Singapore

Reporting on the latest developments from Singapore’s maritime sector

Singapore

PIL opens new centre for maritime efficiency

Pacific International Lines (PIL) has opened its new Centre for Maritime Efficiency and signed a MoU with Singapore Polytechnic’s Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS). The developments are both aimed at cutting the Singapore based shipping company’s carbon footprint.

Pacific International Lines (PIL) said its two new initiatives would further enhance the company’s operational efficiencies and strengthen the capabilities of its sea crew in navigation safety.

The first initiative launched is the opening of its new Centre for Maritime Efficiency (CME). The key role of the CME is to enable PIL to grow its competencies in managing ship and fleet energy-efficiency performance as part of PIL’s commitment to lowering its carbon footprint.

Helmed by a team of seven with extensive seafaring experience and leveraging on digitalisation, the CME’s responsibilities include traffic optimisation and route analysis aimed at minimising energy usage by PIL’s fleet. The CME will be equipped with a state-ofthe-art digital system that houses all relevant operational data and applications in a single platform to facilitate comprehensive, centralised and efficient coordination.

With the new CME, PIL said it will reap a number of benefits. These will include a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from its operations, enhanced fleet safety and security, the maximisation of cost-effectiveness through efficient traffic and route-based management of PIL’s fleet, and the provision of more training berths for the company’s seafarers designed to act as a ship-to-shore career path.

Lars Kastrup, CEO, PIL, said: “The rolling out of this new Centre for Maritime Efficiency is timely as we forge ahead to become a more efficient shipping line committed to reducing our carbon footprint. This is also aligned with our aim to better leverage technology and digitalisation in our operations for enhanced operational effectiveness.

“At the end of the day, we aim to deliver quality service and good connectivity to our customers, who are increasingly expecting container shipping services to be nimble and flexible to meet their evolving needs.”

MoU with the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety

PIL recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore Polytechnic’s Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) to collaborate on a ‘Training with Technology’ project.

PIL and CEMS will jointly explore the effectiveness of using immersive, simulation and remote technology to deliver safetyrelated and ship navigation training in demanding traffic and sea states. The data and knowledge collected from this project will be utilised for research and collaboration between the two partners towards the objective of strengthening the standards of maritime safety.

“PIL is indeed pleased to collaborate with Singapore Polytechnic, a leading institute of higher learning in maritime education and training,” commented Mr Kastrup. “We have over 4,000 seafarers working with PIL and their safety, health and wellbeing are of utmost importance to us.

“The long-running pandemic has also made us more cognizant of the crucial role that seafarers play in ensuring the smooth running of the global supply chain. We are confident that this partnership with Singapore Polytechnic will contribute towards strengthening our seafarers’ ability to conduct safe navigation and operations.”

Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development), Singapore Polytechnic, said: “Through this strategic capability-building partnership, our Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety will team up with Pacific International Lines to leverage on our combined extensive domain knowledge and expertise in the maritime sector to conduct and deliver meaningful research into technology-enabled navigational and operational safety training for our seafarers.

“By equipping them with the necessary tools, knowledge and autonomous technologies to safely manoeuvre highly volatile conditions, we will raise the standard of maritime safety for the larger maritime community.”

About Pacific International Lines and Singapore Polytechnic

Incorporated in 1967, Pacific International Lines is ranked 12th among the world’s top container shipping lines. From a modest ship-owner in Singapore, PIL has developed into a global carrier with a focus on China, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Oceania. Together with its sister companies Mariana Express Lines (MELL) and Malaysia Shipping Corporation, PIL serves customers at over 500 locations in more than 90 countries worldwide with a fleet of around 100 container and multipurpose vessels.

Established in 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) offers 30 full-time diploma courses and three common entry programmes for more than 13,500 students.n