The Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026 was officially launched today by Mr Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance. This year marks SMW’s 20^th edition – reflecting two decades of convening global maritime leaders, shaping ideas and advancing the industry.

2.        Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the annual event is taking place from 20 to 24 April this year, and brings together more than 20,000 participants from close to 80 countries and regions, including Ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders and maritime professionals. Participants will exchange views on shared challenges and practical pathways forward for international shipping.

3.        At the opening ceremony, Mr Siow announced the launch of OCEANS-X[1], a new data and Application Programming Interface (API) eXchange platform developed by MPA to enable secure system-to-system connectivity across the maritime ecosystem and more efficient port services, which will strengthen Singapore’s role as a global hub port and international maritime centre.

4.        Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong, delivered the Singapore Maritime Lecture at the opening of SMW 2026. Mr Gan also took part in a fireside chat, moderated by Ms Yong Hsin Yue, Managing Director, Kuok Group Singapore. Topics discussed included geopolitical and global trade shifts, structural transformations in areas like digitalisation and decarbonisation, and the ability of maritime hubs to navigate these changes in an increasingly fragmented world.

Gathering Thought Leadership at SMW

5.        Among the notable attendees at SMW 2026 is Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, who will share perspectives on advancing collective outcomes for global shipping amid differing national priorities. The Ministerial Roundtable, hosted by Mr Jeffrey Siow, will bring together Ministers and heads of maritime organisations from 10 countries to discuss collective actions on sustainability, digitalisation, and regulatory cooperation.

6.        The wider conference programme draws perspectives from industry, finance, logistics, sustainability and classification societies. Discussions will cover issues including maritime decarbonisation, digital transformation and innovation, as well as cybersecurity, financing, and workforce transformation.

Building Connections in the Maritime Community

7.        EXPO@SMW is taking place from 21 to 23 April as the exhibition pillar of SMW. It gathers stakeholders from across the maritime ecosystem to showcase innovative solutions, emerging technologies and collaborative projects supporting the industry’s transformation. A key highlight is the Maritime SG Showcase themed “From Research to Reality: Reimagining Ports and Ships”, featuring projects such as the Maritime Digital Twin Live Simulation Platform, OCEANS-X Digital Platform and other industry-academia research projects led by the Singapore Maritime Institute. The Tech Village will also feature start-ups from across the maritime ecosystem. EXPO@SMW is open to the public[2].

8.        The PIER71^TM Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2026 will also be launched at SMW 2026 on 22 April at EXPO@SMW. Now in its 10^th edition, the annual global competition invites startups, both local and foreign, to develop innovative solutions addressing key challenges and opportunities in the maritime industry. Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport, will officiate at the event and deliver a speech.

9.        SMW will also reach out to youths through initiatives such as Youth@SMW and Talent Pavilion at EXPO@SMW on 23 April. These initiatives, supported by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and training service providers, aim to raise awareness of maritime careers and provide information on education and career pathways across the sector. Participants can attend career talks and presentations by companies, students and young professionals, and connect with industry, education and training partners.  Mr Baey Yam Keng, Minister of State for Transport, will open Youth@SMW and deliver an opening address on 23 April. Participants at Youth@SMW s can also choose from the  learning journeys to understand port operations and the emerging technologies in the sector. These include visits to Everllence[3] facilities, the PSA Innovation Centre, vessel tours to Pulau Bukom and Penguin Shipyard, and guided tours at Talent@SMW.

Public Engagement

10.        A series of public engagement activities will be held from 25 to 26 April 2026 at the Singapore Maritime Gallery located at Marina South Pier (MSP) and HarbourFront Cruise Centre. Visitors can catch a glimpse of vessels on display at MSP, including MPA Guardian and Mata Ikan, the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s Blue Dolphin, and electric vessels from Penguin and Yinson Greentech. At HarbourFront Cruise Centre, visitors can also view EON, Singapore's first fully electric harbour tug built by PaxOcean and owned by Kuok Maritime Group under the Coastal Sustainability Alliance (CSA). Tickets for visits to these vessels, including the Singapore Maritime Discoveries tours, can be booked online at https://go.gov.sg/discovermaritime-eventbrite.  

[1] OCEANS-X refers to the data and Application Programming Interface (API) eXchange platform under Project OCEANS (Open/Common Exchange And Network Standardisation).

[2] Admission to EXPO@SMW is free. More information and registration details are available at smw.sg.

[3] Formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions, Everllence Singapore is one of the shipping industry's main engine makers, and specialises in large engines and industrial machinery.