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.