Artefacts from 18th-century shipwreck among items on display at maritime exhibition
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Justine Ong
- MPA's free "Voyage Beyond" exhibition displays historical artefacts, like "red jade" from the Shah Muncher shipwreck, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
- It offers engaging exhibits detailing port science and ship fuel.
- The exhibition also highlights the future Tuas Port, set to be the world’s largest automated port. It travels until July 5.
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SINGAPORE – Artefacts recovered from a trading vessel that sank in Singapore waters more than two centuries ago are part of a new roving exhibition by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
These include agate medallions, or pendants once prized in China as “red jade”, that were recovered from the Shah Muncher, which sank off Pedra Branca in January 1796.
These medallions, typically worn as jewellery by ancient civilisations, were part of a cargo of 100,000 stones on the vessel.
On May 25, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow launched the exhibition titled Voyage Beyond: Reimagining Maritime Singapore at Lot One Shoppers’ Mall in Choa Chu Kang to mark MPA’s 30th anniversary. It will run until May 26, and admission is free.
The exhibition will then travel to five other locations, including shopping centres in central Singapore and Tampines, from June 4 to July 5.
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at the launch of Voyage Beyond: Reimagining Maritime Singapore at Lot One Shoppers’ Mall on May 25.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
All artefacts at the exhibition are on public display for the first time. These include historical shipboard technology, as well as tableware recovered from shipwrecked vessels. There are also stoneware shards recovered from shipwrecks that visitors are invited to touch and examine first-hand.
The exhibition features a trail across separate exhibits, where visitors can scan QR codes at certain points to redeem a gift such as a lanyard or a notebook, as well as collect stamps to create a cartoon card to keep as a souvenir.
Along the way, they can explore the science behind ports and ships, including a display comparing six types of ship fuel and their carbon emission levels.
Families and younger visitors can play a video game that introduces the different parts of a port and how they work together to keep operations running smoothly.
The exhibition will run until May 26, and admission is free.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Visitors can also try their hand at an interactive quiz that will match them to one of nine careers in the maritime industry.
The exhibition also offers a glimpse into the future through a “Window to Tuas” interactive display, where visitors can explore animated features of the upcoming Tuas Port, which is set to become the world’s largest fully automated port when completed in the 2040s.
There will also be career talks, where visitors can hear from maritime professionals and seafarers about careers in the industry.
Mr Siow said the hope is that Singaporeans will gain a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s historical and ongoing contributions to global supply chains, as well as the country’s commitment to strengthening its position as a global maritime hub.
Separately, visitors can go on a paid guided tour of the historic Sultan Shoal Lighthouse on June 13. Located off Tuas, the lighthouse offers views of the ongoing Tuas Port development.
Built in 1895, the 18m-tall Victorian-style lighthouse has guided vessels through the western entrance to Singapore for more than a century.
After Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, the exhibition will travel to the following places:
June 4 to 7: IMM (Level 3, Garden Plaza)
June 11 to 14: National Library Building (The Plaza)
June 18 to 21: Funan (Basement 2 atrium)
June 25 to 28: Punggol Coast MRT station (Civic Commons)
July 2 to 5: Tampines Mall (Level 4, open plaza)
