The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and PSA Singapore have launched an Expression of Interest seeking proposals to develop and test autonomous inter-gateway container feeder vessel operations within the Port of Singapore.
The initiative targets the movement of containers between terminals, such as between the Tuas and Pasir Panjang facilities, a function that plays a critical role in daily port operations and is expected to face growing demand as vessel traffic increases.
The EOI forms part of a broader effort by MPA and PSA to assess the technological readiness, operational feasibility and safety of autonomous technologies in a port environment.
The inter-gateway context has been selected as a rigorous operational setting in which productivity, safety and sustainability benefits can be meaningfully evaluated.
A remote operations centre forms a key component of the proposed framework, integrating data from vessel sensors and port traffic systems to enable real-time monitoring and timely intervention.
This infrastructure will serve as the core safety and assurance layer for autonomous operations.
Proposals are expected to address navigational safety, interaction with manned vessels, traffic management, system redundancy, cybersecurity, human-machine interfaces and regulatory compliance, alongside viable business models and compatibility with PSA’s operational and integration requirements.
The initiative is also anticipated to generate new employment opportunities in areas including remote vessel monitoring and operations, autonomous systems engineering, maritime data analytics and specialised technical maintenance, reflecting the broader workforce transformation expected to accompany the adoption of autonomous maritime technologies.
