National Agencies and Public Systems Tested in Maritime Security Exercise

Senior Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman visited Exercise Highcrest 17 this morning and witnessed the capabilities of the Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre (SMCC) to counter terrorist threats from the sea. Held from 19 to 26 October 2017, the exercise involved about 300 personnel from 14 national agencies, including the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs (SC), and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The exercise tested these agencies on a range of maritime terrorism scenarios, including an infiltration from sea, and a chemical attack on board a ferry. 

During the visit, SMCC's Director of National Maritime Sense-making Group, Colonel Nicholas Lim, updated Dr Maliki on how the SMCC achieves timely identification of threats through its suite of surveillance, sense-making and data analytics capabilities. Dr Maliki also observed the RSN's Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel and the Police Coast Guard's PT-class Patrol Interdiction Boat and PK-class High Speed Interceptors working together to prevent an infiltration attempt by terrorists via speedboats. The demonstration also showcased how a report through the SGSecure App was used to corroborate the presence of a terror threat, and the deployment of the SPF's Coastal Hardening Strike Force in apprehending the perpetrators.

Also present at the exercise visit were Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong as well as representatives of the Homefront Crisis Executive Group (Maritime Security).