Mr. Kevin Oates, Head of Asia, Marine Money, 

Mr. Andrew Oates, Managing Director, Marine Money Asia

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.    Good evening. 

2.    A very warm welcome to the inaugural Marine Money Asia Deal of the Year Award Ceremony.  

3.    Let me begin by congratulating all our award recipients. Tonight’s awards recognise some of the most innovative and impactful transactions in maritime finance, and the exceptional judgment and ingenuity that made them possible.

Marine Money Asia’s 25th Anniversary

4.    Tonight’s inaugural ceremony is especially meaningful as it coincides with Marine Money Asia’s 25th anniversary. This is an opportunity to honour the achievements of a community that Marine Money has helped to build over a quarter of a century, here in Asia.  

5.    From Marine Money Singapore to Marine Money Asia, the conference has brought together financial institutions, maritime services firms and shipping companies to exchange ideas  and build stronger connections. These connections have helped turn promising ideas into rewarding investments. 

Financing the shipping industry’s transformation

6.    Looking ahead, as shipping transforms, ship financing will become more diverse and sophisticated. Shipowners today are making long-term investments in vessels that will operate for decades, even as fuel choices, regulations, and trade patterns evolve. 

7.    These uncertainties make it harder to assess a vessel’s future earnings and resale value, both of which are central to lending decisions. The challenge is to manage these risks while giving shipowners the capital to renew their fleets and the flexibility to adapt. 

8.    We have seen a wider range of capital providers entering the market to meet this challenge. Banks, leasing companies and investors are putting together innovative financing structures and drawing on more diverse funding sources. The transactions recognised tonight show how the ship finance sector continues to adapt and innovate. 

9.    Asia has an important part to play in global ship finance. The number of transactions under Marine Money’s East Deals category has grown over the years, with eight deals recognised last year alone. This reflects the growing depth and diversity of ship finance activities across the region, and its role in meeting the sector’s changing investment needs. 

Singapore at the Heart of Asia

10.    As a key maritime nation in the heart of Asia, Singapore is well placed to connect maritime businesses with international capital. 

11.    Here, shipowners can draw on financiers, marine insurers and maritime lawyers within one ecosystem. Financiers, in turn, are close to the businesses and markets they serve. This proximity connects shipowners with funding beyond their home markets and investors with opportunities across Asia. 

12.    Singapore’s standing as a stable, neutral and trusted business hub gives these connections a secure foundation. We maintain links across regions and welcome partners from around the world. Our rule of law and consistent policies give businesses confidence to make commitments spanning many years. 

13.    These strengths have made Singapore a natural home for the cross-border dialogue and deal-making that Marine Money Asia has long championed. 

14.     And should broader global developments make cross-border businesses and transactions more challenging, Singapore hopes to offer ourselves as a neutral and safe venue to make these transactions possible. We cannot remove uncertainty from the world, but we can provide a dependable base from which businesses can plan and invest. 

Recognising the People Behind the Transactions

15.    Finally, I want to recognise the people behind the transactions honoured tonight. Capital may make a deal possible, but it is the people who bring it together. 

16.    Many of you have worked long hours, navigated difficult negotiations and reconciled competing interests to achieve a successful outcome. Your perseverance and spirit of collaboration give us confidence in the industry’s ability to meet the challenges ahead. 

Conclusion 

17.    Let me end by reaffirming ship finance as a cornerstone of Singapore’s position as a leading international maritime centre. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) remains committed to keeping this sector strong, vibrant and competitive. 

18.    We look forward to working with our industry to grow the sector, and to seeing more innovative financing solutions and new pools of capital emerging from Asia, and especially from Singapore.

19.     On that note, with tonight being the inaugural ceremony, I hope Marine Money finds it all the more meaningful to present the East Deals awards here in Singapore, in the very region where these deals were forged. 

20.    Once again, congratulations to all the winners tonight. I wish everyone an enjoyable evening and a successful conference for the next two days.

21.    Thank you.