Our Company
A Charter Company Built on Careful Attention
Kelong Tides was founded on the understanding that the water around Singapore deserves to be experienced slowly, with proper context and a knowledgeable crew at hand.
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Rooted in Singapore's Port City Identity
Kelong Tides came out of a long-held conviction that Singapore's waterways are among its most underappreciated assets. The company was established in 2016 by a small group of mariners and local historians who had spent years watching cargo ships pass the inner harbour while visitors walked right by the water without pausing to consider what they were looking at.
The first charter was a heritage tour along the Singapore River, offered to a group of architecture students from NUS. The response was clear: people wanted structured encounters with the water, not just a generic boat trip. From that point, the charter programme grew steadily, adding corporate options and longer retreats as the demand became apparent.
Today, Kelong Tides operates three distinct charter formats from HarbourFront Centre, serving a mix of corporate clients, history-minded visitors, and professional teams looking for a working environment that is genuinely different from any meeting room.
Our Mission
To provide yacht charters that give guests a meaningful connection to Singapore's maritime landscape — through careful preparation, informed guidance, and a vessel maintained to a high standard.
Our Approach
Every charter is shaped in advance, not improvised. We spend time with each booking to understand the group, plan the route with intent, and brief the crew on the guests' expectations before departure.
Our Values
Honesty about what each charter offers, respect for the vessel and the sea, and a quiet attentiveness to the needs of the people onboard — these are the standards we hold ourselves to on every departure.
The People Onboard
A Small, Experienced Team
Our crew and shore team bring together decades of maritime experience, local knowledge, and a commitment to well-run operations.
Raymond Heng
Founder & Harbour Master
Raymond has navigated Singapore's southern waters for over two decades. His background in port logistics and local maritime history informs both the charter routes and the narrative content of the heritage tours.
Shirin Lim
Events & Charter Coordinator
Shirin manages the planning process for corporate charters and multi-day retreats. She coordinates between clients, the crew, and catering partners to ensure each charter runs without friction from first contact to disembarkation.
Mukhlis Fadzil
Chief Officer & Vessel Lead
Mukhlis holds MPA certification and leads the onboard crew for all charters. He oversees vessel safety, route adjustments, and the comfort of guests throughout each voyage. He has been with Kelong Tides since the company's second year.
Standards & Protocols
How We Operate
Each charter adheres to a set of operational and safety standards that we apply consistently, regardless of group size or charter type.
MPA Compliance
All vessel operations adhere to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore regulations. Crew certifications and vessel inspections are maintained on a current basis at all times.
Safety Briefings
Every charter begins with a safety briefing for all guests before departure. Life jacket fitting, emergency procedures, and vessel layout are covered clearly before the vessel leaves the berth.
Vessel Maintenance
The charter yacht undergoes scheduled servicing after a fixed number of operational hours. Mechanical and safety systems are checked by a certified marine engineer prior to each departure.
Weather Assessment
Our operations team monitors NEA and MPA advisories in the 72 hours before each departure. Charters are assessed against current conditions and rescheduled if there is reasonable cause for concern.
Data & Privacy
Booking information is handled in accordance with the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act. Client details are not shared with third parties beyond operational necessity and are retained only for the period required.
Quality Review
After each charter, the booking party receives a short feedback form. Responses are reviewed by the operations team to identify adjustments to crew briefing, catering, or route planning for future departures.
Yacht Charters in Singapore — A Considered Perspective
Singapore's position as a port city has defined its character for centuries. The inner harbour, the river mouth, the southern archipelago — these are not incidental features of the landscape. They are its foundation. Kelong Tides operates from this understanding, designing charters that place guests in direct relationship with the water rather than simply on top of it.
The southern waters of Singapore offer a remarkably varied environment for a relatively small geographical area. Within a short passage from HarbourFront, the urban skyline gives way to quieter island coastlines, sheltered coves, and open straits with views toward the Indonesian archipelago. A well-planned charter can traverse several of these environments within a single day.
For professional groups, the value of a well-run charter extends beyond the scenery. The removal from ordinary office environments, combined with a structured setting and the ambient focus that comes from being on open water, tends to shift the character of working conversations. Kelong Tides has observed this repeatedly across corporate charters and retreat voyages — and it remains one of the more honest arguments for this kind of experience.
Ready to Sail?
Speak with Our Team
We are glad to answer questions about our charters, discuss what might suit your group, and work through the details at whatever pace you prefer.
Send an Enquiry