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S’pore phase of regional maritime counter-terror exercise begins

SINGAPORE — The Singapore phase of a regional maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise took place yesterday, with teams from various countries taking part in a sea-based drill involving a hijacked ship.

SINGAPORE — The Singapore phase of a regional maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise took place yesterday, with teams from various countries taking part in a sea-based drill involving a hijacked ship.

The 11-day Association for South-east Asian Nations (Asean) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise, which is co-hosted by Singapore and Brunei, was into its seventh day. The exercise involved personnel from 18 militaries, as well as 18 ships, 25 aircraft, 40 assault teams and 3,500 exercise participants, of which 350 are Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel.

The sea component held yesterday saw the SAF’s Special Forces team access the deck of a simulated hijacked merchant vessel, the MV Avatar. Teams from other countries such as Brunei, South Korea and Thailand then closed in using rigid-hull inflatable boats.

All teams then proceeded to seize control of the vessel and rescue the hostages, and work together to bring the merchant vessel safely into port.

The ADMM-Plus is made up of 18 countries: The 10 Asean countries as well as Australia, China, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. The regional exercise aims to enhance national and regional response to maritime security and terrorism threats. It will end on Thursday.

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