Maritime Security Task Force

Not to be confused with Maritime Security Command.

The Maritime Security Task Force is a high-readiness standing task force of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) responsible for maritime security operations.[1][2]

It is structured to work closely with other task forces of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), other national maritime agencies, and international partners.[3][4]

History

The Republic of Singapore Navy's Coastal Command was the national coordinating authority for maritime security since 1988, and it was a navy-level formation that could only muster its own organic assets.[5]

The Coastal Command was restructured in 2004–2005, when the Fearless class vessels were transferred from the Fleet to the Coastal Command.[6] 180 Squadron was also established to analyse shipping data, and monitor the situation at sea from ashore and Accompanying Sea Sea Security Teams placed on merchant ships.[6]

The Coastal Command was subsequently restructured into the Maritime Security Task Force on 19 January 2009, by pulling together both armed forces and national maritime agencies.[7][8]

It initially consisted of three groups:[9][5][10]

Organisation

The Maritime Security Task Force is helmed by a rear admiral,[11][12][13] and is operationally responsible to the Chief of Defence Force.[6] It comprises two operational groups, and an information-sharing centre.[14][15]

Operational Groups

Sea Security Group is in charge of seaward maritime security activities in Singapore's surrounding waterways. This include regular patrols, boarding and escort activities in the Singapore Strait, as well as maritime surveillance.[16]

Force Protection Group is responsible for against dangers from the sea, and is in charge of defending naval facilities and installations and enforcing security. A quick response force will be dispatched to protect against infiltration and other maritime dangers in the event of a seaward intrusion.

These two operational groups work closely with the Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre to plan and coordinate actions with other national maritime agencies in the case of a maritime incident.[17][18]

Information Fusion Centre

The Information Fusion Centre is a multinational maritime security information-sharing and collaboration centre.[19] It has linkages with more than 90 military, maritime and law enforcement agencies from more than 40 countries. It also has more than 160 international liaison officers from 25 countries deployed to Singapore on a rotational basis.[20][2]

Exercises

The Maritime Security Task Force conducts annual exercises to drill whole-of-government responses to maritime incidents.[21][22][9] These include Exercise Highcrest and Exercise Apex.[23][24][25]

References

  1. ^ Ng, Kelly (7 April 2016). "SAF ramps up counter-terror capabilities". Today.
  2. ^ a b A Maritime Force for a Maritime Nation: Celebrating 50 Years of the Navy. Straits Times Press. 2017.
  3. ^ Mulqueen, Michael; Sanders, Deborah; Ian Speller (2016). Small Navies: Strategy and Policy for Small Navies in War and Peace. Routledge.
  4. ^ Parameswaran, Prashanth (2 September 2015). "How Did a Singapore Warship Foil a Pirate Attack?". The Diplomat.
  5. ^ a b Bowers, Ian; Koh, Collin (2019). Grey and White Hulls: An International Analysis of the Navy-Coastguard Nexus. Springer Nature.
  6. ^ a b c Goldrick, James; McCaffrie, Jack (2012). Navies of South-East Asia: A Comparative Study. Routledge.
  7. ^ DeSilva-Ranasinghe, Sergei (June 2012). "The Republic of Singapore Navy". Headmark (144).
  8. ^ Raska, Michael (2015). Military Innovation in Small States: Creating a Reverse Asymmetry. Routledge.
  9. ^ a b Heng, Yee-Kuang (2016). Managing Global Risks in the Urban Age: Singapore and the Making of a Global City. Routledge.
  10. ^ Lee, Yinghui (1 December 2021). "Singapore's Conceptualization of Maritime Security". Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
  11. ^ Chang, Ai-Lien; Tee, Zhuo (1 February 2019). "A*Star to be headed by Mindef deputy secretary Frederick Chew from April 1". The Straits Times.
  12. ^ Koh, Fabian (27 June 2019). "Commander of maritime task force in charge of securing Singapore's waters off Tuas among 500 promoted". The Straits Times.
  13. ^ Lim, Min Zhang (12 December 2020). "Pioneer RSN sailor shares memories as last two patrol vessels are decommissioned". The Straits Times.
  14. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (2 March 2020). "SAF to restructure intelligence and cyber defence units, acquire new ships for maritime security amid evolving threats". Channel News Asia.
  15. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (29 June 2020). "COVID-19 delays new submarines, but delivery of F-35 fighter jets on track: Ng Eng Hen". Channel News Asia.
  16. ^ Rauf, Taofiq (28 August 2020). "Bakamla RI dan MSTF Kerja Sama Pertukaran Informasi". InfoPublik.
  17. ^ Mukherjee, Anit (2015). Merlion And The Ashoka, The: Singapore-india Strategic Ties. World Scientific.
  18. ^ Desker, Barry; Ang, Cheng Guan (2015). Perspectives On The Security Of Singapore: The First 50 Years. World Scientific.
  19. ^ Frécon, Eric (28 March 2020). "Commentary: A cat-and-mouse game between pirates and Southeast Asian maritime security authorities". Channel News Asia.
  20. ^ Koh, Fabian (10 March 2021). "Regional maritime security requires international cooperation: Zaqy Mohamad". The Straits Times.
  21. ^ Parameswaran, Prashanth (30 September 2016). "Singapore Hosts Military Exercise to Counter WMD Proliferation". The Diplomat.
  22. ^ Cheng, Kenneth (30 June 2017). "Across land, air and sea, SAF beefs up defences to fight terror". Today.
  23. ^ Law, Francis Micah (5 November 2015). "Unmanned surface vessel featured at maritime security exercise". TYoday.
  24. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (12 November 2021). "Singapore developing improved system to detect maritime threats 'as early and as far away' as possible". Channel News Asia.
  25. ^ Yong, Clement (3 November 2020). "Inter-agency maritime security exercises held to ready Singapore's response to potential terrorist attacks". The Straits Times.