Singapore is advancing greener international shipping through alternative fuels like methanol and ammonia, which require enhanced safety training due to their toxicity and fire risks. Captain Chatur Wahyu from the Singapore Maritime Academy stressed the need for specialised methanol-handling skills. Singapore continues to lead global training standards through the International Maritime Organisation. More than 500 seafarers—many of them local—have completed methanol-related courses. To support this shift, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is developing a Maritime Energy Training Facility Digital Platform to streamline training and ensure regulatory compliance by late 2025. Training innovations include virtual reality simulations developed by the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety at SP, using AI and computer vision to assess trainee responses during methanol-related emergencies. MPA is also upskilling the maritime workforce in data analytics, AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability, supported by Singapore Maritime Foundation initiatives such as foundational analytics courses. To attract younger talent, maritime employers are encouraged to modernise recruitment and highlight sustainability-linked career pathways. A partnership between MPA and RP aims to expose students to emerging maritime roles, strengthening the future talent pipeline.
Singapore Polytechnic
500 Dover Rd Singapore 139651