ST Engineering and MPA Collaborate on Wing-in-Ground Trials

Singapore, 9 April 2024 – ST Engineering’s joint venture company with Peluca (formerly known as Wigetworks), ST Engineering AirX (AirX), will collaborate with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in the trials of AirX’s AirFish Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft in Singapore. AirX intends to trial both the single-engine and the dual-engine AirFish 8 prototypes, which can seat up to 8 passengers. Vessels like the WIG craft, which operates just above the sea surface by using ground effect¹ , are governed by the guidelines from the International Maritime Organization. The WIG craft utilises the same collision avoidance rules as conventional ships² , and is much faster, fuel efficient and hence more sustainable compared to conventional ships.

The collaboration is a step towards realising the potential of such technology in areas such as maritime transportation and logistics services.

Facilitate Sea Trials in Singapore and Certification by Classification Society

AirX will work with MPA to identify an area off Changi, Singapore, for the conduct of the trials. MPA will also ensure that measures are in place so that port operations will not be affected during the trials, including sending out advance notification to vessels and the public to keep clear of the area. The trials, which will contribute to the establishment of an Engineering and Certification Centre of Excellence for WIG in Singapore to further attract professionals into the maritime domain, are expected to commence from the third quarter of 2024 at a frequency of twice monthly.

AirX will also work with a classification society on the process and compliance requirements for an Approval in Principle (AiP). The AiP is a validated third-party technical assessment and a certification milestone for the vehicle’s classification as a marine vessel before it can commence any commercial operations. The AiP will be awarded by a classification society upon assessment of the WIG craft’s compliance with safety, quality and environmental standards.

During the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2024, the 10-seater AirFish 8 will be on display to the public at the Vessel Showcase, from 13-14 April 2024 at the Marina South Pier; while the two-seater AirFish 3 will be on display at the EXPO@SMW at Suntec City Convention Centre from 16 -18 April 2024.

¹Ground effect is the name given to the positive influence on the lifting characteristics of an aircraft’s wing when it is close to the ground. This is because air beneath a wing is compressed by proximity to the ground, creating a cushioning effect and increasing the lift generated by the aircraft’s wing. This is the same principle of flight used by large-bodied birds such as the albatross to conserve energy while staying in the air.

²IMO Guidelines for Wing-in-Ground Craft: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/WIG.aspx

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ST Engineering AirX (AirX), a subsidiary of ST Engineering and Peluca (formerly known as Wigetworks) combines various disciplines in aviation, marine and Wing-in-Ground (WIG) effect technology to form a centre of excellence for WIG craft in Singapore, that can effectively serve transportation and logistics needs in coastal areas. The company’s portfolio comprises the AirFish family of WIG craft, which includes the two-seater AirFish 3 and the 10-seater AirFish 8, and in time to come, new AirFish platforms with greater seat capacity.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996 with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre, and to advance and safeguard Singapore’s strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore’s port and maritime development, taking on the roles of port authority, maritime and port regulator and planner, international maritime centre champion, national maritime representative and a champion of digitalisation and decarbonisation efforts at regional and international fora such as at the International Maritime Organization. MPA partners industry, research community and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our waters, facilitate maritime and port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and develops maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation policies and plans, R&D and manpower development. MPA is responsible for the overall development and growth of the maritime domain and Port of Singapore. In 2023, Singapore’s annual vessel arrival tonnage crossed 3 billion Gross Tonnage and remains the world’s busiest transshipment hub, with a total container throughput of 39.0 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

About Singapore Maritime Week 2024
The Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is an annual gathering of the international maritime community to advance key industry issues and exchange ideas to bring the sector forward. Driven by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), in collaboration with industry stakeholders and research and educational institutions, SMW brings together key opinion leaders and industry leaders through conferences, dialogues and forums.

The range of activities and events organised by MPA, industry stakeholders and research and educational institutions, as well as the cosmopolitan profile of participants, reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Singapore as a global hub port and leading international maritime centre. For more information, please visit www.smw.sg

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