Opening ceremony of SCDF’s Marine Division Headquarters – Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Law & Second Minister for Home Affairs

Commissioner Eric Yap,

Our many distinguished guests,

Home Team colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Very good afternoon to all of you.

Introduction

1. What a journey it has been for SCDF Marine Division from start to end, and I just want to add my congratulations on the official opening of the new Singapore Civil Defence Force Marine Division Headquarters.

2. This is indeed a very proud moment – but not just for SCDF, but really for Singapore's maritime safety and emergency response capabilities as a whole.

SCDF Marine Division's Strategic Importance and Context

2. Singapore's waters are among the busiest in the world.

3. As the world's busiest transhipment and bunkering hub, we record more than 130,000 vessel calls annually, with the maritime sector itself contributing over 6% of our GDP.

4. So our maritime sector is not merely a point of national pride, which of course it is, but it is also a vital artery of our economy, connecting Singapore to global trade networks and sustaining livelihoods across the island.

5. This sector will continue to grow. And as our waters become busier, the demands on those who safeguard our waters will also increase.

6. Protecting our maritime domain requires skilled officers, advanced vessels, strong partnerships, and a robust infrastructure to support all of that.

7. A recent incident reminds us just how important it is.

8. On 20 February 2026, a fire broke out aboard the World Legacy cruise ship, involving nearly 300 passengers and 400 crew members.

9. But the swift and coordinated response by SCDF Marine Division officers, working closely with related agencies, was itself a testament to their professionalism and their readiness.

10. The incident also underscored an underlying fact: that success depends not only on the courage and skills of SCDF officers, but also on their ability to assess the situation swifty and accurately, coordinate effectively, and exercise decisive judgement under time critical and demanding conditions.

11. In this regard, the Marine Division has grown significantly since it was first established here in Brani in 2014.

12. To keep pace with a dynamic operating environment, SCDF has expanded its fleet from two vessels to seven, introduced new technologies, and strengthened its manpower with specialised training.

13. SCDF is looking to add three more vessels, to bring the fleet to 10 at steady state.

14. With these expanding capabilities, enhanced infrastructure is needed to ensure that SCDF Marine Division remains well-positioned for the challenges ahead – those that come ahead of us, those that are evolving, and the threat landscape as well.

Advanced Operational Capabilities of the New Headquarters

15. Today’s opening ceremony marks a significant milestone in the development of the Marine Division.

16. This new headquarters integrates command, control, training, and community engagement all under one roof.

17. Let me highlight three leap-forward capabilities that this facility brings.

18. First, this facility enhances incident command and control.

19. At its heart is the Integrated Command Centre – I think you saw a snippet of of it on the video earlier – this enables the centralised and coordinated management of major maritime incidents.

20. Through the Crisis Incident Management System and electronic charts, SCDF officers will have a real-time overview of ongoing incidents, and this includes live video feeds from vessels, as well as from drones.

21. This significantly enhances situational awareness of our officers, enables faster, more informed operational decisions when it matters the most.

22. The Integrated Command Centre also strengthens SCDF’s ability to work with our key partners.

23. During complex maritime operations, such as for example the World Legacy cruise ship incident, close coordination across various agencies is essential.

24. Representatives from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Police Coast Guard (PCG), the Republic of Singapore Navy, as well as other SCDF Land Divisions, all can be deployed to the Command Centre to support joint planning and coordinated emergency responses.

25. This pooling of capabilities and resources will further strengthen our collective ability to enhance maritime safety in Singapore.

26. Second, this facility advances SCDF’s remotely operated unmanned capabilities through the new headquarters’ dedicated Ground Control Station.

27. From this station, SCDF officers can remotely pilot the Unmanned Surface Vessel and transmit real-time information to both deployed vessels and the Integrated Command Centre. This enables better situational awareness and far more agile responses during high-risk incidents.

28. The Unmanned Surface Vessel is currently undergoing trials to validate its operational capabilities for future deployment.

29. If successful, SCDF will be one of the first emergency response organisations to deploy vessels equipped with autonomous navigation and unmanned firefighting capabilities.

30. This itself is a clear reflection of SCDF's commitment to stay right at the forefront of innovation in emergency response.

31. Third, this facility strengthens frontliner training as well as community engagement.

32. Dedicated classrooms equipped with smart features support the highly specialised training that SCDF marine officers require.

33. Our officers will also be able to conduct drills safely at the height rescue platform and within the confined-space tunnels, even in adverse weather conditions.

34. These facilities are shared with the adjoining Brani Marine Fire Station, optimising utilisation, as well as supporting joint training across different units.

35. Beyond training our own officers, this headquarters will also serve as a base for members of the maritime community to attend emergency preparedness programmes such as the Responder Plus Programme, with the aim of strengthening public preparedness.

36. Through regular briefings and training sessions conducted in partnership with agencies such as MPA, PCG, as well as the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, as well as community members including ferry operators, harbour craft, and also pleasure craft companies, we will be able to build, overall, a much stronger network of competent and confident first responders out at sea.

37. This will ensure a safer maritime community for all of us, and we all benefit from this.

Conclusion

38. So in closing, let me say that this new Marine Division Headquarters is a testament to SCDF's continued commitment to safeguard Singapore's maritime domain.

39. And with enhanced infrastructure, advanced capabilities, and well-trained officers, SCDF is well-positioned to respond effectively to any challenges ahead and to keep our Singapore waters safe.

40. It is now my utmost honour to officially declare the new SCDF Marine Division Headquarters open.

41. Thank you very much.