapore Maritime Week 2026.
