SINGAPORE: Construction on the Civil Defence Marine
Command (CMDC) Brani Base began on Pulau Brani on
Tuesday.
The base, which houses the CDMC Headquarters and
Brani Marine Fire Station, will beef up the SCDF's marine fire
fighting and rescue might in Singapore's southern
waters.
It will be completed by the end of 2013.
The base is also one of three marine operation bases to be
established by 2015. The other two are the existing Western Base at
West Coast Pier, and the future Eastern base at Tanah Merah. This
will provide maximum coverage to the western, central and eastern
sectors of the port.
Also making a debut after a makeover -- the SCDF's two fire
fighting vessels, which boast new water jets, and engines made for
greater speed.
The vessels are newly commissioned as "Fire Fighter I" and "Fire
Fighter II". They were transferred from the Maritime and Port
Authority of Singapore (MPA) after SCDF took over the safety reins
related to marine emergencies from MPA in April 2012, expanding
SCDF's coverage to both land and sea operations.
S Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and 2nd Minister
for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, said: "In addition to
the two fire vessels, SCDF plans to acquire and operate five other
new purpose-built vessels between 2014 and 2016.
"These include a high performance fire boat, as well as rapid
response fire vessels that are flexible enough, nimble enough to
operate in more shallow waters."
-CNA/ac