Singapore proposes amendment to maritime laws to cover cybersecurity

The bill also updates MPA’s regulatory powers to cover drones and autonomous vehicles.

Singapore is introducing a dedicated cybersecurity framework for its maritime sector, as part of a broader bill to update port regulations that have remained largely unchanged since 1996.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Amendment Bill, introduced for First Reading in parliament this week, will allow MPA to designate Important Information Infrastructure, set cybersecurity requirements and issue directions to safeguard systems and infrastructure across the maritime ecosystem.

MPA said the framework would complement the Cybersecurity Act 2018 and strengthen the sector's preparedness for and response to cybersecurity incidents.

The bill also updates MPA's regulatory powers to cover autonomous surface vessels, aerial drones and artificial intelligence, giving the authority a legal basis to regulate their safe use as maritime technologies continue to evolve.

It will establish a comprehensive licensing framework for maritime services, expand MPA's powers to remove stranded or abandoned vessels that pose navigational or environmental risks, and strengthen its investigative and enforcement powers, including the ability to address false information.

MPA said maritime operations have evolved significantly since the act was enacted in 1996, through greater digitalisation, new technologies and increasingly complex port operations.

Parliament will debate the bill at its Second Reading in November 2026.