SINGAPORE : The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is expanding its marine firefighting capability.
It is acquiring a new fleet of custom-built firefighting and rescue boats - on top of the two existing API API firefighting boats.
These could include a
Heavy Marine Fire Vessel which has the ability to shoot 1,000 litres of
water per second in one go. It can also pump water at the same rate of
50 fire engines put together.
The SCDF said it will also be setting up three new marine operations bases.
It
said the expansion will help in its new operational role of marine
firefighting and rescue which it took over from the Maritime Port
Authority of Singapore from April 1 this year.
S Iswaran,
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said: "Singapore is one of the
busiest seaports in the world. We are a maritime hub and our port
facilities operate on a 24/7 basis.
"Coupled with the impending
opening of the International Cruise Terminal and the Liquefied Natural
Gas Terminal in 2013, it is incumbent on Singapore to have the capacity
and the capability to deal with any major maritime incident quickly."
The SCDF is also launching a new training system which encompasses a virtual 3D simulation to solve crisis.
- CNA/ms