SINGAPORE – A trial for the first public electric harbour craft charging point in Singapore has begun on April 8 at the Marina South Pier, as part of a two-year scheme to develop charging points across different locations.
Under the scheme, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will use the data collected from the trial to develop a national electric harbour craft charging infrastructure masterplan, roll-out plans as well as national standards for such charging points.
Launched by Singapore maritime start-up Pyxis and SP Mobility, a subsidiary of national grid operator SP Group, the charging point at Marina South Pier features a 150 kilowatt (kW) direct current fast charger – similar to that of fast chargers for electric vehicles on land – and a cable management system that prevents the charging gun from dropping into the waters.
Passenger vessel Pyxis X Tron – which is the start-up’s first fully electric passenger workboat for port and ship workers that debuted in March 2024 – will be used to test the charging infrastructure, and gather comprehensive data from its use.
The charger can charge an electric harbour craft – with a battery capacity of about 500 kilowatt-hour (kWh) – in around three hours and allow it to operate up to 50 nautical miles, or about 90km.
Many harbour craft are smaller vessels used to ferry workers and deliver goods from shore to ship, or between larger ships, within Singapore’s waters or anchorages.
For example, a full charge allows the Pyxis X Tron to complete four round trips between the Marina South Pier and nearby anchorages that are more than 8km from the pier.
To operate the charging point, users must lower the charging cable onto the vessel for a crew member aboard to connect it to the socket on the vessel.
Thereafter, they can scan a QR code on the charging point using the SP app and make payment to start charging the vessel.
In response to queries from The Straits Times on the charging costs, a spokesman for SP Group said the tariff for Marina South Pier would be similar to that for land-based chargers for electric cars, and that prices would be reviewed regularly to ensure that rates remain competitive.
Pyxis founder and chief executive Tommy Phun also said customers would be charged a per-kWh rate, based on the total amount of power transferred.
He added that the tariff rates are still in the works but will be on a par with, or lower than, diesel options.
Speaking to reporters at the launch, Mr Phun said this test “marks a very good first step” in enabling the mass commercialisation of electric harbour craft.
He added that such electric harbour craft can raise efficiency because of per-use charging and the design of the vessel, compared with conventional vessels that run on diesel.