Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Aaron Beng officiated at the inauguration ceremony of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Maritime Security and Response Flotilla (MSRF) at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base this morning.

The new flotilla will add capacity and build capabilities to protect Singapore's territorial waters and respond to expanded maritime security threats. The MSRF will be equipped with new purpose-built ships. As a start, the flotilla will operate four Sentinel-class Maritime Security and Response Vessels (MSRVs) and two Maritime Security and Response Tugboats (MSRTs) to enable more calibrated responses.

Commander of the MSRF, Lieutenant Colonel Lee Jun Meng, said, "The MSRF will strengthen Singapore's ability to deal with maritime security threats that have grown in scale and complexity through the years. The additional capabilities will provide us with more flexibility and a wider range of responses, and allow us to be deployed for greater persistence to safeguard and protect Singapore's territorial waters."

Also present at the inauguration ceremony were senior RSN officers and representatives from other national maritime agencies.