Speech by Speaker of Parliament, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, at the Launching Ceremony of the Fifth Littoral Mission Vessel

Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong
Chairman of ST Engineering Mr Kwa Chong Seng
President and CEO of ST Engineering Mr Vincent Chong
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning,

A very good morning. My wife, Lik Ling, and I are pleased to be here to launch the Navy's newest Littoral Mission Vessel, the Indomitable.

The Indomitable is one of eight LMVs replacing the RSN's Fearless-class Patrol Vessels. Together with Independence, Sovereignty, Unity and Justice, the LMVs are named after the ideals that our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew and our pioneer leaders fought for, as well as the attributes they exemplified. Indomitable, which is a new ship name for the RSN, is significant as it embodies the legacy of our pioneers and encapsulates the spirit of Singapore.

We were faced with the threats of Communism and Konfrontasi hostilities when Singapore gained independence on 9 Aug 1965. We had no natural resources, no hinterland, and no credible defence of our own. Frankly, no one expected Singapore to survive, let alone thrive. However, with the constraints we were faced with and our backs to the wall, we never gave up. We refused to be subdued and through sheer grit, conviction and a ‘never-say-die' attitude, we have become the Singapore and Singaporeans of today.

Let me share a story which I think some of you may be familiar with. We all know our fellow Navy serviceman Jason Chee. He lost his left arm and both legs in an accident in 2012. He was sharing with me recently, before the news came out, of also losing an eye to cancer. It would be trying for the best of us but for Jason, it can seem to be another cruel twist of fate. I remember encouraging him, I asked about the upcoming ASEAN Para Games which is ongoing now. He was reflective but there was a clear and quiet determination about him. Before he departed for Kuala Lumpur, I read a stirring post by him on his Facebook. That quiet determination had become a resolute defying drive to overcome all odds. He wrote, "I am a never say die attitude person. I am a never give up person. I am determined to face all challenges. I am tough and believe in myself on what I want for my life. Nobody can stop me. Nobody can control what I want. My late mum taught me to be myself on what I want to achieve. Not to lose to anyone. Fight on! Bring it on! I want my gold medal back!" He did. Yesterday, he won Gold in the men's singles Class 2 event. I will be receiving Theresa and Pinxiu in a few hours time and the rest of the Singapore ASEAN Para Games team tomorrow. Every one of them is a champion. I think, in many ways, with the ASEAN Para Games going on at this moment, we can draw inspiration from our sportsmen and sportswomen. They all exemplify the very spirit that the name of this ship evokes.

Their examples are a reminder that, as long as our spirit is strong, we can overcome any challenges that come our way. Singapore continues to face economic challenges as well as complex and evolving security threats, such as terrorism and cyber threats, for which there are no straightforward solutions. As we launch the Indomitable today, let us also be inspired by the legacy of our forefathers as well as our fellow Singaporeans of today, and carry on their work to stand together to protect the home that we love.

The new Littoral Mission Vessel is a "Uniquely Singapore" vessel. The RSN, Defence Science and Technology Agency and our local defence partners collaborated closely and conceptualised and built the LMV from scratch.

Indomitable and her sister ships were designed from the onset to be smarter, sharper, highly versatile, and capable of embarking on a range of mission modules to take on a wide spectrum of operations. For example, the LMVs can be configured to accommodate rigid hull inflatable boats to conduct maritime security operations, medical modules to support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, or deployed with unmanned systems for surveillance or mine-countermeasure operations.

The LMV integrates the navigation, engineering and combat functions to enhance operational synergy, streamline work processes and increase situational awareness. New technologies such as advanced decision support systems, integrated communications systems and data analytics tools allow our sailors to sense, see, and act faster. Innovative engineering designs have reduced the maintenance workload by half, and the LMV is operated by a crew half the size of that required for military vessels of similar size and complexity. Put together, we have a smart ship that delivers a great deal, and meets the future needs of the RSN. We may be constrained by manpower, but we will never be constrained by our spirit to innovate and to overcome.

The LMV demonstrates how the RSN continues to strengthen its capabilities for the future and continues to safeguard our sea lines of communication. At 50 years, the RSN has come a long way since her humble beginnings, with just two wooden boats, to today's professional and wellrespected maritime force.

But what is a ship and a navy without her sailors? I am a Guards Officer and have worked closely with my Navy comrades over the years. I still remember vividly Operation Flying Eagle, when we mobilised within days to respond to the catastrophic damage caused by the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004. We did not know that if there would be aftershocks. We did not know if the situation would be stable as a civil war had been ongoing in Aceh. We were also not very sure about the exact location we were sailing to, as information was scarce and the picture uncertain. We did not know how long we would be there for. Yet, set sail we did on New Year's Eve 2004, sailing into the unknown. Our sailors, airmen and soldiers were resolute. We knew that we were going there to save lives, to stabilise an emergency and to make a difference. I saw our people standing proud and strong in the service of our nation and of humanity. They never wavered. I have never felt so proud of our fellow Singaporeans.

All this did not happen by chance. The journey to build a capable Navy was not easy. We stand on the shoulders of generations of sailors who have helped built our Navy and have kept our waters safe. As we celebrate NS50 this year, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all our NSmen present today for your unwavering commitment to defending our nation. Can I ask our NSmen to stand up and be recognised for all your services over the years. Thank you very much. It never strikes me how powerful an image that is, because it shows how many of us are intimately involved in the security of our homeland.

In conclusion, in many ways, our national anthem "Majulah Singapura" captures that indomitable Singapore spirit. Onwards and forward, with strength and resolve, these same qualities will stand us in good stead for many years to come.

To the Commanding Officer and Crew of Indomitable, I entrust to you the honourable duty of living up to the name your ship bears, as you carry out your duties to ensure Singapore's seaward defence and maritime security.

I wish you all fair winds and following seas. Thank you.

More Resources

Singapore Navy Launches Fifth Littoral Mission Vessel