Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is to unveil Singapore's first maritime-themed attraction - Maritime Experiential Museum and Aquarium (MEMA) - on 15 October.

Designed by Ralph Appelbaum of Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the attraction is to be housed in a building featuring a steel and glass ship hull design at the RWS waterfront. Maritime talks, children's workshops and exploration on life-size replica historical ships will be on offer at MEMA, exploring the maritime history of Asia and the Middle East.

Interactive exhibits will include a musical ensemble featuring instruments from a range of ports of call, such as a sitar from India; a santur from Iran; and Kenyan bongo drums. Other facilities include the Typhoon Theatre - a 150-seat, 360-degree multimedia theatre, which will see visitors "board" an Arabia-bound vessel that encounters a storm.

RWS director of attractions (west zone) Jason Horkin said: " We want the museum to be a place where everyone in the community can come together to learn and experience. "A lot of effort have gone into the planning of the museum to create a sense of exploration and to have interactive exhibits that encourage imagination and creativity."

The museum to be the first attraction in RWS' second phase to launch. A destination spa, a marine life park and two more hotels will open progressively during 2012. Image: Resorts World Sentosa elements and all related indicia TM and (c) 2009 Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved