The RIF Office was as the Singapore Maritime Week
The Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries, and Aquaculture had a strong presence at the 2026 edition of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), a major international gathering of stakeholders in maritime transport and innovation!
Against a backdrop of profound transformation in the sector and tense international negotiations on decarbonization, the French delegation led by Eric BANEL included numerous companies from the maritime transport sector, ports, shipyards, and startups. With one goal: to promote French excellence and expertise
The French International Register (RIF) was also in the spotlight to mark its 20th anniversary: an attractive and growing flag that has just doubled in tonnage. During this trip, the RIF met with shipowners from Southeast Asia and also had the opportunity to engage with the Singapore offices of CMA CGM, Eastaway, X-Press Feeders, and Socatra.
The French Singaporean Event, co-organized with the French Embassy in Singapore and the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS), in the presence of Murali Pillai SC, Singapore’s Minister of Transport, and Ambassador Stephen Marchisio, brought together nearly 200 participants to address two key priorities:
- The energy transition in global maritime transport.
- The role of ports in decarbonization.
Following the French President’s state visit, maritime cooperation between France and Singapore has been significantly strengthened. Discussions highlighted the key drivers of decarbonization:
- the adoption of a proactive international framework with the Net Zero Framework
- support for the most mature technological solutions: low-carbon fuels, sail propulsion;
- improving the performance and energy efficiency of ships.
High-level meetings with delegations from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Denmark, and Canada also provided an opportunity to address key challenges for the sector’s stability:
- the impact of geopolitical tensions on maritime security and freedom of navigation in international straits,
- the fight against the ghost fleet,
- strengthening maritime surveillance tools on an international scale.
In this context, France brought a pragmatic and ambitious approach to Singapore:
- supporting innovation and decarbonization
- advocating for a robust multilateral framework
- strengthening the safety of ships and seafarers worldwide.
Eric BANEL: “In Singapore, France’s maritime delegation was united around a single goal: setting a course toward a more resilient and resolutely decarbonized future. The sector’s transition is underway, and France intends to play a leading role in it!”
Thank you to our counterparts at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) for their warm welcome, and to the French companies for their commitment to our cause!