A Crew That Knows
These Waters
Pulau Drift has been running private charters out of Collyer Quay since 2018. Small operation, experienced team, no fuss.
Back to HomeBuilt Around the Boat, Not the Brochure
Pulau Drift started with a single vessel and a straightforward idea: make it possible for small groups to spend real time on Singapore's water, without the noise of a large tour operation. The founder, a merchant marine officer who settled in Singapore in the mid-2000s, had spent years on the harbour watching tourist ferries pass and thinking there had to be a quieter way to do this.
The first charter went out in February 2018 — a harbour loop for a group of eight from a Raffles Place firm celebrating a project close. Word spread through referrals rather than advertising, and the operation grew steadily from there. A second crew member joined in 2019, and the cook came on board the following year.
Today the team runs three charter formats, all out of Collyer Quay. The focus hasn't shifted: private bookings, well-maintained vessel, crew who pay attention without hovering.
7+
Years operating
400+
Charters completed
3
Crew members
What We're Here to Do
To offer private, well-run charters on Singapore's water — where the crew's job is to handle the vessel and let guests actually enjoy the trip.
Singapore is surrounded by sea that most residents and visitors never properly see. We think that's worth changing, one charter at a time.
Three People, One Boat
Small team by design. Everyone aboard knows their role, and guests get to see that reflected in how the day runs.
David Lim
Skipper & Founder
Former merchant marine officer with over eighteen years at sea. Holds a Class 3 Yacht Master certification and knows Singapore's southern waters thoroughly. Quiet on the helm, attentive to guests.
Nurul Aisha
First Mate & Operations
Joined the crew in 2019 after several years as a dive instructor in the Riau Islands. Handles vessel safety briefings, deck operations, and guest queries with the kind of calm that comes from years offshore.
Rafael Santos
Cook & Provisions
Grew up in Cebu and has cooked on vessels for twelve years across Southeast Asia. Plans and prepares all onboard meals for the archipelago trip, with a leaning toward regional flavours and a flexible approach to dietary preferences.
How We Keep Things Safe and Sound
Charter operations come with responsibilities. Here's how we approach them.
MPA Licensing
The vessel operates under a valid Maritime Port Authority of Singapore pleasure craft licence. All documentation is current and available for inspection.
Regular Servicing
The yacht is serviced on a scheduled basis, including engine checks, hull inspection, and electrical systems. We don't wait for something to go wrong before looking at it.
Safety Equipment
Life jackets for all guests in a range of sizes, flares, first aid kit, EPIRB, and fire extinguishers are all kept current and checked before each departure. The safety briefing is not optional.
Certified Crew
The skipper holds a current Class 3 Yacht Master certificate. The first mate holds an Offshore Safety and Survival certification. Both hold current first aid qualifications.
Marine Insurance
The vessel carries third-party liability insurance for all charter operations. Documentation is provided to clients on request before the departure date.
Weather Monitoring
Departure decisions are made with reference to NEA forecasts and maritime weather data. Guests are notified in advance if conditions warrant a change of plan.
Singapore's Water, on Proper Terms
Singapore sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, surrounded by some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The harbour is active around the clock, and the southern archipelago stretches out toward Indonesian waters with dozens of smaller islands that most people in the city have never visited. Pulau Drift was set up to make that accessible in a practical, no-frills way.
Private yacht charters in Singapore are not a new idea, but many operations lean toward the large-group or corporate-event end of the market. Pulau Drift sits in a different space — smaller groups, a more considered pace, and routes that aren't planned around a standard tourist loop. The harbour cruise follows the inner basin past some of the city's most recognisable waterfront structures. The fishing day takes guests into open water beyond the freight anchorages. The archipelago trip goes further still, into channels where the water turns clearer and the city disappears below the horizon.
The operation is small by choice. A larger fleet would mean more departures and more staff, but it would also mean less control over the details that matter — the cleanliness of the vessel, the quality of the provisions, the attentiveness of the crew. For now, one boat, one team, and three charter formats is the right size.
See Which Charter Fits
Three options, all private, all departing Collyer Quay. Send us the dates and we'll get back to you with availability.
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