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HTX, ST Engineering unveil new marine systems lab

HTX | Home Team Science and Technology Agency· June 29, 2026

Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) and ST Engineering have officially opened the Marine Advanced Systems and Technology Laboratory (MAST Lab) to accelerate the development of next-generation maritime capabilities. The facility focuses on rapid prototyping, autonomous systems, and unmanned vessel integration to enhance the operational efficiency of the Police Coast Guard and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. This initiative represents a significant advancement in public safety technology by streamlining the transition from conceptual design to field-ready maritime solutions.

The MAST Lab, inaugurated on June 26, 2026, serves as a joint innovation hub between HTX and ST Engineering aimed at force-multiplying the Home Team’s maritime operations. The facility is designed to bypass traditional, slower development cycles by enabling engineers to experiment with new designs and build early-stage prototypes for marine vessels. According to HTX Assistant Chief Executive Cheng Wee Kiang, the lab integrates engineering and operational expertise to build maritime systems that ensure safer waters through continuous innovation.

A primary objective of the lab is the creation of a common design framework for future Home Team vessels, which will serve as a shared blueprint to standardize boat operations and maintenance. This approach is intended to reduce the time required for crew training and keeping vessels in service, while allowing new unmanned technologies to be added more readily in the future. Chung Kam Sam, director of HTX’s Marine Systems Centre of Expertise, noted that the lab allows for digital testing of core vessel aspects like speed and seakeeping before physical implementation on vessels for the Police Coast Guard and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

To facilitate rapid visualization, the MAST Lab utilizes Virtual Reality (VR) Cave technology, an immersive environment where engineers and end-users can walk through and refine vessel designs before construction begins. This collaborative approach ensures that operational insights are integrated early in the engineering process to build robust platform systems suited for unmanned surface vessels. ST Engineering Marine President Tan Leong Peng emphasized that the partnership leverages deep engineering expertise to accelerate the deployment of both manned and unmanned technologies, reinforcing Singapore’s public safety capabilities.

Read the full story at HTX | Home Team Science and Technology Agency

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