PIL launches initiatives to enhance efficiency and safety
14 July 2022

• Launch of new PIL Centre for Maritime Efficiency
• Signs MoU with the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety, Singapore Polytechnic

Pacific International Lines (PIL) is pleased to announce the launch of two new initiatives today, which would further enhance its operational efficiencies and strengthen the capabilities of its sea crew in navigation safety.

1) PIL Centre for Maritime Efficiency (CME)

The first initiative launched is the opening of its new Centre for Maritime Efficiency (CME). The key role of CME is to enable PIL to grow its competencies in managing ship and fleet energy-efficiency performance as part of PIL’s commitment to lowering its carbon footprint.

Helmed by a team of seven with extensive seafaring experience and leveraging on digitalisation, the CME’s responsibilities include traffic optimisation and route analysis aimed at minimising energy usage by PIL’s fleet. The CME will be equipped with a state-of-the-art digital system that houses all relevant operational data and applications in a single platform to facilitate comprehensive, centralised and efficient coordination.

With the new CME, PIL will be able to reap the following benefits:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from its operations
• Enhanced fleet safety and security
• Maximisation of cost-effectiveness through efficient traffic and route-based management of PIL’s fleet
• Provision of more training berths for our seafarers and creating a bridge for a ship-to-shore career path

Mr Lars Kastrup, CEO, PIL, said, “The rolling out of this new Centre for Maritime Efficiency is timely as we forge ahead to become a more efficient shipping line committed to reducing our carbon footprint. This is also aligned with our aim to better leverage technology and digitalisation in our operations for enhanced operational effectiveness. At the end of the day, we aim to deliver quality service and good connectivity to our customers, who are increasingly expecting container shipping services to be nimble and flexible to meet their evolving needs.”

2) MoU with the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety

With the safety and security of its people as a top priority, PIL is pleased to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore Polytechnic’s Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) to collaborate on a “Training with Technology” project.

This project aims to leverage the latest technologies to enhance the competency of seafarers in safe navigation through technical and soft skills training. By imparting our future seafarers with soft skills like situational awareness and decision-making skills, the risk of incidents would be greatly reduced. PIL and CEMS will jointly explore the effectiveness of using immersive, simulation and remote technology to deliver safety-related and ship navigation training in demanding traffic and sea states. The data and knowledge collected from this project will be utilised for research and collaboration between the two partners towards the objective of strengthening the standards of maritime safety.

“PIL is indeed pleased to collaborate with Singapore Polytechnic, a leading institute of higher learning in maritime education and training. We have over 4,000 seafarers working with PIL and their safety, health and wellbeing are of utmost importance to us. The long-running pandemic has also made us more cognizant of the crucial role that seafarers play in ensuring the smooth running of the global supply chain. We are confident that this partnership with Singapore Polytechnic will contribute towards strengthening our seafarers’ ability to conduct safe navigation and operations,” commented Mr Kastrup.

Ms Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development), Singapore Polytechnic, said, “With the maritime industry facing rapid changes led by growing technological developments, there is increasing demand for competent and skilled seafarers who can navigate unpredictable environments with confidence and precision. Through this strategic capability-building partnership, our Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) will team up with Pacific International Lines to leverage on our combined extensive domain knowledge and expertise in the maritime sector to conduct and deliver meaningful research into technology-enabled navigational and operational safety training for our seafarers. By equipping them with the necessary tools, knowledge and autonomous technologies to safely manoeuvre highly volatile conditions, we will raise the standard of maritime safety for the larger maritime community.”

About Pacific International Lines

Incorporated in 1967, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is ranked 12th among the world’s top container shipping lines. From a modest ship-owner in Singapore, PIL has developed into a global carrier with a focus on China, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Oceania. Together with its sister companies Mariana Express Lines (MELL) and Malaysia Shipping Corporation, PIL serves customers at over 500 locations in more than 90 countries worldwide with a fleet of around 100 container and multi-purpose vessels.

Apart from the core liner shipping business, PIL also has several other business units such as container manufacturing, depot and logistics services.

With its mission of “Driving Connectivity”, PIL strives to meet the needs of its customers through value-adding services.

For more information, visit www.pilship.com.

About Singapore Polytechnic

Established in 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is Singapore’s first polytechnic. It has 10 schools that offer 30 full-time diploma courses and three common entry programmes for more than 13,500 students. SP adopts a proven creative teaching and learning framework and offers students a holistic, authentic and industry-relevant curriculum, innovative and vibrant learning spaces, and enriching overseas programmes.

The Polytechnic is committed to producing competent and versatile graduates who are also imbued with sound values so that they can be work-ready, life-ready and world-ready. Currently, SP has more than 223,000 graduates and among them are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multi-national and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals across various industries and leaders in government.

SP clinched the inaugural ASEAN People’s Award in 2015 for its contributions toward the region’s community-building efforts. SP is also the first polytechnic to be awarded the President’s Award for the Environment in 2010 and the President's Social Service Award in 2011.

For more information on Singapore Polytechnic, please visit www.sp.edu.sg.

Follow SP on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/singaporepolytechnic/ and Twitter and Instagram at @singaporepoly.

Pacific International Lines Media Contacts
Ms Eva Ho
General Manager, Corporate Communications
Email: eva.ho@sgp.pilship.com
Mobile: +65 9617 6234

Singapore Polytechnic Media Contacts

Ms Cynthia Chin
Senior Manager, Communications
Email: cynthia_chin@sp.edu.sg
Mobile: +65 9619 9582
    Ms Anna Fernandez
    Senior Executive, Communications
    Email: anna_louise_joseph_fernandez@sp.edu.sg
    Mobile: +65 9460 6430