Government Agencies Tackle Maritime Security Threats at Exercise Highcrest 2025

Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr K Shanmugam (third from right) on board the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) RSS Justice observing Exercise Highcrest together with Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing (right) and Minister of State for Defence, Mr Desmond Choo (fourth from right).

RSS Justice approaching the simulated terrorist vessel during the live demonstration.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) Police Coast Guard’s (PCG) 5th Generation PT Class Patrol Craft intercepting the vessel.

SCDF personnel conducting casualty evacuation from the hijacked vessel and bringing them to safety.

Inaugurated in 2013, Exercise Highcrest is an annual inter-agency maritime security (MARSEC) exercise organised by the Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre (SMCC). This year’s exercise, which was held from 24 to 28 November 2025, focused on strengthening inter-agency coordination, validating plans such as responses against fire at sea, and neutralising threats on board a simulated hijacked vessel planning to conduct terrorist attacks at our key coastal installations. The exercise involved more than 240 personnel from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Police Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Personnel and assets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) also participated in the exercise.

Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam observed the conduct of Exercise Highcrest 2025 earlier today at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base, and was briefed on SMCC’s role in coordinating Whole-Of-Government (WoG) responses to detect and tackle maritime security threats. He sailed on the RSN's Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Justice to observe the inter-agency responses to neutralise the simulated terrorist threat, which included the securing of the area of operations by the RSN's Maritime Security Task Force and PCG, MPA's diversion and management of maritime traffic, SOTF storming operations of the hijacked vessel, and activation of SCDF to extinguish a simulated fire and evacuate casualties on board the vessel. He also observed the agencies' response to manage the aftermath of the simulated terrorist attack, while implementing measures to prevent follow-on attacks at sea.

Speaking after the live demonstration, Minister Shanmugam emphasised the importance of Singapore's vigilance and readiness to tackle maritime security. He commended the SMCC for playing a pivotal role in driving and overseeing national maritime security operations, working together with other government agencies to identify threats, provide early warnings, and take down potential maritime terrorist attacks.

Also present at the exercise were Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister of State for Defence, Mr Desmond Choo, Chief of Defence Force Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Sean Wat, and senior officials from the various maritime agencies.