SINGAPORE PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL ANTI-TERRORISM NAVAL EXERCISE

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is participating in the annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise, together with the United States Navy (USN) and navies from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

This year's exercise, which is being held from 14 to 20 Aug, consists of a planning phase and a sea phase to test the information-sharing linkages and coordination of maritime security responses among participating navies.

Besides the tracking of ships transiting through Singapore waters, other drills to be conducted include the boarding of US civil resource ships simulating as merchant vessels suspected of assisting terrorist activities.

From Singapore, personnel from the RSN's Maritime Security Task Force, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority are taking part in the exercise. Participating assets include RSN patrol vessels, Accompanying Sea Security Teams (ASSeTs), Police Coast Guard patrol boats, and maritime patrol aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

Exercise SEACAT was first held in 2002 and it aims to enhance maritime information sharing and the coordination of maritime security responses in the region.