5 days ago
Patrol boats for prolonged search operations among measures to keep NDP 2025 safe
SINGAPORE - As tens of thousands celebrate the Republic's 60th anniversary of independence on Aug 9, thousands more are working behind the scenes to keep the festivities safe.
Several patrol boats will be deployed by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to safeguard the 2025 National Day Parade (NDP) celebrations at the Padang and Marina Bay.
These watercraft will be a 'strong presence... along the Singapore River, Kallang Basin, and Marina Reservoir,' said Superintendent Ryan Koh, assistant director of the major security events division in SPF's operations department.
The Marina Reservoir Patrol Boats, purpose-built for prolonged patrols and search operations, and 3-series PC Class Patrol Craft, designed for interception missions and emergency rescues, will patrol the waters to maintain security and manage restricted zones.
Harbourcraft activity within Singapore's port waters will be monitored by the Marina Reservoir Patrol Boats' Automatic Identification System (AIS).
The boats are also equipped with xenon search lights for search and identification tasks.
The 3-series craft is optimised for operations in shallow waters and can reach speeds of over 50 knots.
Close to 2,000 police officers will be deployed at the Padang and in its vicinity, similar to previous years. Officers from various divisions, including the Police Coast Guard, Traffic Police, Gurkha Contingent, and Special Operations Command, will be on duty.
Supporting them in responding to incidents are auxiliary police officers, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the Singapore Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Health.
'In addition to the usual crowd control measures, the police have implemented a slew of other security measures (including) the deployment of Portable Vehicle Barrier Systems around the Marina Bay to mitigate hostile vehicles,' said Supt Koh.
Various crowd control and security measures were shown to the media in a briefing on Aug 2.
The Portable Vehicle Barrier System is a modular anti-ramming system that can be rapidly set up and configured for different terrains to mitigate the threat of hostile vehicles. This will be deployed at various locations around the Padang and the Marina Bay.
Police patrol dogs and explosive detection dogs will assist in security patrols and conduct proactive checks at transport nodes.
An Enhanced Mobicam will be used for crowd management. This device incorporates static police cameras to monitor crowds. It is equipped with a blinker, speakers, and electronic signage, allowing officers at the Police Command Centre to broadcast audio advisories and visual messages to the public.
Real-time information on crowd levels and area closures around Marina Bay, including photos, will be made available on a live map called Crowd@MarinaBay.
The live map can be accessed on Aug 9 from 5pm to 10.30pm at It will also be displayed on TV screens at selected MRT stations.
To help the public find the nearest MRT station, lighted balloon directional signage will be set up near Raffles City Centre. Similar LED-backed signage will also be put up along the Singapore River and War Memorial Park to guide the crowds towards the Clarke Quay, City Hall or Esplanade MRT stations.
The police also remind the public to remain vigilant of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activities, said Supt Koh.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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