Strengthening Maritime Security Through Collaboration at the 12th Regional MARSEC Practitioner Programme

The Information Fusion Centre (IFC) and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) co-organised the 12th Regional MARSEC Practitioner Programme (RMPP) from 22 – 26 Jul 2024, at the RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base.

Both Commander MARSEC Command from our Singapore Navy, COL Ng Xun Xi (right) and Executive Deputy Chairman of the RSIS, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong (left) opened the 12th RMPP with their respective welcome speeches.

About 140 participants from 36 countries came together to exchange professional knowledge and perspectives on maritime security (MARSEC) issues. The participants included professionals from navies, coast guards, maritime agencies, and the shipping industry.

Renowned academia and subject matter experts shared on topics such as United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea, Emerging MARSEC Threats, Maritime Cybersecurity, and Dark Shipping. Representatives from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) also spoke for the first time at RMPP, and shared their perspectives on maritime security.

(From left to right) Panel discussion with Prof Christian Bueger from the University of Copenhagen, Mr Andrew Clarke from International Maritime Organisation and Dr Trung Nguyen, Centre for International Law.

Participants engaged in small group discussions and exchanged views on respective challenges and best practices to improve cooperation.

Participants of the 12th RMPP also had the opportunity to visit our Singapore Police Coast Guard Headquarters and the Singapore Maritime Gallery where they had a better understanding of Singapore's Whole-of-Government approach to MARSEC. They also visited IFC's close shipping partner, Pacific International Lines (PIL) and went onboard the X-Tron, Singapore's first fully electric port passenger vessel. These gave participants a broad perspective of Singapore's shipping industry, and our journey towards green shipping.

Participants having an experiential visit to the head office of the Pacific International Lines and also toured on board the X-Tron, an electric port passenger vessel.

As part of RMPP, participants also attended IFC's 46th Shared Awareness Meeting (SAM), co-organised with the Singapore Shipping Association and the Asian Shipowners' Association. During the meeting, participants interacted with key shipping stakeholders and gained insights on developing trends and growing concerns of the shipping industry.

The highlight of this RMPP was a Senior Commanders' Dialogue, facilitated by Ms Jane Chan from RSIS. Three distinguished panelists shared candidly on emerging MARSEC challenges they faced during their operational tours, and provided perspectives on ways to mitigate them.

Invited panelists (from left): Ms Jane Chan (moderator); Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific from the United States Navy, RDML Mark Melson; Director Maritime Crime Investigation Department from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency FADM Ahmad Faridi bin Ferdaus; and Commander MARSEC Command from the Singapore Navy, COL Ng Xun Xi.

Photos courtesy of IFC.