Enhancing Maritime Security Through Closer Information Sharing

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) successfully organised the Maritime Information Sharing Exercise (MARISX). Held at the Changi Command and Control Centre from 15 to 18 May, the exercise saw the participation of more than 35 navies and maritime law enforcement agencies from 33 countries - Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, the Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Participants from regional and international maritime organisations, oil companies and the shipping community were also involved.  The exercise helped to enhance mutual understanding, and strengthen the processes and linkages amongst the international maritime community, thus allowing seemingly unrelated information to be shared and amalgamated to make sense of critical maritime security issues. 

The IFC also hosted the second edition of the ASEAN Maritime Security Information-Sharing Exercise during the same period from 15 to 18 May. Naval officers from ASEAN navies came together to enhance cooperation and promote information sharing to cue operational responses to maritime security incidents through a set of realistic and challenging exercise scenarios. 

At the combined closing ceremony of the exercises, Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han emphasised, "The maritime domain, with its porous borders, is also a prime target for perpetrators. Transnational issues such as piracy and sea robbery; illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; human migration due to conflict and poverty; and the looming threat of maritime terrorism create new challenges for navies and coast guards around the world. It is only through information-sharing, connecting the dots, and making sense of the complex seascape that we are able to collectively counter the threats we face today."

RADM Lai also launched the Submarine Safety Information Portal at the closing ceremony of the exercises. This new dedicated portal for underwater safety at the IFC will provide submarine operating centres and submarines at sea with real-time tracking of deep draft commercial vessels and hazards to prevent underwater accidents. These include seismic activities, and real-time movement of deep-sea oil rigs and very large crude carriers.

More Resources

Speech by Chief of Navy RADM Lai Chung Han at the Closing of the Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise (MARISX 2017) and the ASEAN Maritime Security Information-Sharing Exercise (AMSISX 2017)