MPA to draw up Maritime Singapore Master Plan

Amidst what it calls a more complex and uncertain operating environment, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is charting the long-term direction for Maritime Singapore. This includes developing strategies to seize growth opportunities and strengthen Singapore’s position as a key node in global trade, while continuing to drive innovation, accelerate technology adoption, and develop a future-ready workforce.

MPA is developing the Maritime Singapore Master Plan, an industry-wide blueprint to guide the sector’s longer-term development. Targeted for release in 2027, the Master Plan will outline strategies and plans to: strengthen Singapore's competitiveness as a global hub port; enhance Singapore’s attractiveness as an International Maritime Centre; grow Singapore as a centre for maritime technology, innovation, including in Artificial Intelligence, and R&D; and develop a skilled maritime workforce.

In the coming months, MPA and the Ministry of Transport will engage businesses, industry stakeholders, and the public to gather feedback and ideas and co-create a common vision. A local industry panel comprising key business leaders will also be convened to provide their expertise on opportunities and challenges for the industry.

The Master Plan will chart out the long-term business planning, investment, and skills development across the maritime ecosystem. It builds on the sector’s steady growth and transformation, which has anchored more than 200 international shipping groups, and created some 2,000 PME jobs for locals over the last five years.

Recognising that talent development is crucial for maintaining Singapore’s status as a leading maritime hub, MPA will introduce the Maritime Cluster Fund – Global Rotation (MCF-GR). This new initiative will co-fund the overseas deployment of local middle managers when they take on regional or global supervisory roles. These assignments provide local maritime professionals greater exposure to international operations while building leadership capabilities in multi-cultural environments.

To further support structured career development in the maritime sector, MPA will also streamline the requirements of the Maritime Cluster Fund – Management Associate (MCF-MA) scheme to make it easier for firms to come onboard the scheme and co-fund career development programmes. Through the enhanced scheme, young professionals can undergo structured rotations across different commercial and operational roles to build a broader understanding of the maritime value chain and enable their career progression.

To reinforce Singapore’s position as a global centre for maritime innovation, MPA will introduce a new innovation track under the Maritime Cluster Fund – Business Development (MCF-BD) scheme. The new track aims to attract maritime companies to anchor their innovation and technology leaders, product teams, and corporate venture capital (CVC) functions in Singapore.

The scheme enhances support for companies setting up innovation and technology desks or CVCs in Singapore, co-funding qualifying costs such as rentals and salaries of key personnel. Companies will also gain access to R&D expertise and resources, regulatory sandboxes, and co-funding support to pursue innovation activities. This encourages companies to not only set up offices in Singapore but also entrench their innovation capabilities in Singapore’s maritime ecosystem.

From the second half of 2026, MPA will be expanding trials of unmanned surface vessels (USV) for use in Singapore’s port waters. These trials are designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and resilience, focusing on two key applications: Surveillance and Early Detection for Enhanced Response and Transforming Hydrographic Operations. 

Findings from the trials will support the safe and scalable integration of USVs in port operations. MPA will work with industry partners to develop safety standards, technical specifications, and operating procedures for USV deployment.