9-1-2024 (SINGAPORE) In the wake of the Iran-backed Houthi armed forces’ attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, Singapore is proactively responding to potential implications for the global supply chain. While the city-state anticipates limited direct impact, given its reliance on air transport for critical supplies, Defense Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen announced Singapore’s participation in the Red Sea Defense Alliance’s “Operation Prosperity Guardian” during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.
Responding to an inquiry from Member of Parliament Choo Pey Ching, Dr Ng Eng Hen outlined Singapore’s contributions, stating that the Singapore Armed Forces would deploy an operations planning team to collaborate with international partners at the Operation Prosperity Champion headquarters. The Singapore Navy’s Information Fusion Center will engage with the merchant shipping community by sending teams to share crucial information.
Additionally, Singapore will send a high-level representative to the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain. Dr Ng Eng Hen further disclosed that, at the invitation of the French Armed Forces, two medical personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces would serve on the FS Dixmude, currently stationed in the port of El Arish, Egypt. The FS Dixmude has been converted into a hospital ship to provide medical aid to the wounded in Gaza.
In light of the geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea, Huang Yonghong, an expert on maritime affairs, highlighted the decline in the number of merchant ships passing through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Prior to the Houthi attacks, approximately 60 merchant ships navigated this route daily. However, recent weeks have seen a decrease, with about three fewer ships traversing this strategic maritime corridor.
Singapore-registered ships have also been affected, with roughly half of the ships that previously transited the Red Sea daily now altering their routes. Addressing concerns about the impact on local supplies, Huang Yonghong noted that while manufacturers are wary of potential increased business costs, current inventory levels appear sufficient to mitigate disruptions in the supply chain.
