The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Port of Rotterdam Authority have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to exchange information on marine services and jointly collaborate on research and development in the areas of service efficiency and optimisation, and new developments in the maritime and port sectors.
Under the MoU the two parties will exchange information on marine services, including standards, and regulatory frameworks for bunkering and other marine services, as well as the application of information technology in providing those services.
The Research and development side of the agreement covers service efficiency and optimisation, as well as new developments such as LNG bunkering and green technology.
The MOU was signed in Singapore between Andrew Tan, chief executive of MPA, and Allard Castelein, president and CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority, to join R&D projects in areas of service efficiency and optimisation, as well as new developments in the maritime and port sectors.
Tan said, "We are happy to partner the Port of Rotterdam Authority on this important initiative to promote the sharing of information and best practices between two of the world's key ports and conduct research in common areas of interest. This MOU will also help strengthen the maritime linkages between ports in Europe and Asia and forge closer cooperation at a time when ports have to work more closely with one another to ensure the safety, security and efficiency of global shipping."
Castelein said, "It is important that the world's largest and most progressive ports exchange experiences and join efforts to improve their business where they can. I feel it as an obligation towards our customers and society as a whole to improve on such topics as safety, efficiency and sustainability."
Meanwhile, MPA also held the inaugural Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) on 20 April, in conjunction with the 10th Singapore Maritime Week 2015. The closed-door event has attracted port authorities around the world such as Malaysia-based Port Klang Authority (PKA), South Korea-based Busan Port Authority (BPA), and Belgium-based Antwerp Port Authority (ARA).