Singapore buying more subs and calling for ‘code of conduct’ in the South China Sea

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Naval ships from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia sail during a ceremony to launch a trilateral coordinated patrol between the three countries in the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's most important shipping lanes more than a decade ago. Singapore is buying two more submarines to boost the strength of its navy. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:40am, 17 May 2017Updated: 3:40am, 17 May 2017

Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Tuesday his country would buy two more submarines which will be operational by 2024, adding to two already on order.

According to Channel NewsAsia, Mr Ng said the new vessels will be Type-218SG submarines from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. They will be added to the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) fleet from 2024.

Singapore already has ordered two submarines to be operational in 2021 and 2022, to replace ageing subs to be taken out of service.

The city-state’s naval chief said Asia-Pacific navies should extend a code of conduct to submarines to reduce the risk of accidents among the 250 underwater vessels expected to be operating in Asia by 2030.

The USS Coronado (LCS 4) is guided by pilot boats (unseen) as she docks at Changi Naval Base in Singapore. The two countries are close allies, as Singapore is buying two submarines to boost the strength of its navy. Photo: AFP

Extending the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea to submarines wouldn’t compromise the stealth capacity of the vessels, Rear Admiral Lai Chung Han said at a maritime security conference in Singapore Tuesday.