The Ministry of Defence has announced a £194 million tender for the Singapore Fuels Project 2 (SFP2), aiming to replace the existing Singapore Fuels Project Agreement DFAP/0028.
This new agreement will oversee the supply and delivery of bulk fuels, including aviation and marine aviation fuel, to the Joint Forces Command (JFC)-operated Senoko Oil Fuel Depot in Singapore.
The project is set to support routine and operational activities until August 2028.
The British Defence Singapore Support Unit (BDSSU) in Sembawang, Singapore, plays a crucial role in supporting Royal Navy operations in the Indo-Pacific region. As a remnant of the larger HMNB Singapore, the facility provides fuel and other supplies to Royal Navy ships and those of allied nations.
The BDSSU is the only permanent Royal Navy presence at the former naval base and is maintained by Naval Party 1022 under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
In recent years, the BDSSU has proven its strategic importance. In July 2021, the UK Carrier Strike Group 21, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, visited Singapore during its debut operational deployment. Auxiliary ship RFA Tidespring resupplied at the BDSSU, while Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond also visited the facility after experiencing technical issues at sea.
Additionally, the Royal Navy announced in May 2021 that two River-class offshore patrol vessels, HMS Tamar and HMS Spey, would be permanently based in the Indo-Pacific region, with the new Type 31 frigates set to join them in the future.
These ships will use the BDSSU as their primary logistics hub.
The tender notice specifies that the Singapore Fuels Project 2 agreement will be “for the supply and delivery of bulk fuels; aviation and marine aviation fuel to the Joint Forces Command (JFC)-operated Senoko Oil Fuel Depot (OFD), Singapore, to support its routine and operational activities.”
The project will ensure that Royal Navy and allied vessels can continue to operate effectively, supported by reliable fuel supplies from the BDSSU. The tender, published on 30 July 2024, invites bids with a submission deadline of 21 August 2024, and the contract is expected to run until 21 August 2028.
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It’s a total waste of money having any infrastructure in Singapore. Singapore will at best be neutral in any conflict with China unless China literally tries to invade Singapore. The basing infrastructure will only be useable to defend Singapore itself and not the wider South China Sea. This was the main reason for shutting the full base in the first place.
Better to double down on infrastructure some where usable either Diego Garcia or Australia.
Since we are a member of the five powers defence agreement along with Singapore ( which the longest running defence agreement in Asia) there is a very good reason to keep the base open
FPDA was aimed against Indonesia, given Indonesia is a democracy now and Malaysia is far from a friendly pro western country I would argue it’s served its purpose.
Better to focus efforts on AUKUS and or UK sovereign territory in the Indo pacific theatre instead of having asset marooned in a neutral country that’s highly unlikely to allow us to use them.
That’s true for now, but you never know when you need the bases.
China are always a threat to Singapore as long as they exist.
Remember that much of Singapore is ethnically Chinese.
In event of any attempt to invade Singapore, China would have already gained dominance of the South China Sea.
Given the vital interests we have in the Straits of Malacca, it might be useful to point out to those “Europe first” people that we must not risk such a slogan becoming “Europe only”. Pragmatism in defence is good, but we must not completely forget the East.
I bet PLAN welcomes our virtually unarmed OPVs in the Pacific. Easily dealt with if things hot up & a great souce of hostages.
Not a lot of warships in the South Pacific, that’s the point in sending the OPV’s, even the USN only sends coast guard cutters.
Are you sure.. I think they have some bigger ships close by.
Come on the chinks shake when they see the sheer power of an OPV flying the white ensign..
Halifax and Sydney Nova Scotia would be good RN supply bases.In WW2 they sent thousands of convoys to Great Briton and Murmansk.A dedicated RN refueling^resupply base say in Bedford basin on ex DND property up for redevelopment.Halifax has a good repair capability as well as being “closer to home”.