S'PORE NAVY TAKES PART IN REGIONAL MARITIME EXERCISE

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is participating in an 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.

The Singapore leg of the eight-day exercise took place on 20 and 21 Aug. The participating assets from Singapore include Accompanying Sea Security Teams (ASSeTs) comprising RSN and Police Coast Guard (PCG) personnel, the Shipping Analysis Unit from the Shipping Control Squadron (180 Sqn), and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft from 121 Sqn.

The exercise in Singapore involved the tracking of ships transiting through the surrounding waters. Liaison officers from the RSN and other Southeast Asian navies were on board a USN platform to compile and analyse data to create a shared maritime picture for enhanced situational awareness.

Personnel from the RSN, PCG and the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will also coordinate the boarding of a US Civil Resource ship simulating a merchant vessel suspected of assisting terrorist activities.

Representatives from the other Southeast Asian navies were on board USN vessels to observe the exercise.

SEACAT is a series of exercises between the USN and Southeast Asian navies aimed at enhancing maritime information sharing and the coordination of maritime security responses.

The exercise will end on 22 Aug.