Plans for installing cold ironing facilities in the port of Singapore are likely to remain distant, according to local industry players. ''Singapore has not decided to make cold ironing mandatory,'' said Zafrul Alam, 2nd Assistant Director (Shipping regulation & Development) Shipping Division, from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Alam was speaking to delegates during a question and answer session at a DNV seminar on Shipping and the Global Environment, held in Singapore on Tuesday.

''Unless (cold ironing) becomes a part of Annex VI, we have no immediate plans to make cold ironing mandatory,'' he said. Singapore is a party to MARPOL Annex VI, which enforces a global cap of 4.5% on the sulphur content of marine fuels. Cold ironing allows a ship to switch off its engines and plug into shore-side electricity, virtually eliminating emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while ships are at berth. Capt. Tey Yoh Huat, Vice President from APL Co. Pte. Ltd., said the implementation of such facilities at the port would depend on the interest of port operator PSA International Pte. Ltd. ''PSA is interested but there's no specific timeframe,'' he said. ‘‘Eventually when all ships are fitted with cold ironing devices, Singapore will have to follow suit.''