Come 15 Oct 2011, hop on board Singapore’s only Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium and join us on an adventurous journey to discover Southeast Asia’s maritime history! An exciting and immersive experience awaits you – the bustling bazaars, Typhoon Theatre, interactive exhibits, shipwreck artefacts, life-sized ship replicas, and a wide range of exciting education programmes.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the key attractions you can look out for:
The Mighty Bao Chuan
Standing in the centre of the museum and greeting guests as they enter, is a full-sized replica of the bow of Admiral Zheng He’s treasure ship (Bao Chuan). Marvel and learn more about Admiral Zheng He’s voyages from China to the ‘Western Ocean’ and his mighty fleet during the 15th century. An introduction to his voyages from China to the ‘Western Ocean’ during the 15th century is told through a short animated video in a modern open style theatre.
Typhoon Theatre
Experience the wrath of the sea in the Typhoon Theatre, a 360-degree multimedia theatre that takes visitors on a perilous voyage on board a 9th-century Chinese junk. Laden with cargo, the ship runs into a storm. The sea roars, the skies darken and the ship rolls, pitches, turns and finally sinks. At the end, the ship’s passengers find themselves in the depths of the ocean, up close with the shipwreck.
The Jewel Of Muscat
Be awed by the Jewel of Muscat, a replica of a 9th Century Arab dhow and learn about its reconstruction and its historic voyage from Oman to Singapore.
A gift from the Sultanate of Oman to the Government and People of the Republic of Singapore, the Jewel of Muscat is housed permanently at the Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium.
It is 18 meters long and 6 meters wide, built using 9th century Arab shipbuilding methods without using nails or screws, but sewn together with coconut fibers. The main sails were handmade from canvas linen and secondary sails made of palm leaves.
After the dhow was constructed, it set sail from Oman to Singapore and spent 68 days at sea, covering 3580 nautical miles.
Souk Gallery
Here, visitors will be able to learn about some of the goods that mariners like Zheng He traded and collected along the Maritime Silk Route including ceramics, musical instruments, arts and crafts, fabrics and jewelry. The Souk Gallery gives visitors a perspective into the sights and sounds of the ancient markets found at various ports of call along the Silk Route, from China to Africa.
Historic Ships
Look out for the five life-size replicas of Historic Ships berthed at our Harbour where visitors can go on board to experience how life on deck was like. Consisting of a Chinese junk, an Indian dhow, a Javanese jong, an Indonesian borobudur, and a South China Seas trading vessel, these ships bring to live the experience of ancient seafaring ways by allowing visitors onboard, further enhancing the ‘maritime’ experience.
Food and Beverage
Fish and Crab Shack in MEMA is a casual eatery, offering fresh seafood and quick bites. In the evenings, it transforms into a full service restaurant, boasting waterfront views and jazz performances on weekends. The museum and café are available for corporate events and bookings.
For more info on the Maritime Experential Museum and Aquarium, pls visit our website.