Grenada engages global maritime leaders on decarbonisation, digitalisation, and bilateral cooperation at the landmark 20th edition summit

Her Excellency Rachér Croney, High Commissioner for Grenada to the United Kingdom, represented Grenada at Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026, held from 20 to 24 April at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore.

SMW 2026 marked its 20th edition, bringing together more than 20,000 participants from close to 80 countries and regions, including Ministers, senior government officials, diplomats, industry leaders, and maritime professionals. Held under the theme ‘Actions Meet Ambition’, the week-long event convened the international maritime community around the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the sector, from decarbonisation and digitalisation to geopolitical resilience and talent development.

High Commissioner Croney was present for the formal opening of SMW 2026, which featured remarks from Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance Hon. Jeffrey Siow and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Gan Kim Yong. Their interventions addressed the imperative of strengthening digital connectivity in maritime, the transformative role of artificial intelligence, and industry priorities including decarbonisation, innovation, and ecosystem collaboration. Acting Minister Siow announced the launch of OCEANS-X, a new digital platform designed to connect maritime systems and data across stakeholders. Deputy Prime Minister Yong emphasised the need for trust and resilience in an increasingly fragmented global order, calling on nations to deepen collaboration and uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), so that no country, nor seafarer, is left behind.

On the sidelines of SMW 2026, High Commissioner Croney held a bilateral meeting with Acting Minister Siow, during which both parties discussed opportunities for policy development within the maritime sector, bilateral technical cooperation agreements, capacity building initiatives, and the potential expansion of shipping routes to Grenada. The High Commission looks forward to building on these discussions, drawing on Singapore’s standing as a premier maritime hub, home to one of the world’s busiest ports, to translate ambition into concrete action for Grenada.

High Commissioner Croney also held productive discussions with Singapore’s Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM, Ms Karen Tan, exploring avenues to deepen the bilateral relationship between Grenada and Singapore, including through the Commonwealth as fellow member states. Discussions centred on capacity building, technology transfer, and technical cooperation across the transportation, marine, public administration, and foreign affairs sectors. We look forward to further training opportunities through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, as well as technical exchanges for mid- and senior-level government officials as we seek to deepen our collaboration with the Government of Singapore.

Maritime Decarbonisation and Innovation

High Commissioner Croney participated in a session examining the state of maritime decarbonisation, which brought together industry leaders to navigate the complexities of the energy transition amid geopolitical uncertainty and regulatory flux. The session underscored the energy trilemma of affordability, accessibility, and sustainability, while highlighting energy resilience and national security concerns. Innovations in this space, including the adoption of methanol, ammonia and LNG as cleaner alternatives to heavy fuel oil, signal meaningful progress toward the IMO’s GHG strategy targeting net zero emissions by 2050.

For climate-vulnerable nations such as Grenada, this trajectory is not merely an industry ambition but an existential imperative. Grenada remains committed to engaging with pioneering partners at the frontier of this transition and welcomes the opportunity to work with those leading the way.

At EXPO@SMW, High Commissioner Croney explored cutting-edge technologies, sustainable solutions and innovations driving the future of trade and connectivity. The exhibition provided a global stage for maritime transformation across innovation, digitalisation, decarbonisation and talent development. Particular interest was noted in the OCEANS-X platform, which offers advanced maritime digital connectivity from which small island developing states such as Grenada stand to benefit considerably. We look forward to exploring opportunities for technology transfer and best practices in cooperation with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

As both a Small Island Developing State and a Big Ocean State, Grenada’s engagement at SMW 2026 is a recognition that the future of our blue economy is deeply intertwined with global maritime developments. It also demonstrates Grenada’s commitment to active diplomacy in multilateral maritime forums, and to forging the partnerships necessary to build a resilient, sustainable, and digitally connected maritime future.

High Commissioner Croney stated, “SMW 2026 was an extraordinary platform for Grenada to engage at the highest levels on the issues that matter most to our maritime future, from decarbonisation to digital connectivity and bilateral cooperation with Singapore. We leave with strengthened relationships and a clear pathway to turning ambition into action for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”

Driven by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Singapore Maritime Week gathers the international maritime community annually for a week of flagship conferences, dialogues, exhibitions, and social events. Celebrating its 20th edition in 2026, SMW reflects two decades of pioneering innovation and partnership.