In August 2023, the two-week Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT 23) took place in Singapore under the leadership of the US 7th Fleet. The naval ship's command (MSchLtg) from Hamburg took part in the multinational exercise series for the second time in a row. For the first time, however, members of the MSchLtg also gave presentations on maritime security topics during the exercise.
Scope of exercise
20 nations took part in SEACAT 23. In addition to the ASEAN states of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), the Maldives, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and the USA also took part.
In addition to improving cooperation and the multinational exchange of information, the main objective was to strengthen regional responses to specific threats in the Indo-Pacific. In addition to 14 naval and coast guard vessels, one product tanker and one chemical tanker were also involved.
Naval ship's command from Hamburg at SEACAT23 in Singapore. Photo: Bundeswehr/O.Adamczik
Framework exercise on land
In the first week, the exercise participants discussed tactics, standards and equipment for boarding, legal powers of intervention and situational first aid. Drones and technical support systems were also introduced.
In addition to the tactical procedure on board, one focus was on the digital exchange of information between the neighbouring countries and their regional situation centres. The exercise scenarios ranged from drug and weapons smuggling, piracy and hostage-taking at sea to the illegal trade in radioactive material and other hazardous substances.
It was precisely on this latter topic, the safety of operations on ships with dangerous cargo, that the Naval Shipping Administration gave two presentations and introduced its pool of experts from the merchant shipping industry.
Sea phase
In the second week, the training partners successfully put the theory they had learnt into practice with boarding teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.
Conclusion
The participation of the MSchLtg, in particular the recommendations for boarding, met with a positive response. The special contribution of the German Navy set new standards in terms of professionalism and mission preparation, commented the chief organiser of the US 7th Fleet.
The exchange with the other countries and the resulting findings were also of great value to the naval shipping management: SEACAT 2023 took place in one of the most important sea areas for international merchant shipping, the Singapore Strait.
Source: German Armed Forces/German Navy, MINDEF Singapore
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