History of Ranlo Singapore

FORMATION OF RANLO SINGAPORE

A few months after handing control of the port to PSA Sembawang and control of the naval wharves to the RN, the RAN Liaison Office – Singapore was formed, with the first RAN Liaison Officer commencing duties on 8 June 1976. In the period following its inception, the RAN Liaison Office – Singapore has had thirteen RAN Liaison Officers. Three were promoted to Commander while in the job, and one joined having already been promoted to Commander. Since May 1997, the position of RANLO has been filled by four charge-qualified Supply Officers and one charge-qualified Engineer, each of Lieutenant Commander (O4 MAJ E) rank. The eight RAN Liaison Officers holding the position between June 1976 and May 1997 were all Seaman Officers. The practice of posting Seaman Officers to the RANLO position for the first 20 years of the unit’s life was probably grounded in history, noting the RAN’s role in commanding the yard or the port, as it later became known, between 1971 and 1976. In the last 10 or so years, Supply Officers (and one Engineer) have been posted to the RANLO position, in recognition of the heavy logistics nature of the job. Although the position of RANLO is tailor-made for logisticians, the job remains open to any RAN officers of any primary qualification/specialisation.

RANLO SINGAPORE TODAY

The RAN Liaison Office – Singapore is an outlying Logistic Support Element (LSE) of Fleet Headquarters Australia. The RAN Liaison Officer – Singapore is responsible to the Fleet Commander, through Commander Fleet Logistic Support (CFLS), Chief Staff Officer – Support (CSO SUP) and the Chief of the Combat Support Group (CCSG). The office consists of four staff – three RAN personnel and one locally engaged civilian member. RANLO SINGAPORE typically supports about 20 – 25 port visits a year within its area of interest. Although it is not in the same command chain as the Australian Defence Adviser Singapore – Brunei, the Defence Section at the Australian High Commission – Singapore and the RAN Liaison Office - Singapore work closely together and assist each other whenever and wherever possible.