Navy at Vivo: Exclusive Tour on RSS Endurance

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CK Chai
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The RSS Endurance or Warship 207, has docked the VivoCity Promenade for the Navy @ Vivo event and opened to the public for visit from 14 to 17 November 2013.  Fast Craft Utility (FCU) rides are available daily for ticket holders, starting from 10.00am to 1.30pm, except 15 Nov, when no rides are available for time slots at 11.00am and 11.30am. It will be sailing off on 18 November 10.00am, so you can still catch a last glimpse of it if you have not done so…

The RSS Endurance was the first Singapore Republic of Singapore (RSN) Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank (LST), deployed to the Gulf. It is as long as three Olympic-sized swimming pools, wide as half a football field with a depth of an eight-storey block of flats. The LST is usually manned by a crew of about 81 Navy crew, but its carrying capacity may be augmented to suit to include other support functions such as logistics specialists and medical personnel for different operations.

In addition, there is a Singapore Navy Shore exhibition at the Southeast Boulevard of VivoCity to showcase the RSN’s missions and operations. Visitors to the showcase not only get to win great memorabilia like the sticky candies and limited edition Navy figurine keychains as well as tickets to the Navy@Vivo.

A group of us, have been invited Navy@Vivo Preview Event and get a chance to take a tour around the RSS Endurance and its kitchen area (Galley).

 Photo Credit: Thomas Chan

It was an eye opener for me to get on the RSS Endurance, get to see the facilities on board and picked up a few interesting Navy Terminologies – ‘Heads’ as the washroom, ‘Galley’ as the Kitchen.

There is gym on the RSS Endurance for the Navy crew for them to work out.
Precaution has been made to minimise accidents.
At the Helo Control Room, where the controller controls the take out and landing of the Super Puma Helicopter.

The Super Puma Helicopter
The Bridge area (operation room), where all the main control panal, compasses, navigation and survillence tools, etc can be found. I’m very amused by all these stuff!

It was also a wonderful experience to be able to view the the significant Sunset Ceremony live!

I couldn’t make it in time for the Kitchen Tour, but thanks to Kee Onn, he managed to make arrangement for me to go for the tour at a later timing and even got a chance to talk with some of the Naval Chefs. The tour at the Galley is simply interesting. You can see how the design and layout of the equipment has been carefully planned with consideration for emergencies, as well as, in minimising accidents during rough sea condition.

The ingredients were put in this deep rectangular frying pan for frying which can avoid ingredients from spilling out during vigorous sea condition, and well-covered when not in use.

The railing is inward so as to avoid causing injury should anyone accidentally bumped towards the cabinet during rough sea conditions, and the height is just nice to hold back the metals trays, avoiding them to fall off.

 The water broiler is usually half filled only for precaution purpose, in case of choppy sea condition.
 Sensors were installed so that water sprinkler will be triggered upon fire emergency. If you notice carefully, the metal poles on stove top is to hold metal plates to protect the cooking utensils from falling off.
We had the honour to have a short conversation exchange with Rear Admiral Ng Chee Peng and took a group photo with him.
  Photo Credit: Thomas Chan
We also took a picture together with LTC Chew, ME-2 Wisely Tay & Kee Onn before we end the session.
 Photo Credit: Thomas Chan

Hong Peng, Michelle and I went back on Saturday to take the Fast Craft Utility (FCU) ride. We also got the chance to visit some of the facilities which we did not manage to catch a glimpse previously.

 The lounge area
 The training room for smaller group discussion with a cozy library corner.
The sleeping Bunk.
Hp gets excited to see this locked room, labelled ‘Explosive’.

Finally we get to the FCU area! There’s loads of visitors queuing for the FCU ride.

Last but not least, thanks Singapore Navy for inviting to the Navy@Vivo Preview Event.
To find out latest activities by the Singapore Navy, visit below:
Navy Singapore Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/singaporenavy
Navy Instagram A/C: http://instagram.com/singaporenavy

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