The research and development initiatives fall under the Port Technology Research and Development Programme (PTRDP), which will focus on port automation, intelligent planning and control systems, and green port solutions.
Under the MOU, MPA will fund the programme an additional SGD15m ($12m) over five years from the Maritime Innovative and Technology Fund (MINT Fund). PSA will provide additional co-funding of up to SGD15m over the same period.
This will bring the total amount committed towards PTRDP to SGD50m, up from the initial SGD20m.
Andrew Tan, chief executive of MPA, said, “With growing demands on ports to accommodate ever larger ships and growing amounts of cargo, it is imperative that we leverage on new technologies to increase our port efficiency and productivity.
“Through co-funding of such R&D efforts, we hope to see the adoption of new systems and technologies that will significantly enhance the competitiveness of Singapore as a global transhipment hub and bring benefits to the rest of the industry,” Tan added.
Tan Puay Hin, regional ceo Southeast Asia, PSA International, said the port operator is gearing up for the development of its future terminals at Pasir Panjang Phases 3 and 4 as well as Tuas.
“The innovative technologies developed under the programme will transform our terminal operations, and take our productivity and process efficiency to new heights,” he said.
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