Singapore, 22 April 2026: DNV and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) have signed a new Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) to jointly support the development of remote and autonomous maritime capabilities in Singapore. The RCA builds on a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)-funded Joint Industry Project (JIP) focused on shore‑based Remote Operations Centres (ROC) for bunker vessels and strengthens Singapore’s ongoing efforts to boost next‑generation maritime operations.
Under the RCA, DNV and SIT will work together to identify and develop the required technical, operational, and training capabilities that will enable SIT’s Future Ship and System Design (FSSD) Lab to support remote and autonomous vessel functions. The JIP, supported by MPA, will bring together industry and research partners to study how selected vessel functions can be safely monitored or supported from shore. As part of this effort, DNV and SIT will develop frameworks and applied research to strengthen the Singapore maritime cluster’s operational readiness for remote operations. The partners will also focus on enhancing knowledge transfer between the academic, research, and industry communities in Singapore, helping to build the skills required for these emerging operational models.
Dr. Shahrin Osman, Director, Maritime Decarbonisation and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence, commented: “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. The RCA also reinforces the value of bringing industry, academia, and regulators into a shared space where insights can be exchanged openly and where data, engineering rigour, and safety considerations inform every decision.”
Adding to this, Professor Susanna Leong, Deputy President (Academic) & Provost, SIT, said: “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.”
This RCA will also enable both organisations to jointly explore curriculum development, simulation methodologies, and applied R&D activities that support the wider maritime community.
