PUTTING WORDS INTO ACTION WITH FIRST ARF MARITIME SHORE EXERCISE

With the maritime security threats going beyond the traditional concerns of piracy and armed robbery, member-countries of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) have recognised the need to move from dialogue to practical cooperation, in order to meet current transnational challenges.

"As the threats in the maritime domain loom larger and the consequences of inaction can be severe, our only course of action is to be well-prepared," said Rear-Admiral (RADM) Tan Kai Hoe, Fleet Commander of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) during his closing address at the inaugural ARF Maritime Security Shore Exercise.

"As professionals in the maritime domain, preparedness is not only our responsibility, it is our duty."

The Maritime Security Shore Exercise, held in Singapore from 22 to 23 Jan, marked the first time that member-countries had come together for an operational activity under the ambit of the ARF.

The multi-lateral, inter-agency exercise was designed to promote interoperability and familiarity amongst the various agencies involved in enhancing maritime security in the region.

A total of 102 maritime security experts from the military, law enforcement, port and policy agencies from 21 ARF member countries participated in a series of professional exchanges and table-top exercises.

"At the operational level, the table-top exercise may not have provided any definitive solutions, but it has given us possibilities derived from hearing and understanding all the differing perspectives we bring to the table," added RADM Tan.

"Ideas we have picked up from this exercise may well provide the solution to challenges we will face in the future."

The exercise scenario that formed the backdrop of the discussions aptly featured international collaboration of fictitious neighbouring coastal states in dealing with a potential maritime security threat - a fully-loaded liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel that had sent out a Ship Security Alert System alarm and was reported missing by its owner.

The two-day event culminated in a simulation exercise held at the RSN's Tactical Training Centre at Changi Naval Base, where participants were split into composite teams, each with limited information about the lost vessel. In order to identify the target and to track it down, they had to share information with each other so as to piece together a collective picture of the sea situation.

Participants were very receptive to the inaugural exercise and looked forward to similar exercises in the future.

"All of the members of the ARF (who participated in the exercise) benefited from it... We all learn from working together and cooperating, which is the big message from this morning's (simulation) exercise," said , Political & Economic Counsellor from the United States Embassy.

"In our own neighbourhood, we have similar types of cooperation that we do with our neighbours. We are always eager to participate with people from elsewhere, and in the ASEAN region, it is quite important."

As for , Director Adminstration and Training from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, he relished the opportunity to interact with other maritime professionals from the various countries.

"A number of ideas were generated and will go a long way in developing our own procedures, refining them, and realising the need to share information with other countries for achieving common objectives," he said.

"I think this has come out very clearly that it is extremely important in maritime security and the threats being faced by the world today."

The Maritime Security Shore Exercise was mooted during the ARF Confidence Building Measures on "Regional Cooperation in Maritime Security" which Singapore hosted with the US in early March 2005.
The proposal was then endorsed by the ARF Foreign Ministers at the 13th ARF Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 28 Jul last year.

The ARF comprises 26 member-countries and is the only formal security forum in the larger Asia-Pacific region. It provides a unique and valuable platform to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest between member-countries.