 Following surveys , a site at Sembawang was chosen for a naval base . The Straits Settlements made a free gift of 2 @,@ 845 acres ( 1 @,@ 151 ha ) of land for the site , and a sum of £ 250 @,@ 000 for construction of the base was donated by Hong Kong in 1925 . That exceeded the United Kingdom 's contribution that year of £ 204 @,@ 000 towards the floating dock . Another £ 2 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 was paid by the Federated Malay States , while New Zealand donated another £ 1 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 . The contract for construction of the naval dockyard was awarded to the lowest bidder , Sir John Jackson Limited , for £ 3 @,@ 700 @,@ 000 . Some 6 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 cubic yards ( 4 @,@ 600 @,@ 000 m3 ) of earth were moved to level the ground , and 8 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 cubic yards ( 6 @,@ 100 @,@ 000 m3 ) of marsh was filled in . The floating dock was constructed in England and towed to Singapore by Dutch tugboats . It was 1 @,@ 000 feet ( 300 m ) long and 1 @,@ 300 feet ( 400 m ) wide , making it one of the largest in the world . There would be 5 @,@ 000 feet ( 1 @,@ 500 m ) of deep water quays , and supporting infrastructure including warehouses , workshops and hospitals . 
