OPS & TRAINING
MAINTAINING THE CURRENCY OF MARITIME SECURITY ROLES
30 Aug 2006
In recent years, with the possibility of maritime threats becoming more "pronounced", it is vital to conduct inter-agency security exercises like Exercise Apex regularly so maritime partners can test out new equipment and more importantly, practise contingencies that they do not face on a day-to-day basis, said Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean.
"It's not just protecting the sea lanes, but also protecting Singapore and Singaporeans from threats that may come from the sea," said Mr Teo, after his visit to the combined Ex Apex 06 Task Force Headquarters Operations Room at Tuas Naval Base on 29 Aug, where the participating agencies conducted integrated planning for the exercise operations.
He had earlier observed a boarding operation by a joint Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) - Police Coast Guard (PCG) Accompanying Sea Security Team (ASSeT) as well as a mine detonation demonstration.
"The examples that I saw today included stopping a gas tanker which may be taken over by undesirable persons who may want to threaten Singapore, and the possibility of mines at sea, for people who want to block the channel, and also how our people regularly board ships which come to Singapore to make sure that crews are all right and ships are under proper control before they enter our harbour," added Mr Teo.
"It requires a combination of organisations: the Navy, the Army and even Air Force units, and of course, PCG, as well as our people from Customs and Maritime Port Authority."
With an average of about 1,000 ships plying the Singapore Straits daily, coupled with a quarter of the world's commerce and half of the world's oil passing through the same channel, agencies responsible for maritime security have to be on their toes at all times.
One of the scenarios played out during the exercise was a ferry mishap which required co-ordinated responses by the different agencies to handle various consequence management issues, such as evacuation and medical aid for casualties.
The annual exercise is the fifth in the series, and was conducted in two phases - a Harbour Phase in the first week and a Sea Phase in the second week.
It involved the largest-ever number of participants 1,600 personnel (including 300 Operationally Ready National Servicemen) from the RSN, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Army, as well as PCG, MPA, and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Assets deployed include the RSN's mine countermeasure vessels, the Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft, as well as boats from PCG, ICA and MPA.
The 12-day exercise will end on 1 Sep and is part of a continuing effort to enhance inter-agency collaboration and inter-operability to ensure the security of shipping in Singapore's territorial waters, as well as to protect key installations from terrorist threats.
29 Aug 06 - Singapore Conducts Major Inter-Agency Maritime Security Exercise
"It's not just protecting the sea lanes, but also protecting Singapore and Singaporeans from threats that may come from the sea," said Mr Teo, after his visit to the combined Ex Apex 06 Task Force Headquarters Operations Room at Tuas Naval Base on 29 Aug, where the participating agencies conducted integrated planning for the exercise operations.
He had earlier observed a boarding operation by a joint Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) - Police Coast Guard (PCG) Accompanying Sea Security Team (ASSeT) as well as a mine detonation demonstration.
"The examples that I saw today included stopping a gas tanker which may be taken over by undesirable persons who may want to threaten Singapore, and the possibility of mines at sea, for people who want to block the channel, and also how our people regularly board ships which come to Singapore to make sure that crews are all right and ships are under proper control before they enter our harbour," added Mr Teo.
"It requires a combination of organisations: the Navy, the Army and even Air Force units, and of course, PCG, as well as our people from Customs and Maritime Port Authority."
With an average of about 1,000 ships plying the Singapore Straits daily, coupled with a quarter of the world's commerce and half of the world's oil passing through the same channel, agencies responsible for maritime security have to be on their toes at all times.
One of the scenarios played out during the exercise was a ferry mishap which required co-ordinated responses by the different agencies to handle various consequence management issues, such as evacuation and medical aid for casualties.
The annual exercise is the fifth in the series, and was conducted in two phases - a Harbour Phase in the first week and a Sea Phase in the second week.
It involved the largest-ever number of participants 1,600 personnel (including 300 Operationally Ready National Servicemen) from the RSN, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Army, as well as PCG, MPA, and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Assets deployed include the RSN's mine countermeasure vessels, the Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft, as well as boats from PCG, ICA and MPA.
The 12-day exercise will end on 1 Sep and is part of a continuing effort to enhance inter-agency collaboration and inter-operability to ensure the security of shipping in Singapore's territorial waters, as well as to protect key installations from terrorist threats.
29 Aug 06 - Singapore Conducts Major Inter-Agency Maritime Security Exercise
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