A PEEK INTO A SAILOR'S LIFE AT NAVY OPEN HOUSE

The morning rain did little to dampen the spirits of visitors who turned up by the thousands at this year's Navy Open House on 22 May.

Held at Changi Naval Base, the event was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, who also toured the exhibition tents and ships together with members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs.

The programme for the day kicked off with a bang, literally, as the crowd was treated to a riveting display by the naval divers. Simulating a hostage rescue from terrorists, the divers charged into a merchant vessel, and gunned down terrorists. As more terrorists appeared, naval divers sped towards the vessel on Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats and exchanged fire with them.

The result? Terrorists wiped out, hostage rescued, and mission accomplished.

One visitor, Ms Karen Took, who works as an executive secretary, was enthralled by the whole performance. "It was very exciting, and it gave me a chance to see how the Navy can protect our country if we're ever under attack."

Ms Peh Jia Yu, a second-year Hospitality student from Republic Polytechnic, agreed. She said: "The display was good because it was very realistic. It reminded us that even though Singapore is pretty safe, we always need to prepare ourselves for threats like these."

Guided tours of the Formidable-class frigates were also obvious crowd-pleasers, judging by their snaking queues. For the first time, visitors were able to step into the frigate's Combat Information Centre, to see how operations out at sea are coordinated.

Systems analyst Mr Jamil Abubakar found the frigate tour an "eye-opener", as it was the first time he and his eight-year-old son, Hakim, saw the insides of a warship.

"Usually, we only get to see warships, and what people do in the ships on television, but this time we're actually inside the ship! The tour gave us an insight into how the Navy personnel go about their routines on ship, as well as their readiness," he told cyberpioneer.

For Hakim, he said it was the guns on board the frigate that fascinated him, as his ambition is to be a soldier. His father added: "It's a good experience, especially for my son. If he's ever interested in a career in the Navy, he doesn't need to imagine what it would be like, since he has experienced it here."

Visitors who did not manage to ballot for tickets to the frigate tour were offered alternatives such as ship cruises on board Missile Corvettes, Mine Countermeasure Vessels and Patrol Vessels. Duck tours and rides on the Fast Craft Utility launched from the Landing Ship Tank were also available.

Other highlights of the open house included three exhibition tents, featuring the Navy's capabilities, its operations around the world, and life in the Navy.

In the tents, besides learning knot-tying, piping and naval flags recognition, visitors were also given the opportunity to try their hand at steering a ship along the Straits of Singapore using a simulator. In addition, a virtual gaming station was set up to give visitors the experience of shooting targets with machine guns.

Said Mr Huang Tai Lun, who was invited to the open house by a friend working in the Navy: "I enjoyed the simulations in the tents. For example, in the ship steering simulator, it shows a navy personnel's perspective of the sea, which is a view that people don't see in their daily lives."

The first-year Business student in Nanyang Technological University concluded his experience by saying: "Overall, it's quite a refreshing experience because I didn't know much about the Navy before this, having served my National Service in the Army."

Make your way down to the Navy Open House 2010, held from 22 to 23 May, 9am to 7pm. Admission is free and entry into the naval base is strictly by free shuttle buses from Singapore Expo Hall One, from 8.30am to 4.30pm.