Speech by Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, at the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd International Maritime Security Conference

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning, and welcome to the second International Maritime Security Conference, or IMSC. The theme for this year’s IMSC is "Safe and Secure Seas - For All by All".

An estimated 90% of the world’s trade and energy travels by sea. The oceans form a complex web of shipping lanes and trade routes. They are of vital importance to the prosperity and progress of all countries in the world, including landlocked states. Any disruption to the safety and security of navigation has severe implications not just on littoral and user states but on the entire world economy. Maritime security, in particular the security of sea lines of communication (SLOCs), is thus of strategic relevance to all trading nations and to the entire world.

Terrorism and piracy have become the two key maritime security threats that confront SLOCs today. The attack on Japanese tanker M Star last July, attributed to Abdullah Azzam Brigades, a group linked to Al-Qaeda, is a good example of terrorist threats that could emanate from the maritime domain. In the Gulf of Aden, we have also seen how a breakdown in law and order in a littoral state has given rise to piracy which continues to threaten the safety of this international waterway.

Given the flexible and responsive nature of naval operations, navies have traditionally been tasked as the first responders when dealing with any serious maritime threats. However, the complex and trans-boundary nature of maritime terrorism and piracy requires a more comprehensive response beyond the armed forces or the navies. Increasingly, countries are also recognising that the security and safety of the seas can only be maintained through a cooperative network consisting of various stakeholders.

This is illustrated by the wide-ranging nature of the tasks of the four Working Groups (WG) under the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, or CGPCS. The CGPCS was established in Jan 2009 under UN auspices to facilitate discussion and coordination of actions among states and organisations to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Apart from the first Working Group, which looks at military coordination and information sharing, the other three WGs tackle the judicial aspect of piracy, strengthening shipping self-awareness and capabilities, and finally, diplomatic and public information efforts relating to piracy. So the military response is just one piece of the very complex jigsaw puzzle. With the involvement of all stakeholders, for example, the shipping industry's adoption of Best Management Practices, our overall strategies for countering piracy on the international seas can be greatly strengthened.

One key way in which we see potential for building capacity and enhancing maritime security cooperation is in the domain of information sharing. At the regional level, we have signed and ratified the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia, or ReCAAP, which came into force in Sep 2006. Central to cooperation under ReCAAP is the Information Sharing Centre in Singapore, which helps to enhance information exchange and operational cooperation in responding to security incidents at sea.

Singapore has also set up the Information Fusion Centre, or IFC, to further build capacity and catalyse maritime security collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region. The IFC has made rapid progress with the support of participating countries and currently facilitates regular information exchanges with 42 operation centres and agencies across 26 countries. In addition, 9 countries have deployed liaison officers at the IFC. Through their participation at the IFC, where the sea situation picture is fused, analysed and disseminated, we hope to further enhance maritime security in regional waterways by enabling the early detection of maritime threats and timely responses to them.

As a maritime nation, Singapore is committed to maintaining the freedom of navigation and safety of international shipping. We have also aimed to develop a whole-of-government maritime security strategy, centred on tight inter-agency cooperation between the military and key domestic civilian agencies. In doing so, we have brought together our Navy, the Police Coast Guard (PCG), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Customs. This has allowed us to pool together various domains of expertise, experiences and ideas to overcome blind spots and develop more holistic and comprehensive solutions.

One outcome was the restructuring of our Coastal Command (COSCOM) into the Maritime Security Task Force, or MSTF. The MSTF brings together the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and other national maritime agencies to create a cross-domain response to ensure maritime security. For example, besides round-the-clock patrols by the Singapore Navy, the MSTF also harnesses the radar and electro-optical sensor network of the Maritime and Port Authorities and the Coast Guard to maintain constant surveillance of our waters.

We are also establishing a new National Maritime Security System, or the NMSS, to be led by the MSTF. The NMSS will contribute to stronger information-sharing, situational awareness, decision-making and operational coordination among our maritime security agencies.

Returning to the theme of this year's IMSC, apart from working with partner countries and taking a whole-of-government approach, it is important that we encourage regular collaboration between all relevant stakeholders. This is where we hope that the IMSC will continue to prove to be a useful platform through which military agencies, civilian agencies and the shipping community can exchange dialogue and views on maritime security related issues.

Singapore believes that an open, inclusive and flexible approach is necessary to meet the multi-faceted maritime security challenges that we face today. Our contributions are but a small part in the web of global efforts to strengthen international maritime security. As threats continue to proliferate and evolve, the international community must also work closely together to innovate and find more practical solutions to combat maritime terrorism and piracy.

I am therefore heartened by the strong participation at this IMSC, which has brought together some 450 maritime experts from navies and coast guards, defence and security industries, shipping companies, academia and think tanks. I hope that all of you will have fruitful discussions through open and candid exchanges of perspectives and insights that will help to strengthen confidence and contribute to deriving multi-dimensional solutions to the maritime challenges that confront us today.

It is my pleasure to now declare open the second International Maritime Security
Conference. Thank you and I wish you a successful conference.