Opening Remarks by Mr Ang Wee Keong, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, at the Opening of the 10th Clean Marine Fuel Forum, 22 September 2026

Your Excellency Leif Trana, Ambassador of Norway to Singapore,

Dr. Saunak Rai, Chairperson of the 10th Clean Marine Fuel Forum,

Mr. Laurence Odfjell, Chair of the Board of Directors of Odfjell, 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

1.    Good morning. My sincere gratitude to the Norwegian Embassy and organisers for inviting me to speak at the 10th edition of the Clean Marine Fuel Forum. 

2.    Ten years of this Forum marks an important milestone and reflects our sustained efforts to advance clean marine fuels across the industry. It is difficult to predict how the transition will unfold in the years ahead. But conversations like today’s remain important as we work to keep global shipping on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by or around 2050. 

3.    As earlier speakers have reminded us, climate change does not wait for the world to find its footing. Nor does it pause while geopolitical events or uncertainties play out. We must press ahead regardless.   

4.    MPA will therefore keep working closely with industry and our partners to tackle the challenges of decarbonisation and move shipping towards a cleaner, greener future.

The Regulatory Challenges faced by the Maritime Industry

5.    In particular, there are two key challenges we need to tackle together. The first is the risk of an increasingly fragmented regulatory landscape. The second is closing the gap between clean fuel ambition and commercial deployment. 

6.    Let me start with the first challenge – the risk of a more fragmented regulatory landscape.  

7.    In 2023, the IMO adopted its Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships. This was a watershed moment for the shipping industry. 

8.    For the first time, global shipping agreed on a clear ambition of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050. The question is, how do we get there?