Sea entry points into Singapore are now being guarded by Gurkhas as part of enhanced measures following the London subway attacks in July and the recent Bali bombings, police said Wednesday.
Members of the Gurkha Contingent - elite Nepalese fighters who gained fame in the British armed forces - have been deployed at the international Sea Cruise Center and ferry terminals, a police statement said.
The center is used by ocean-going ships from some of the world's leading cruise lines, while the terminals link Singapore to Indonesian islands and southern Malaysia.
"In addition to these enhanced security measures, the Police Coast Guard have also been randomly checking ferries and other vessels when they enter the Singapore territorial waters," the statement said.
A police spokeswoman told AFP the new Gurkha deployments started this week.
Singapore, a staunch US ally, fears it is on the list of targets of attack by regional and international terrorist groups. Experts have warned that ships could be hijacked or turned into floating weapons by extremists.
Gurkhas have long been part of the Singapore police force, guarding homes of cabinet ministers and foreign ambassadors as well as the US and other foreign embassies, along with establishments seen as potential targets.
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