Pilot trial begins for electric harbour craft charging at Marina South Pier

The pilot trial sets the stage for Port of Singapore's electric future in 2023.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Pyxis Energy, Pyxis Maritime, and SP Mobility has begun the pilot trial for an electric harbour craft (e-HC) charging point at the Marina South Pier (MSP).

“Pyxis’s fleet of e-HCs operating at MSP will serve as the base offtake to ensure optimisation of the charging infrastructure and enable comprehensive data to be gathered,” the MPA said.

As part of the pilot, Pyxis and SP Mobility deployed a 150-kilowatt (kW) land-based Direct Current fast charger with a Combined Charging System 2 connector at MSP. 

“The charger can charge an e-HC with an approximate battery capacity of 500 kWh in around three hours and enable an operating range of about 50 nautical miles, or about 90 km. Users of the e-HC charger will need to scan a QR code using the SP app and make the payment via the app, similar to users of electric vehicles,” MPA explained.

MPA will use data and insights from the pilot to develop a national e-HC charging infrastructure master plan, implementation plan, and national standards for e-HC charging infrastructure.

MPA is also developing a Technical Reference (TR) for e-HC charging and battery swap systems. The draft TR will be ready for public consultation by mid-April 2024.