CDF,

Service Chiefs,

Members of the Naval Diving Unit,

Introduction

The 50th Anniversary of Naval Diving Unit (NDU), your Golden Jubilee, gives cause and occasion not only to celebrate but also to remember those whose contributions and sacrifices have helped the NDU succeed and become what it is today.

The Special Forces, or the NDU equivalents in militaries around the World, form an elite group, often tasked to accomplish difficult missions which can even change the course of history. Troops from Special Forces undertake these missions knowing and accepting the high risks, and understanding that they bear a heavy responsibility to succeed, even as they are prepared to lay down their lives for their country. Appropriately, these Special Forces are likened to the tip of the spear, a sharp and hardened tip that can penetrate deep into the enemy.

The NDU has come a long way since its inception 50 years ago in 1971, headed by LTC(Ret) Robert Khoo and assisted by a small team of officers and men who had some overseas military diving training. Before this parade, I met some of them who shared their stories with me on how they went overseas to train, so that they could come back and train divers here and how they trained in the cold waters of other countries.  From the word go, naval divers underwent stringent processes to be picked. In fact, the first batch who was trained in Singapore saw 200 applicants, but only ten completed the course.

Singapore has experienced peace since our independence. A strong SAF provides deterrence and secures this peace. Even so, the NDU has seen its fair share of excitement over the years.

Some here will remember the Cable Car incident in 1983 when an oil rig struck the aerial ropeway, causing two cable cars to plunge into the water. Naval Divers were swiftly deployed late at night for search and recovery operations. They found the sunken cable cars and bodies within. While unfortunate, it brought closure to the loved ones of victims.

In 1997, Naval Divers were deployed following the SilkAir Flight MI185 that had crashed into the Musi River in Indonesia. It took the divers four weeks, but eventually the black box and most of the plane was found.

From 2003 to 2008, NDU were among SAF forces deployed under Operation Blue Orchid for the reconstruction and stabilisation of Iraq. NDU played a key role in safeguarding Iraq's lifeline, the Al Basra Oil Terminal, which was particularly vulnerable to seaborne threats. Our Naval Divers boarded dhows as well as ultra-large carriers six storeys above sea level and sometimes found illegal firearms. More recently, from 2009 to 2018, NDU was also deployed as part of the RSN's international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden, a strategic waterway for commerce.

In every mission, NDU soldiers display the highest standards of professionalism and commitment.

Importance of Maritime Security and NDU's Value-Add

On this Golden Jubilee, the NDU with a strong foundation built by its pioneers can look forward to even greater improvements in its capabilities. As with the rest of the SAF, technology and expertise are essential to expand its repertoire and deepen its skill base.

A good example is the Clearance Diving Group that now uses Remote Operating Vehicles in search and locate operations against underwater explosive threats. This not only reduces reliance on manpower, it also significantly reduces risks to the divers. Another example is the Special Boat Group, which has recently acquired a new fleet of Combatant Craft (Large), equipped with a full suite of advanced remote controlled weapons systems, and communication equipment to act as a forward command & control centre to support ground forces in maritime counter-terrorism. It can also share critical intelligence and data with other supporting elements and task forces such as the Navy's Maritime Security Task Force.

As the range of security challenges expand to include Grey Zone threats, NDU has done well to adapt by deploying non-lethal weapon systems such as TASERs, batons, and pepper spray to minimise collateral damage.

Today's parade sees the inauguration of 180 SQN into NDU, and Special Boat Group (SBG) that can now offer end-to-end ship boarding capabilities ranging from compliant to opposed boarding. These capabilities were stood up during the historic US-DPRK Summit held here in Singapore in 2018.

NDU's People

Above all, the most important asset of the NDU is its people. Our Naval Divers continue to fly Singapore's flag high by achieving various international accolades. Notably, 3WO Justin Ong received a commendation coin from the US Navy's Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command in 2016. In addition, SSG Roy Lim was the honour graduate for the US Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal course in 2020.

Gathered here today, some physically and others remotely, are generations of divers. I know that each of you are proud of your vocation and the NDU. It's a special camaraderie forged by the high calling and unshakeable resolve to succeed where others fail. I'd like to thank each of you for your service and dedication.

Closing Remarks

Congratulations to NDU on its 50th anniversary. Be true to the high standards successive generations of naval divers have attained. Continue to excel and vigilantly safeguard Singapore's security and sovereignty.