# Sembawang Shipyard: A final voyage before housing redevelopment

- **Source:** Channel NewsAsia
- **Published:** 2026-09-07T22:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Erin Liam
- **Original:** https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sembawang-shipyard-seatrium-admiralty-redevelopment-housing-6366731
- **Topics:** Government & Policy

## Featured rationale

The large waterfront redevelopment could introduce substantial housing and lifestyle supply in northern Singapore, potentially enhancing the area’s appeal and influencing nearby property demand.

## AI summary

Seatrium’s 86ha Admiralty Yard will be returned to the government in 2028 and redeveloped into a mixed-use waterfront precinct with potential homes.

## Original article

SINGAPORE: About once a week, Ms Wang Huiping makes her way to Admiralty Yard when she has meetings or projects to attend to. It has been over a decade since the shipyard was renamed. But whenever she takes a taxi there, drivers still ask: "Going to Sembawang Shipyard?" For many like Ms Wang, 56, who has worked at the shipyard since she was a fresh graduate in 1993, it is a name that is embedded in memory. The shipyard is still operational under offshore, marine and energy company Seatrium. But it has begun to wind down ahead of 2028, when the land will be returned to the government for redevelopment.

These days, the flurry of workers in coveralls cycling to their posts in the morning, and the grumble of machines that once filled the naval workshops have given way to a slower rhythm. “Then you look around, it's really a very nostalgic feeling. Not many people, not many ships. It’s like counting the days,” said Ms Wang, Seatrium’s vice-president of marketing for repairs and upgrades. “So that's why it can also be quite sad, because it used to be full house and full of vibe.” The 86ha site – almost the size of Jurong Lake Gardens – is planned for redevelopment into a mixed-use waterfront precinct , Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the 2025 National Day Rally. The area’s maritime heritage will be preserved, including the King George VI Dock, which was once the world’s largest dry dock. Ideas being considered for the space include community spaces for concerts, sports and performances. The government is also exploring waterfront homes, dining, shopping and recreation along the coastline. “When you put it all together, this can become a new vibrant waterfront destination in the north – rich in heritage, yet reimagined for the future,” Mr Wong said at the time.

For the many employees who have spent decades of their lives at the shipyard, the redevelopment plans come with a sense of bittersweetness. “We just hope that in doing that, some of the things very unique about this location, they can consider preserving,” said Ms Wang. “And I mean, they cannot preserve us, the people, but (they can preserve) the buildings.” A RICH HISTORY Sembawang Shipyard’s roots date back to 1938, when it was built by the British as a naval base to service British warships. At the time, it was comparable to the best naval bases in the world, boasting the King George VI Dock. The dock spans 4.55 million cubic ft – roughly equivalent to 51 Olympic-sized swimming pools – and could fit the biggest ships at the time. During World War II, the base was occupied by Japanese forces, who enlisted civilian dockyard workers under harsh conditions, according to historical accounts. In 1945, it reverted to British control. When the British handed over the base to Singapore in 1968, it was for a token sum of S$1. The naval docks were commercialised and converted into Sembawang Shipyard. In 1971, it was officially declared open by then-President Benjamin Sheares.

In its early days, the shipyard employed "thousands of people", many of whom made the surrounding Sembawang area home. “So many people have done so much work (and) contributed. Last time they even tell me, ‘My father used to work here, my brother used to work here.’ Sometimes there are also couples who work together,” said Ms Wang, who also met her husband at work. Employees were often willing to go the extra mile because they felt a strong sense of belonging to the place, she added. “There’s a lot of kampung spirit. Long ago, we even had an in-house barber shop for the workers to cut their hair,” she said. “At that time, we probably called it the Sembawang spirit … of course we have evolved over the years, and now we are part of a bigger Seatrium family,” she added, referring to Sembcorp Marine’s rebrand to Seatrium in 2023, following a merger with Keppel Offshore & Marine. For more than 30 years, Ms Wang saw the shipyard grow and she will also be here to see its eventual end.

In its early years, the shipyard carried out standard repairs on simple tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. Over time, through upgrades and long-term partnerships, more high-value ships began docking at the yard. For example, the shipyard focused on retrofitting and converting liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers into specialised vessels, such as floating storage and regasification units and floating liquefied natural gas vessels. Seatrium also developed its capabilities in cruise ship upgrades, refurbishment and life-extension. “We always forecast and build our facilities to cater to what we think is coming,” said Ms Wang. “The ships don't just come by chance. You need to target and build and court that particular customer.”

KEEPING THE LEGACY With the shipyard calling time, many of her colleagues hope the redeveloped space will retain the memories of the site's rich maritime history. According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the Singapore Institute of Architects and the Singapore Institute of Planners have each developed ideas for what the future Sembawang Shipyard site could look like. One idea is to turn the King George VI Dock into a sunken public plaza for community sports and recreation.

“I hope they don’t convert it into a swimming pool,” said Ms Wang jokingly. “I hope it's still recognisable as a dock because imagine you develop this place, then if people shift in, they can see a semblance of the history behind this place. Not just Sembawang – the entire Sembawang, Chong Pang area is all part of a big naval base.” An art-deco modern fire station, which was conserved in 2007, can be transformed into a community and lifestyle hub. Former naval workshops could be reimagined as spaces for media production, start-ups and artists, alongside a mall with cafes and co-working spaces, URA said.

For assistant vice president of operations Choo Xin Jian, the machinery workshop has a special place in his heart. Even after moving on from the machinery department to yard and project management, the 43-year-old still “holds a lot of feelings” for the building and drops by the workshop from time to time to say hello to the people there. Mr Choo, who spent 16 years of his 20-year career at the workshop, said one of his favourite memories is working through the night on demanding projects. “For cruise vessels, they don't have buffer time to extend the schedule because the customers, the passengers, are waiting. So, for some of the projects, what we do is that we work around the clock. “Then, in order for better coordination … we actually spend time in the shop overnight to ensure that during the night the productivity and the safety are not slacking off; it's the same as what we did during the daytime,” he said.

It is painstaking work, but the effort is worth it. “That blood, tears, sweat, but when you see the end product – high satisfaction. That satisfaction you can never take away. It is always part of your memory,” he said. Mr Choo hopes the machines that have chugged alongside workers for decades – some of the oldest cranes date back to 1934 – can be preserved as part of the site's heritage for future generations. When the British left the shipyard to Singapore, there were no operating instructions or manuals for the machines, said Mr Choo. Employees had to figure out how to use them through observation and on-the-job training. The machines are still being used for their original functions, such as lifting heavy items or creating parts for ship repair. Today, Seatrium uses a combination of legacy machines and modern equipment.

“So if we can use the machine, which is currently still operational up to the standards that we require, then there's no need to actually buy any machines,” said Mr Choo, adding that it is not cost-effective to replace them. “Once you have feelings towards a particular piece of equipment, you want to keep it running. That is the pride that people have.”

NOT JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND For now, the focus is on transitioning the workforce and projects to Seatrium’s Tuas Boulevard Shipyard, an integrated mega-shipyard in south-west Singapore about three times the land area of the Sembawang site. According to Seatrium, the Sembawang site will continue to support ongoing work, while areas no longer required for project execution are progressively being prepared for handover. The process is being managed in phases to maintain safe and efficient operations while ensuring continuity for projects and customers.

After spending the bulk of two decades at Sembawang, Mr Choo said he feels sad to leave. “But again, in all aspects of life, evolution and transition are unavoidable,” he said. “But I can say that I'm proud to be part of the history in Admiralty Yard, and to see its development from then-Sembawang Shipyard to Sembcorp Marine, and finally to Seatrium Admiralty Yard.” To him, the yard signifies the resilience of Singapore – in transforming from a naval dockyard to a commercially viable yard. “It proves the resilience, the dedication, and the innovativeness of people coming together, the spirit that actually emboldens the growth of this yard. “Similarly, it reflects how Singapore actually grows in times of crisis, in times of economic uncertainty, but we managed to pull it through.” For Ms Wang, her hope for the future generations that will come to live in the new development is a simple one. The shipyard is historically significant, as part of Singapore's early development as a maritime hub, she said. “I hope that they know that this is not just another piece of land.”

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: openai_codex_cli

### 三巴旺船厂：住宅重建前的最后航程

随着 Seatrium 的 Admiralty Yard 业务逐步收尾，CNA 采访了两名长期员工，了解该场地丰富的海事历史，以及他们对重建的期望。

新加坡：大约每周一次，王慧萍女士会在有会议或项目需要处理时前往 Admiralty Yard。船厂改名已经超过十年。但每当她搭德士去那里，司机仍会问：“去三巴旺船厂吗？” 对许多像 56 岁的王女士这样的人来说，这是一个深植记忆中的名字。她自 1993 年刚毕业起就在这家船厂工作。该船厂目前仍由海工、海事与能源公司 Seatrium 运营。但在 2028 年土地交还政府进行重建之前，它已经开始逐步收尾。

如今，清晨身穿连身工作服的工人骑车赶往岗位的热闹景象，以及曾经充满海军工坊的机器轰鸣声，已让位于一种更缓慢的节奏。“然后你环顾四周，真的会有一种很怀旧的感觉。人不多，船也不多。就像在倒数日子，”Seatrium 维修与升级营销副总裁王女士说。“所以这也会让人相当难过，因为这里过去曾经是满满当当、充满活力。” 总理黄循财在 2025 年国庆群众大会上表示，这片 86 公顷的场地——几乎相当于裕廊湖花园的面积——计划重建为一个综合用途的滨水区。该地区的海事遗产将获得保留，包括曾经是世界最大干船坞的 King George VI Dock。正在考虑用于该空间的构想包括可举办音乐会、体育活动和表演的社区空间。政府也在探索沿海岸线建设滨水住宅、餐饮、购物和休闲设施。“把这些元素结合起来，这里可以成为北部一个新的充满活力的滨水目的地——既富有历史传承，又为未来重新构想，”黄先生当时说。

对于许多把人生数十年都奉献给这家船厂的员工来说，重建计划带来的是一种苦乐参半的感受。“我们只希望在做这件事的时候，他们能考虑保留这个地点一些非常独特的东西，”王女士说。“我的意思是，他们无法保留我们这些人，但（他们可以保留）这些建筑。” 丰富的历史 三巴旺船厂的根源可追溯至 1938 年，当时它由英国人建造，作为维修英国军舰的海军基地。那时，它可与世界上最优秀的海军基地媲美，并拥有 King George VI Dock。该船坞容量达 455 万立方英尺——大致相当于 51 个奥运规格游泳池——可容纳当时最大的船只。根据历史记载，在第二次世界大战期间，该基地被日军占领，日军在严苛条件下征召民用船坞工人。1945 年，它恢复由英国控制。1968 年英国将该基地移交给新加坡时，象征性收取了新币 1 元。海军船坞随后商业化，并转型为三巴旺船厂。1971 年，它由时任总统 Benjamin Sheares 正式宣布开幕。

在早期，船厂雇用了“数千人”，其中许多人把周边的三巴旺地区当成了家。“这么多人做了这么多工作（并）作出了贡献。以前他们甚至会告诉我，‘我父亲以前在这里工作，我哥哥以前在这里工作。’有时候也有夫妻一起工作，”王女士说，她也是在工作中认识丈夫的。她补充说，员工往往愿意付出额外努力，因为他们对这个地方有强烈的归属感。“这里有很多甘榜精神。很久以前，我们甚至有内部理发店，供工人理发，”她说。“那时候，我们大概称之为三巴旺精神……当然，这些年来我们已经发展变化，现在我们是更大的 Seatrium 大家庭的一部分，”她补充说，指的是 Sembcorp Marine 在 2023 年与 Keppel Offshore & Marine 合并后更名为 Seatrium。30 多年来，王女士见证了船厂的成长，也将在这里见证它最终的落幕。

在早年，船厂为简单的油轮、散货船和集装箱船进行标准维修。随着时间推移，通过升级和长期合作伙伴关系，更多高价值船舶开始停靠该船厂。例如，船厂专注于将液化天然气（LNG）运输船改装和转换为专业船舶，例如浮式储存及再气化装置和浮式液化天然气船。Seatrium 也发展了邮轮升级、翻新和延寿方面的能力。“我们总是会预测，并建设设施来迎合我们认为即将到来的需求，”王女士说。“船不会只是碰巧到来。你需要锁定、建设并争取那个特定客户。”

延续传承 随着船厂即将谢幕，她的许多同事希望重建后的空间能保留该场地丰富海事历史的记忆。根据市区重建局（URA），新加坡建筑师学会和新加坡规划师学会已分别就未来三巴旺船厂场地的模样提出构想。其中一个想法是把 King George VI Dock 改造成一个下沉式公共广场，用于社区体育和休闲活动。

“我希望他们不要把它改成游泳池，”王女士开玩笑说。“我希望它仍然能被认出是一个船坞，因为想象一下你开发这个地方，然后如果人们搬进来，他们可以看到这个地方背后历史的一些轮廓。不只是三巴旺——整个三巴旺、忠邦地区都是一个大型海军基地的一部分。” 市区重建局表示，一座于 2007 年受保留的装饰艺术现代风格消防站，可转型为社区与生活方式中心。昔日的海军工坊可被重新构想为媒体制作、初创企业和艺术家的空间，并配套设有咖啡馆和共享办公空间的商场。

对运营助理副总裁朱信建来说，机械工坊在他心中占有特殊位置。即使已经从机械部门转到船厂和项目管理岗位，这名 43 岁员工仍对这栋建筑“有很多感情”，并不时到工坊向那里的人打招呼。朱先生 20 年职业生涯中有 16 年是在该工坊度过的。他说，自己最喜欢的回忆之一，是为了要求高的项目通宵工作。“对邮轮来说，它们没有缓冲时间来延长工期，因为客户、乘客都在等待。所以，对一些项目，我们的做法是全天候工作。

“然后，为了更好地协调……我们实际上会整夜待在车间，以确保夜间的生产力和安全不会松懈；这和我们白天所做的是一样的，”他说。

这是艰苦细致的工作，但付出的努力是值得的。“那些血、泪、汗水，但当你看到最终成品时——高度满足。那种满足感永远无法被夺走。它永远是你记忆的一部分，”他说。朱先生希望这些数十年来与工人并肩运转的机器——其中一些最古老的起重机可追溯至 1934 年——能作为场地遗产的一部分，为后代保留下来。朱先生说，当英国人把船厂留给新加坡时，机器没有操作说明或手册。员工必须通过观察和在岗培训摸索如何使用它们。这些机器如今仍在执行其原本功能，例如吊运重物或制造船舶维修部件。如今，Seatrium 同时使用传统机器和现代设备。

“所以，如果我们可以使用目前仍在运转、并达到我们所要求标准的机器，那么实际上就没有必要购买任何机器，”朱先生说，并补充说更换它们并不符合成本效益。“一旦你对某件特定设备有了感情，你就会想让它继续运转。这就是人们所拥有的自豪感。”

不只是另一块土地 目前，重点是把员工队伍和项目转移至 Seatrium 的 Tuas Boulevard Shipyard。这是位于新加坡西南部的一座综合性巨型船厂，土地面积约为三巴旺场地的三倍。根据 Seatrium，三巴旺场地将继续支持现有工作，同时不再需要用于项目执行的区域正逐步准备移交。整个过程分阶段管理，以在确保项目和客户连续性的同时，维持安全和高效运营。

在三巴旺度过近二十年的大部分时间后，朱先生说他对离开感到难过。“但同样，在人生的各个方面，演进和过渡都是不可避免的，”他说。“但我可以说，我很自豪能成为 Admiralty Yard 历史的一部分，并见证它从当时的三巴旺船厂发展为 Sembcorp Marine，最终成为 Seatrium Admiralty Yard。” 对他而言，这座船厂象征着新加坡的韧性——从一个海军船坞转型为具商业可行性的船厂。“它证明了人们走到一起所展现的韧性、奉献精神和创新能力，以及真正推动这座船厂成长的精神。

“同样，它反映了新加坡如何在危机时期、在经济不确定时期实现成长，而我们设法挺了过来。” 对王女士来说，她对未来将住进新发展项目的后代有一个简单的希望。她说，作为新加坡早期发展成为海事枢纽的一部分，这座船厂具有重要历史意义。“我希望他们知道，这里不只是另一块土地。”