23 March 2015

Members of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Board

Ms Karen Kooi, Chief Executive Officer, M1

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. I am pleased to join you at today's event.

Building a Smarter Port of Singapore

As you all know, Maritime Singapore is a key pillar of Singapore's economy, contributing about 7% of our GDP and providing over 170,000 jobs. We are one of the world's busiest transshipment hubs, the top bunkering port, and a leading International Maritime Centre.

Fifty years ago at Singapore's independence, this was not something which we could have foreseen. It has taken imagination and determination to get to where we are today. And one person whose belief in the potential of Maritime Singapore made all the difference. That is none other than our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew had once said that "Singapore's raison d'etre was its port", meaning that Singapore's very reason for being is its port; it owes its existence to the fact that we have a port. It was thus appropriate that we had taken a minute earlier to remember Mr Lee Kuan Yew's contributions to Singapore and to the development of our port.

Not all of us know this, but under Mr Lee Kuan Yew's leadership, we built our first container terminal at Tanjong Pagar way back in 1969. This was well before containerisation had taken off in a big way. At that time, Japan was the only other Asian country with a container terminal.

It was a bold step - we must remember that in those days resources were very tight in Singapore and the Ministry of Finance had no money for anything, much less for expensive container terminals. In 1969, around the same time that the British had announced its withdrawal of troops from Singapore and as a fledging nation that was newly independent, our economic survival was at stake. Mr Lee's Cabinet took a bold decision that led eventually to the transformation of the port from a labour-intensive sector into an international hub, subsequently employing cutting-edge IT systems that paved the way for our continued development as a maritime hub.

Those early attempts at innovation and technology had given Singapore a first mover advantage. They will continue to be critical levers for us to maintain our competitiveness and remain as the premier hub port in Asia and the world. There can be no better tribute to Mr Lee and his vision for Maritime Singapore, than for us to take bold steps now to bring it forward to a new era of growth and development.

We will therefore move to develop a Smarter Port of Singapore. We want our port to be one that capitalises more on technology, especially infocomm technology, to enhance the productivity, reliability and efficiency of business operations, improve safety standards and create new business opportunities. This will also support our vision for Singapore to be a Smart Nation.

We will take a multi-pronged approach to realise the Smarter Port of Singapore. It will cover:

(i) Improved mobile and wireless connectivity in our port waters;

(ii) Automation, including the use of automated vehicles;

(iii) Data analytics, in particular to improve enforcement; and

(iv) The development of a next-generation Vessel Traffic Management System with new capabilities such as the early detection of congestion hotspots.

Today, MPA is ready to unveil the mobile and wireless connectivity components of this initiative. These components will be the backbone upon which the port community can better leverage on technology, and upon which new port applications will be built.

(A) Providing 4G Broadband Access in Singapore Port Waters

Let me begin with broadband access. MPA has been working with M1 to test-bed and provide the fourth generation mobile telecommunications technology (commonly known as 4G) broadband coverage in our port waters. This was a significant undertaking, given the vast area to be covered. I am happy to announce that M1 will be launching the 4G services in our port today.

The network will provide the maritime community with high bandwidth, low-cost and secured wireless broadband access in Singapore port waters, with coverage up to 15 kilometres from the coastline. This will enable visiting ships as well as the local harbour craft to stay connected with their shore office and business partners to boost operational efficiency. It will also improve the welfare of the crew working onboard the vessels and harbour craft, as they will be able to maintain regular contact with their families and friends.

I am also pleased to note that MPA and M1 will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding this morning to promote the adoption of wireless broadband by port users, and undertake research and test-bedding of relevant projects that will benefit the maritime community.

(B) Providing WiFi Services at MPA-managed Terminals

Secondly, MPA will also improve shore-based connectivity at its ferry terminals to complement the availability of broadband access at sea. WiFi services will be made available at the Marina South Pier, Changi Point Ferry Terminal and West Coast Pier from 1 July this year through the extension of the Wireless@SG programme to these locations. The extension will further enhance ferry operations and passenger experience for those using these ferry terminals.

(C) Launch of myMaritime@SG Mobile App

The universal availability of broadband access opens up exciting new possibilities for smart applications to improve the productivity of the port community.

MPA is taking the lead and has developed a new mobile app, called 'myMaritime@SG', which will allow port users to retrieve useful information such as ship arrivals and departures, port and marine notices, tidal information, among others. The maritime community and the public can also provide feedback to MPA through the app. This app will be the first of its kind in the region.

(D) MPA-SSA Joint Grant Call-for-Proposals to Develop Apps for the Maritime Industry

We hope to see the emergence of more apps that will offer value-added services to our maritime community, and further differentiate the value proposition of our port. To spur such development, MPA and the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) are jointly initiating a call-for-proposals to invite the maritime community and solution providers to develop innovative business-to-business apps for the maritime industry. MPA has set aside $2 million to co-fund projects approved under this initiative.

Conclusion

In conclusion, today marks another milestone in our journey to realise our vision of a more productive and vibrant port. It demonstrates once again that the Government will partner and co-create with industry to bring Maritime Singapore to greater heights. I am very confident that together, we can build a Smarter Port for Singapore.

As we do this, I am reminded that whilst we invest in technology and innovation, one group we must always remember is the port workers, as well as the many professionals, technicians and executives who make the port tick, who make the port what it is. Ultimately, it is still about people, the human talent that we are able to bring together in Singapore, that makes our port special. I am also reminded that where our port, where our terminals are situated is also where Mr Lee began his entire political life - he remained a Member of Parliament of Tanjong Pajar until his passing this morning. Since the late 1950s, after he returned from Britain, he served as legal adviser to many unions including the Singapore Port Workers Union. And he remained in close touch with them for many years thereafter and he was very concerned about how the changes in our port scene affected them.

Today, let us also commit ourselves to making sure that everyone who is involved in the port, across all levels, whether in administration, whether in operations, whether in research, are part of this development of a Smarter Port. That will be a fitting tribute to Mr Lee.

Let us work together to take Singapore Port, to take Maritime Singapore to new heights. Thank you very much.