SAF SETS UP INTEGRATED MARITIME SECURITY TASK FORCE

As potential threats evolve, so must the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), and one of its most recent efforts is the formation of the Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF).

Restructured from the Navy's Coastal Command, the MSTF is the 3rd Generation solution to combating the multi-faceted nature of today's maritime threats through enhanced inter-agency cooperation.

This new task force, which answers directly to the Chief of Defence Force, streamlines Singapore's reaction to maritime security situations by coordinating the deployment of assets beyond the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) to the rest of the SAF. It can also muster assets of home agencies such as the Police Coast Guard, the Maritime Port Authority, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore Customs.

Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Chew Men Leong said: "The MSTF is designed to be able to mix and match the range of capabilities required, and integrate them to form more useful and precise responses to the entire spectrum of maritime security threats."

Such coordination on a national level is not unprecedented, as seen in Exercise Apex where the same agencies gather to test, validate and review operational responses for a wide range of contingency scenarios. And MSTF is the extension of this annual exercise - first conceived in 1983 - which ensures that Singapore is ever ready to protect its waters and its sea lines of communication.

The MSTF validated its capabilities in this year's Exercise Apex with its participation in two scenarios. The first scenario involved the deployment of an Accompanying Sea Security Team (ASSeT) to assess suspicious vessels for security threats, and the second involved an operation to counter small boat threats.

The last day of the exercise, which was held from 9 to 23 Feb, was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Professor S Jayakumar and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean.

In addition to forging inter-agency coordination at a national level, "MSTF will also be the one-stop agency that will drive our transnational collaboration and build upon our capacity to inter-operate with like-minded partners who share information", added RADM Chew.

Elaborating on the MSTF's role, Colonel Tan Wee Beng, the commander of the task force, said: "The MSTF will help look at maritime security challenges holistically and foster tighter coordination among ground units. It will provide the command and control facilities for the co-location of key maritime elements which will allow for the seamless execution of maritime security operations on a daily basis."

The MSTF comprises three groups, the Comprehensive Maritime Awareness Group, the Operations Group and the Inter-Agency Coordination Group.

The first group pieces together a comprehensive operational picture by collating information gathered by national agencies, international partners and the shipping community.

The second group plans and executes operations using an integrated approach that makes the best allocation of available resources.

The third group ensures seamless coordination in the execution of the national-level operations.

In addition to its roles in ensuring Singapore maritime security and as a coordinating body, MSTF is also the custodian of maritime security knowledge and capability for the SAF and Singapore.

23 Feb 09 - New Maritime Security Task Force in Action During Exercise APEX 09