ST Engineering opens Gul Road shipyard with 'digital backbone'

Set to replace Tuas facility, new shipyard will use tech to boost safety and efficiency

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan

A new high-tech shipyard to build and repair ships has opened in Gul Road in Singapore's west.

Operated by ST Engineering, the 14ha shipyard - which is the size of 20 football fields was acquired for $95 million and will replace the firm's Tuas yard, whose lease expires at the end of 2024.

Officially opened on Sept 19, the Gul yard is twice the size of the Tuas facility.

Equipped with the latest technology, including a system that detects early signs of equipment failure and security robots that can warn of hazards, the Gul yard is designed to handle larger and more complex projects with enhanced precision and efficiency.

Its expanded capacity will reduce turnaround times, provide improved support for local naval requirements and allow exploration of new market segments, according to ST Engineering's press statement.

At the official opening, Mr Vincent Chong, ST Engineering's group president and chief executive, said the Gul yard was built with "a robust digital backbone".