DNV and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) have signed a Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) to support the development of remote and autonomous maritime capabilities in Singapore.

The agreement builds on a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)-funded Joint Industry Project focused on shore-based Remote Operations Centres (ROC) for bunker vessels.

Under the RCA, DNV and SIT will work together to identify and develop the technical, operational and training capabilities needed to enable SIT’s Future Ship and System Design Lab to support remote and autonomous vessel functions.

The MPA-backed project will bring together industry and research partners to study how selected vessel functions can be safely monitored or supported from shore.

As part of that work, DNV and SIT will develop frameworks and applied research aimed at strengthening the Singapore maritime cluster’s readiness for remote operations.

The partners will also focus on knowledge transfer between academia, research and industry in Singapore to help build the skills needed for these emerging operating models.

Dr Shahrin Osman, Director of Maritime Decarbonisation and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence at DNV, said: “In the RCA with SIT we’re putting together a combination of expertise in applied research, operations, and assurance that will be essential as Singapore seeks to deepen its capabilities in remote and autonomous vessel operations. By working together, we hope to align the technical development of these advanced systems with the industry’s practical operational needs and strengthen the foundation for shore-based support functions.”

Professor Susanna Leong, Deputy President (Academic) and Provost at SIT, noted: “Through this agreement, SIT strengthens its role in advancing Singapore’s maritime capabilities through applied learning and research. In collaboration with DNV and our partners, we will focus on developing practical, engineering-driven solutions and relevant upskilling pathways to support the sector’s transition towards more digitally enabled operations.”

The agreement will also allow both organisations to explore curriculum development, simulation methodologies and applied R&D activities for the wider maritime community.