France and Singapore have signed an Enhanced Maritime Partnership Agreement, marking a major step forward in bilateral maritime cooperation.
The agreement was formalized by French Minister for Transport Philippe Tabarot and Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow.
Building on a foundation established in 2021, the updated partnership focuses on five key areas: maritime decarbonisation, digitalisation, cybersecurity, innovation, and training.
Key initiatives under the agreement include joint pilot projects with industry leaders.
One highlight is a bio-methane bunkering trial in Singapore involving global shipping company CMA CGM, aimed at advancing green fuel alternatives.
On the digital front, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) will partner with France’s HAROPA PORT and the Port of Marseille-Fos to improve port call optimisation.
Trials with CMA CGM vessels will test digital tools for ship-to-shore data exchange, streamlined port clearance, and enhanced accuracy using global standards.
The agreement also seeks to foster maritime innovation by connecting startups, companies, and investors from both countries through platforms like Singapore’s PIER71 Smart Port Challenge, France’s ZEBOX, and the Landing Pad programme.
Chief Executive of MPA, Teo Eng Dih, hailed the agreement as a major milestone in strengthening maritime collaboration.
France’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGAMPA), Eric Banel, underscored its strategic importance in advancing green shipping, digital port technologies, and maritime resilience.
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