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