Singaporean-based Penguin International is looking to expand into the security and defence sector following recent successes with both patrol vessels overseas and contracts for Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) programmes.
Formerly known primarily as a ferry service provider, the Singapore-based company has grown into one of the world’s largest builders of aluminium-hulled vessels.
Penguin first entered the defence and security sector in 2008, after a Nigerian commercial-vessel operator contracted by the Nigerian Navy approached the company for patrol boat solutions. Such public-private arrangements are relatively common in Africa, where vessels are operated by commercial crews but armed military personnel conduct security and enforcement duties.
The Nigerian Navy has since directly acquired three 40m-long Flex Fighter Max patrol vessels from Penguin, while the Ghanaian Navy has acquired four 42m Flex-Fighter X vessels.
The Flex Fighter family derives from Penguin’s Flex series of crewboats, which are widely used for offshore resupply and support operations. The Flex Fighter Max was introduced in 2012, followed by the larger Flex-Fighter X in 2016.
Both variants can be configured with all-round ballistic protection for the wheelhouse to NATO STANAG Level 1, alongside modifications such as weapon mounts and other mission-specific equipment.
The 332-tonne Flex-Fighter X features a 110m² cargo deck, allowing operators to install mission equipment or other modular payloads. Four vessels operated by the Australian Border Force, for example, have been fitted with detainee accommodation containers on their cargo deck.
The Flex crewboat design was developed in collaboration with UK-based BMT, with the two companies jointly owning the design rights.
James Tham, Penguin International’s Managing Director, said Africa and Europe are now the fastest-growing markets, and that the company is preparing to bid for opportunities to take on coast guard vessel projects from European yards.
Tham explained that, on top of costs, there has been a scarcity in capacity in Europe following renewed requirements to build up border and maritime security. He added that Penguin can churn out a vessel in around half the time it takes European yards.
The success of the Flex Fighter also underscores the increasing dual-use trends in using cost-effective civilian hulls for defence and security applications. The company operates shipyards in Singapore and Batam in Indonesia, with a combined capacity of around 30-35 vessels annually.
Penguin is working with both designers and manufacturers, including BMT and Incat Crowther, to secure more build-to-order contracts. Incidentally, BMT also designs landing craft, including a 30m fast landing craft capable of speeds of up to 40kt.
Penguin’s expansion into defence is gaining traction at home. The company was recently awarded a contract by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence to develop and build two landing craft prototypes for evaluation against RSN requirements. The craft could eventually replace the service’s existing Fast Craft Equipment and Personnel and Fast Craft Utility vessels.
The company has also been involved in the RSN’s Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel programme, acting as the contractor for assembly of the Saab-designed composite superstructure.
“When the Defence Science and Technology Agency approaches you, you don’t say no,” Tham said. He shared that working on defence programmes has posed a significant learning curve, particularly because of the higher required levels of documentation, quality assurance and compliance compared to commercial shipbuilding.
However, Penguin had already gained experience in these areas through homeland security projects for Singapore’s Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force.
The Victory-class superstructure has presented its own challenges. Tham said composite construction eliminates some of the hot-work requirements associated with conventional shipbuilding, but it demands greater precision during assembly.
He noted, for instance, that the composite adhesive used for the superstructure cured in around half the time of equivalent processes in Europe, placing greater demands on workers to position and assemble components accurately within a shorter timeframe.
For Penguin, the move into the defence sector is ultimately about establishing a broader industrial ecosystem to support the RSN. “Every country’s naval capabilities should be supported by a rich ecosystem with local companies of all sizes,” Tham said. “They should all also deserve a fair shot in this ecosystem.”
by Chen Chuanren
