The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has unveiled its brand new fleet of six patrol craft, intended to further enhance safety in Singapore's port waters.
As one of the world's busiest ports, Singapore welcomes some 130,000 port calls annually. Helping to keep port waters safe and pollution free, MPA's team of port inspectors patrol the busy waterways round the clock to enforce regulations on navigational safety and marine environment protection, and respond to any marine incidents. The inspectors are supported by a fleet of MPA patrol craft, and the new vessels' enhanced features and functionalities will help them carry out their duties more efficiently and effectively.
The six craft were built by Lung Teh Shipbuilding and are owned and operated by Tian San Shipping for MPA's exclusive use over a five-year contract. The boats were designed and constructed specifically to suit MPA's needs, with an innovative hull design allowing the craft to manoeuvre safely through the channels in Singapore's waters.
In line with MPA's commitment to cleaner shipping and the protection of the marine environment, the new patrol craft are fitted with low-emission engines and a streamlined hull design that is coated with environmentally friendly marine paints. The new patrol craft are also capable of reaching a top speed of 20 knots with reduced energy consumption.
A user-friendly navigation system that integrates electronic sea charts, radar information, differential global positioning system, vessel identification markers and echo sounders into a single display are installed onboard the craft to allow the inspectors to assess the sea situation at one glance. The vessels also include various features to enhance the comfort of the crew and port inspectors, who spend long hours at sea, including ergonomic chairs and specially formulated polyurethane polymers to reduce wheelhouse noise.