International shipping is going greener through the use of fuels such as methanol and ammonia, but training has to be scaled up for maritime professionals so that they are able to handle these hazardous materials.
Captain Chatur Wahyu, director of the Singapore Maritime Academy, told The Straits Times that while such fuels are friendlier to the environment, they can be deadly to humans and marine life and can be difficult to handle.
For instance, methanol is not only toxic and highly flammable, but also its fires cannot be seen in daylight, he said. “This is why we train our crew to use infrared cameras and a gas detector to detect the fires if methanol is leaking. They also need to know how to put out the fires.”
With international shipping transitioning to alternative fuels, seafarers must be equipped with skills to handle these fuels and the new technologies associated with them, said Minister of State for Transport and Law Murali Pillai in his opening speech on March 28 at the Maritime Manpower Forum, which was held as part of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), an annual industry event organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
“Singapore has a part to play in this as it chairs the International Maritime Organisation working group which develops training guidelines for seafarers on board ships using alternative fuels,” Mr Murali said.
So far, more than 500 seafarers, maritime professionals and firefighters have gone for basic and advanced training courses for handling methanol, Capt Chatur said. Of the 500 who have gone for the training, 60 per cent are local.
To facilitate the training of seafarers in the safe handling and operating of ships using alternative marine fuels, MPA and its partners on March 27 announced the Maritime Energy Training Facility Digital Platform.
The platform will be able to track training progress and certifications received, helping both companies and maritime professionals monitor compliance with the relevant industry and regulatory standards.
It will also reduce the administrative burden on maritime companies and make training easily accessible by enabling group enrolments and streamlining payments.
The platform, which will be ready by the second half of 2025, is currently offered to Singapore-based maritime companies and Singapore-registered ships, and is undergoing testing and validation with industry pilot users.
Use of AI, drones and virtual reality in training
A slew of other programmes to train and prepare crews to handle methanol as a fuel are also being developed.
As part of efforts to decarbonise the maritime industry, the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety in Singapore Polytechnic developed hands-on virtual reality training to handle methanol as a fuel.
Its learning laboratory simulates on-board scenarios such as responding to a hose leak, and bunkering operations including pre-bunkering inspection and fault reporting.
Ms Vishakha Lall, lead research engineer of the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety, said the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in maritime training can help reduce the challenges faced by trainers in evaluating candidates.
She said emergency scenarios triggered in simulators include reacting to engine failures or extreme weather conditions.
Speaking to ST after her presentation on AI in maritime training on March 25 as part of SMW, she said: “It’s not humanly possible to assess everything all at once – for instance, were candidates looking at the right equipment at the right time? These are lacking in human assessment.”
Computer vision is a domain in AI that is particularly used in the centre’s research to assess trainees, she said. Eye trackers in the form of special headgear help trainers to see where trainees are looking by monitoring their eye movements.
She added that it can help trainers understand if trainees are focusing on the right things during emergency situations.
“We have worked and implemented solutions for at least two bunkering and shipping companies for two years,” she said.
The moves come after MPA noted in December 2024 that methanol is now available for shipping on a commercial scale, following the first successful simultaneous methanol bunkering and cargo operation (Simops) in May 2024. In the maritime industry, Simops refers to the process of loading or unloading methanol as cargo while simultaneously refuelling (bunkering) a vessel with methanol as fuel.
MPA has also launched a new standard for methanol bunkering in Singapore’s port.
Attracting and retaining talent
During SMW, programmes addressing the shortage of maritime manpower and initiatives aiming to attract and retain talent in other areas of the industry were also announced.
Under the enhanced Tripartite Maritime Training Award, the training duration for mid-career individuals will be reduced from 31 to 22 months through a more streamlined curriculum that strengthens core maritime competencies, said MPA in a statement on March 28.
The accelerated programme will incorporate greater use of advanced ship simulators for both navigational and engineering training and optimise on-board training, it added.
Monthly training allowances will also be increased from $1,200 to $2,200, with co-funding by government agencies and unions. The next training course starts on June 9, 2025.
MPA said Singapore is expanding training in domains such as data analytics, AI, cyber security and sustainability to equip the maritime workforce with the skills needed as the industry moves forward.
Mr Hor Weng Yew, chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), noted that the talent pool must see that the sector invests in their professional development to attract and retain skilled people.
“Maritime professionals must continue to build their domain skills even as they enhance their soft skills,” he said.
The MPA-SMF Joint Office for Talent and Skills, established in 2024, will support workforce transformation and skills development in these areas.
In late 2024, SMF piloted a foundational data analytics course for 30 participants from 15 companies. The course will be available to the public in the second half of 2025.
The feedback has been positive, said Mr Hor, noting that “companies can tap such opportunities to upskill their workforce”.
Ms Elsie Ng, head of talent solutions at LinkedIn Singapore, said maritime employers must modernise their approach to align with evolving job seeker expectations.
For instance, showcasing how maritime careers contribute to global sustainability and innovation can appeal to purpose-driven candidates, she said.
She added that instead of focusing on external hiring alone, employers should also consider filling the roles and skills they need from within their organisations. Internal mobility increased by 21 per cent in 2024 in Singapore, and by 18 per cent for the local maritime industry.
“Companies should also invest in building a compelling employer brand by showcasing their values, innovation efforts and employee success stories on digital platforms to capture the attention of younger job seekers.”
The industry is also working with Singapore’s polytechnics to drum up interest among the younger generation.
MPA has partnered Republic Polytechnic (RP) to launch a training programme for MPA’s unmanned aircraft (UA) pilots to ramp up its maritime drone capabilities. The partnership will offer RP students internship opportunities with MPA and the chance to explore potential career pathways as UA pilots.
Singapore Polytechnic was one of the exhibitors at the talent zone during SMW, where it showcased student projects featuring innovative solutions in maritime search and rescue.
Source: The Straits Times