Mr Eric Yap, Commissioner SCDF,
Distinguished guests,
Home Team colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
A very good afternoon to all of you.
1. Beautiful weather out there, and I’m so happy to be able to join you this afternoon.
2. I am pleased to be here for the groundbreaking ceremony for SCDF’s new Marine Division Headquarters.
3. As a major trade hub, the marine sector is a crucial lifeblood to Singapore. Every year, more than 140,000 vessels – including bunkers, cruise ships, and tankers – call on our ports. They connect Singapore into global commerce networks, and support our status as a logistics hub. This helps to attract many businesses to Singapore, and creates good jobs for Singaporeans.
4. But we have a very heavy responsibility. With the high volume of vessels, goods and people that pass through our waters, we must stand ready to help any of them if they ever have emergencies at sea.
SCDF’s Marine Division – First Responders in Singapore’s Waters
5. SCDF’s Marine Division plays a critical role as first responders at sea. Since its formation in 2012, the Marine Division has served as the vanguard for any fire, medical or rescue emergency within our waters.
6. In responding to such emergencies, our Marine officers face a unique set of challenges compared to the firefighting on land.
7. They must contend with unpredictable sea and weather conditions. Rough winds, choppy waters, and poor visibility on the high seas are just a few examples which can make firefighting and rescue efforts challenging.
8. They also face high heat in tight confined spaces. Vessels are typically constructed with narrow passageways and tight compartments. Their metal hulls also conduct heat quickly in a fire, when temperatures can reach up to 1,200 degrees.
9. And they have to do this while confronting the reality that getting resupplies and reinforcements out at sea will be more complicated and take longer.
10. All this makes their job complex and dangerous.
11. But I am glad that our Marine Division has successfully addressed these challenges over the years. In fact, they have grown from strength to strength. If you look back, just three weeks ago, Marine Division had responded swiftly to a fire that broke out on a product tanker – the “Med Atlantic” – in the East Johor Straits. About 30 marine firefighting specialists had responded to the incident. Thanks to their effort, the fire was swiftly extinguished, with no casualties sustained, and all 22 crew members accounted for. Well done Marine Division!
Preparing for the Future of Marine Firefighting Today
12. In the years ahead, we can expect our maritime sector to only get busier. A new megaport is being built in Tuas, which will almost double our handling capacity when fully completed in 2040. This means we can expect more ships to pass through our waters, with a wider diversity of sizes and cargos. So, the demands and responsibilities of the SCDF’s Marine Division will increase in time.
13. That is why Marine Division must continue to expand and develop its capabilities.
Expanding its Fleet
14. In the near term, the SCDF Marine Division will expand its fleet from its current six vessels to 10 vessels by 2029. By the mid-2030s, it will also expand its number of marine bases across the island to six, up from four today. This expansion will allow the SCDF to increase its operational coverage in our waters, and respond to more emergencies effectively.
Investing in Technology
15. Apart from growing its fleet, SCDF is investing in its capabilities to respond to marine emergencies in a smarter and safer way.
16. For example, since July 2024, SCDF has deployed an emergency medical service crew together with marine firefighters for major incidents. This allows firefighters in distress and any casualties on board to receive immediate medical support, should the need arise.
17. But we can and we must do more. And that is why I am pleased that the SCDF’s new vessels will feature Dynamic Positioning, which is a computer-controlled system that can help the marine officers maintain the position of their vessels during firefighting operations. This will help reduce operational fatigue and improve navigational safety, especially when attending to prolonged incidents out at sea.
18. In addition, to complement its new vessels, the SCDF has been developing an Unmanned Surface Vessel, or USV for short. The USV will have autonomous navigation capabilities, allowing it to travel automatically and safely to the designated location by simply keying in the geographic coordinates. Upon arrival at the fire incident, the USV can be controlled remotely by officers on mainland Singapore to assist with firefighting. It will also be equipped with sensors to assist officers to monitor and understand the situation. Such capabilities will be especially useful in high-risk situations such as explosive threats and large vessel fires.
19. Beyond that, SCDF is investing in technology to augment its frontline firefighters in other ways. I previously mentioned how marine firefighters must contend with unpredictable conditions, and logistical challenges in event of prolonged operations.
20. To overcome these challenges, SCDF will be trialling the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs for short, on SCDF vessels. This will provide SCDF vessels with aerial surveillance, which will significantly reduce the “unknowns” they face and allow them to better respond to evolving emergencies. UAVs could also potentially deploy equipment such as automated external defibrillators, HazMat detectors and inflatable life buoys from the mother vessel to responders onboard the incident vessel. This will enable better logistics support for our marine responders, which is critical to the success of operations, especially during prolonged operations.
A New Headquarters, A New Chapter
21. With the new technologies and enhanced capabilities in the pipeline, the SCDF will need a Marine Division Headquarters with improved infrastructure that can better house these capabilities. Besides the need for enhanced command and control capabilities, the headquarters need to be able to support the expanded daily operations, training needs and administration of the Marine Division officers.
22. This is why I am glad to be here at today’s groundbreaking ceremony. The new Marine Division Headquarters will enable the seamless command and control of SCDF’s Marine Division numerous assets through a single Integrated Command Centre. Let me share more.
23. To better manage its new unmanned capabilities, the Integrated Command Centre will have a dedicated Ground Control Station. From the station, SCDF officers can remotely pilot the USV and receive live footage which will be sent to both the vessels deployed to the emergency, as well as the Integrated Command Centre at the Division Headquarters. This will enable the SCDF to have better situation awareness during incidents, and quickly deploy assets to support its teams when needed.
24. Meanwhile, in complex operations, SCDF will need the assistance and cooperation of critical partners such as the Maritime and Port Authority, Police Coast Guard, the Republic of Singapore Navy and even other SCDF Land Divisions. Representatives from these agencies can be deployed at the Integrated Command Centre during incidents, to help in the planning of these emergency responses.
25. Apart from these capabilities, I am glad that SCDF has taken the opportunity to ensure its headquarters is highly sustainable. The new Headquarters will be certified “Green Mark Platinum” by the Building and Construction Authority, which is the highest sustainability rating in Singapore. All this signals SCDF’s commitment to “go green” without compromising operational efficiency.
Conclusion
26. Today, marks a new milestone in SCDF Marine Division’s history. It is in some ways the start of a multi-year journey of transformation. The Marine Division of the future will be more capable – able to respond to emergencies in faster, smarter, and safer ways.
27. But what will not change is the dedication our SCDF officers bring to the job. So let me take this chance and opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to every Marine Division officer, past and present. Thank you for responding time and time again to the call of duty. I am confident that through your dedication, coupled with the new capabilities and resources, you will continue to keep Singapore’s waters safe. I also want to thank all our stakeholders for working together with us. We have seen how the SCDF has strengthened from time to time and developed their capabilities. This is something not easy, but we have done it together.
28. Thank you, keep up the good work. Let us continue this journey for the new headquarters. Thank you for having me.
