The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has officially opened its new Marine Division headquarters on Pulau Brani, marking a significant enhancement to the nation’s maritime emergency response capabilities. The four-storey facility is designed to strengthen SCDF’s ability to respond to incidents at sea, including marine fires, rescue operations, and hazardous material emergencies. Officially opened by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong, the new headquarters comes as Singapore continues to handle more than 130,000 vessel calls annually as one of the world’s busiest maritime hubs.
Equipped with advanced technologies, the new headquarters enables real-time monitoring of incidents to support faster and more effective emergency responses. A dedicated ground control station allows officers to remotely operate drones, while ongoing trials involving an unmanned surface vessel are also supported on-site. The facility has additionally been designed to facilitate multi-agency coordination during large-scale emergencies, enhancing situational awareness and improving decision-making in complex, high-risk situations.
Beyond operational functions, the headquarters also serves as a dedicated training and preparedness hub. Purpose-built facilities, including a height rescue platform and a ship-like tunnel structure, allow marine responders to train in realistic emergency scenarios. The site will further support emergency preparedness programmes for maritime stakeholders such as ferry and harbour craft operators. Looking ahead, SCDF will continue to strengthen its maritime capabilities with the planned operational launch of the new Punggol Marine Fire Post by 2028, which is expected to further reduce response times in nearby waters.












