[FEATURED NEWS] The Blue Dolphin: Safeguarding the safety of our waters

The construction of Blue Dolphin commenced on Tuesday, 11 July 2023. This is the first of two second-generation Marine Rescue Vessels (MRVs) for the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Elfeiz Fadhil, Head, Governance & Audit, Marine Systems, Platform Systems Sustainment Centre, in conversation with SCDF Commissioner COMR Eric Yap. (Photo: HTX)

The construction of Blue Dolphin commenced on Tuesday, 11 July 2023. This is the first of two second-generation Marine Rescue Vessels (MRVs) which will replace the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) Marine Fire Vessels (MFVs) which had been decommissioned in 2021. The Blue Dolphin, and its sister MRV, the White Dolphin, have numerous design improvements over the MFVs which will allow them to respond effectively to fire, rescue, or Chemical, Biological and Radiation incidents while achieving a maximum speed of up to 30 knots, a significant upgrade to the 13-knot MFVs. This increased speed will allow SCDF responders to travel more than twice as far – an estimated 42 km vs. 18 km for the MFVs – within a response time of 45 minutes. (To give an idea of how far 42 km is, it is approximately the distance between Joo Koon and Changi Airport.)

The Blue and White Dolphins will each be equipped with a firefighting Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) with a sonar detection system for underwater search-and-rescue operations, as well as a launch and recovery system for the RHIB to facilitate rapid deployment and enhanced safety for firefighters. Furthermore, as part of the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative, their engines and generators are designed to be compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The project team is also studying the possibility of equipping the vessels with solar panel systems to provide an additional source of green energy.

The project, a joint collaboration between HTX, SCDF, Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), and Penguin Shipyard International, is led by HTX, with team members from Marine Systems Centre of Expertise, Platform Systems Sustainment Centre, Policing Programme Management Centre, Civil Defence Programme Management Centre, and the Central Procurement Office.