Navy Day Celebrations

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) turns 50 this year. The theme for the RSN's Golden Jubilee is "Maritime Nation, Maritime Force" which underscores the RSN's vital role in defending our maritime nation.

The RSN is organising a series of events to commemorate the year with members of the Navy Family, international friends and partners, and the Singaporean public. These events recognise the contributions of the RSN's pioneers, mark the achievements of the RSN, and celebrate the friendships forged with our international friends and the support from the Singaporean public over the past 50 years

Navy Day Celebrations

Navy Day. Navy Day is on 5 May 2017. The RSN celebrates Navy Day to mark the day the Singapore naval ensign was first raised at Telok Ayer Basin on 5 May 1967, and to recognise our pioneers and celebrate the RSN's achievements. Key highlights of our Golden Jubilee Navy Day are: (1) the commissioning of the first-of-class Littoral Mission Vessel Independence, (2) launching of the RSN50 commemorative book by Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong, (3) sealing of the RSN50 time capsule, and (4) launching of the RSN50 Doodle Wall. The RSN50 time capsule contains artefacts related to significant milestones in the RSN's history, and the RSN50 Doodle Wall depicts Singapore's rich maritime heritage as well as the RSN's progress over the past 50 years.

Celebrating With Friends of The RSN

Multinational Group Sails. From 7 to 13 May 2017, in the lead-up to the International Maritime Review (IMR), group sails from the Malacca Strait and from the South China Sea, led by the RSN's Formidable-class frigates, will be conducted to bring the IMR participating warships to Singapore. As part of the group sails, three groups of warships from the South China Sea, led by RSS Stalwart, RSS Supreme and RSS Intrepid, will participate in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX), where the RSN will lead in the exercising of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), aimed at enhancing interoperability and promoting trust amongst international navies.

International Maritime Review (IMR). The RSN will host Singapore's first-ever IMR on 15 May 2017, with President Tony Tan Keng Yam as the Reviewing Officer. The IMR will comprise an IMR parade, a land review of warships in harbour and a sea review of warships at the anchorage. More than 4000 guests and participants, over 30 Chiefs of Navy and Directors-General of Coast Guard, and about 30 warships from 20 countries will be participating in the event. This large turnout testifies to the friendship and strong ties that the RSN has forged with many navies.

Orchid Naming. The National Parks Board will name an orchid after the RSN's Golden Jubilee in a ceremony on 16 May 2017 at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This is in recognition of the RSN's efforts in building international friendships through naval diplomacy over the last 50 years.

Celebrating with the Singaporean Public

RSN50 Children's Compendium Storytelling Sessions. The RSN is publishing a four-book compendium collectively titled Ahoy, Navy! Targeted at children between four to eight years old, the first and second books are titled Papa Goes to Sea and Indy! Indy! Indy! respectively. The third and fourth book will be published in the later part of the year. Storytelling sessions by men and women of the Navy will be held at selected libraries at the start of the June school holidays. The compendium will be distributed to primary schools and childcare centres at the end of the year, and will be available at all public libraries.

RSN50 Doodle Wall and Rope-tying Workshops. The Doodle Wall is an art mural with the theme "Maritime Nation, Maritime Force". It depicts Singapore's rich maritime heritage, as well as the progress of the RSN over the past 50 years. The public will be invited to colour in the mural, and participate in rope-tying workshops at selected SAFRA clubs during the June school holidays.

RSN50@Vivo. The RSN50 celebrations will culminate with RSN50@Vivo, held from 9 - 12 Nov 2017. RSN50@Vivo provides the public with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the RSN's ships, weapons and equipment, as well as interact with the men and women from the RSN. Ship tours will be organised, and the shore exhibits will feature the RSN's fighting technologies and capabilities, along with interactive booths to engage both young and old.

International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia

The RSN will also take the opportunity to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the RSN with our partners and friends coming to Singapore to participate in IMDEX Asia 2017, which will be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 16 to 18 May 2017. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen will be the Guest-of-Honour for the opening ceremony and will feature: (i) the 5^th International Maritime Security Conference; (ii) the Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise; and (iii) the 3^rd International Naval Engineering Conference.