Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Overseas Service Medal Presentation Ceremony

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Afternoon.

I join your families and friends in welcoming you home. You have done Singapore proud by discharging your duties well in the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. Though you may have been operating 4000 nautical miles away from home, your efforts have enhanced Singapore's security and economic well-being. The Gulf of Aden is one of the world's major shipping lanes connecting Asia and Europe. It accounts for a significant portion of global trade, particularly crude oil, with 3.3 million barrels of oil en route through the Gulf per day. The Gulf of Aden contributes to Singapore's hub port status, as much of the shipping that transits through our ports also passes through the Gulf.

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has both regional and global implications. It puts the safety and lives of sea-farers at risk, and imposes costs on both consumers and suppliers through supply disruptions, delays and higher insurance costs. Therefore, maintaining the security of these trade routes is in the interest of the international community as a whole - and of a maritime state like Singapore in particular. We have seen an unprecedented degree of multinational cooperation in the Gulf of Aden. Navies from countries such as China, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Turkey and the US are operating in the Gulf of Aden, to deter pirates and offer protection to merchant ships. This cooperative effort demonstrates the strong resolve of the international community to act collectively to safeguard international shipping in key sea lanes. It also reaffirms the understanding that no country can alone protect its own shipping in all the key sea lanes of the world.

These efforts have seen some success. Since the establishment of multinational naval operations to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden in early 2009, the number of successful attacks in the area has declined. However, the piracy situation there continues to be a cause for concern. According to the UN, there had been 139 piracy related incidents off the coast of Somalia, with 30 ships hijacked, and 17 ships and 450 seafarers held for ransom in the first seven months of 2010. It is therefore vital that international efforts in the Gulf of Aden continue. Singapore remains committed to the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. We will be deploying a Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to assist in surveillance operations from December 2010 to February next year. Singapore has also accepted a second invitation by the Combined Maritime Forces HQ to command Combined Task Force 151 for three months from March to June next year. In addition, Singapore will deploy a third SAF Landing Ship Tank and Super Puma task group to the Gulf of Aden in the second half of 2011.

Today, we recognise the contributions of our servicemen and women from the Navy, Army and Air Force who were deployed to the Gulf of Aden from June to October this year. You deployed during the period when the region faces the roughest seas when waves of over four meters are not uncommon. You conducted deterrence and surveillance operations in the most challenging sectors, fulfilling the role assigned by CTF 151. The SAF Task Group also coordinated operations as the central communications control ship for CTF 151 and the controller for multinational maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft flights. RSS Endurance spent a total of 72 days on station, responded to six calls for assistance and launched 96 helicopter sorties to provide air surveillance and warn off suspicious boats. Your efforts led to tangible results, as not a single attack occurred in our task group's assigned areas of operation during the period of our deployment. When I visited you in August, I could feel your spirit of camaraderie and see your high state of readiness. Your ability to integrate Navy, Air Force and Army personnel to carry out challenging operations in unfamiliar conditions is testimony to the high standards of professionalism in the SAF and the tough and realistic training that you go through to prepare for such missions. The experience from past deployments to the Gulf of Aden also proved invaluable.

Two SAF officers also served as part of the CTF 151 command team led by the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) from April to September to ensure continuity when the SAF handed over command of CTF 151. As battle watch officers they shared the operational knowledge and experiences gained during our command of CTF 151 earlier this year.

I would like to commend all of you for your professionalism, dedication and hard work. Of the 310 SAF personnel who served on board RSS Endurance, 92 have served in multiple missions. Some such as ME2 Lui Jian Fong, a Naval Warfare Systems Engineer, have been on five deployments to Iraq and the Gulf of Aden. Thirteen full-time National Servicemen volunteered for this deployment. Three of them - CPL Leow Guo Long, CPL Jeremy Lim and CPL Awyong Wen Han - extended their national service to participate in the mission. Your deep personal commitment to duty reflects a strong ethos of service to the SAF and Singapore.

I congratulate all you for successfully carrying out your mission. You have demonstrated professionalism, commitment and tenacity and done Singapore and the SAF proud.

The mission of the SAF Task Group would not have been possible without the support and sacrifices of your family members back home. On behalf of all Singaporeans, I would also like to express my appreciation to the families of our servicemen and women. You can be proud of their achievements and of your role in their success.

Thank You.

More Resources

302 SAF Personnel Honoured for Counter-Piracy Efforts in the Gulf of Aden