The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will launch a grant scheme this January to help owners cover the battery costs of new electric harbour craft.
The two-year scheme will fund part of the battery system cost for owners purchasing eligible electric vessels.
The grant amount will depend on battery capacity, subject to a cap based on vessel size, up to a maximum of SG$250,000 (US$200,000) per vessel.
The MPA said the scheme was intended to give manufacturers and technology providers confidence to invest in production capacity.
"As production volumes increase and technologies mature, the cost of [electric harbour craft] is expected to decrease over time, improving their commercial viability and supporting an overall smoother and more cost-effective transition for the industry," the authority said.
In the coming months, the MPA will install a second charger at Marina South Pier and four additional chargers at Loyang Offshore Supply Base. Public charging infrastructure will follow at Jurong Port and West Coast Pier in 2027.
The MPA will also examine upgrades to power capacity at key terminals to allow charger deployment to expand as demand rises. It is evaluating battery-based charging concepts and mobile charging approaches, and said it will consider additional regulatory measures to move the sector away from fossil fuels.
Singapore's harbour craft fleet numbers more than 1,600 vessels, predominantly diesel-powered, and their service life is generally longer than 20 years. Starting in 2030, every new harbour craft operating in Singapore must either run fully on electricity, be capable of using B100 biofuel, or be compatible with “net zero” fuels.
The MPA and Enterprise Singapore introduced a technical reference for charging and battery-swap systems in March 2025. A year earlier, the authority selected 11 electric passenger launch and cargo lighter designs as reference designs.
