: Singapore rolls out new standard for charging electric harbour craft
New technical reference will guide development of charging infrastructure; Singapore continues preparing for alternative marine fuels
[SINGAPORE] The Republic has published a new standard for the charging of electric harbour craft (EHCs).
Known as Technical Reference 136 (TR 136), the standard was developed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, industry stakeholders and academia, through the Singapore Standards Council.
The new standard was announced by Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor on Tuesday (Mar 25).
Speaking at the Accelerating Digitalisation and Decarbonisation Conference as part of Singapore Maritime Week 2025, she said that TR 136 will help establish robust charging infrastructure in the Republic’s port, ensuring safe, efficient and interoperable services.
In a separate statement, Teo Eng Dih, chief executive of MPA, said: “TR 136 is a critical step towards developing a safe, robust and interoperable charging infrastructure for EHCs in Singapore. By setting clear safety and operational guidelines, the new standard will give industry players greater confidence in electrification and pave the way for wider EHC adoption.”
Vessels that operate exclusively within Singapore’s waters, such as ferries and those transporting cargo and supplies to larger ships, are known as harbour craft.
From 2030, all new harbour craft operating in the Port of Singapore will have to be fully electric, be capable of using 100 per cent biofuel, or be compatible with net-zero fuels such as hydrogen.
TR 136 establishes technical and safety requirements for charging infrastructure and battery swop systems, and is aligned with existing industry standards for electric vehicle charging such as TR 25 (from Singapore) and International Electrotechnical Commission standards 61851 and 62840, for easier adoption by service providers.
The technical reference is expected to have positive spillover effects, with new business opportunities in areas such as charging systems and battery technologies, and open upskilling prospects for the maritime workforce, said MPA.
In April 2024, a pilot EHC charging point was launched, following from MPA’s call for proposal in August 2023 to develop, operate and maintain EHC charging points.
Making headway
Dr Khor also outlined the Republic’s progress in lowering maritime emissions in other areas.
Singapore and India signed a letter of intent on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation on Tuesday, with the eventual goal of establishing a green and digital shipping corridor.
The existing green and digital shipping corridor between Singapore and the Port of Rotterdam will be renewed for another three years.
MPA will open licence applications for the maritime supply of methanol, an early step in the process of methanol becoming commercially available as a fuel.
Singapore Maritime Week 2025 runs from Mar 24 to 28 at the Suntec Convention Centre, and is expected to see more than 20,000 attendees from around 80 countries.
Source: The Business Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
