Singapore is now holding a major inter-agency maritime security exercise, which started on Aug. 21 and will end on Sept. 1.

Confirming the exercise on Tuesday, Singapore's Defense Ministry said that some 1,600 personnel from the city state's Air Force and the Army, as well as the Police Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Port Authority (MPA), and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), are participating in the exercise, code-named Exercise APEX 06.

Some Singapore Navy's mine countermeasures vessels and Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft, as well as boats from the above- mentioned agencies were also involved in the annual drill, the fifth and largest in the series.

Various scenarios played out in the exercise included the disposal of a sea mine detected in the Singapore Straits by the country's mine-hunting assets, as well as a ferry mishap which required co-ordinated responses by different agencies to handle various consequence management issues, such as evacuation and medical aid for casualties, according the Defense Ministry.

The exercise is part of a continuing effort by Singapore to enhance inter-agency collaboration and inter-operability to ensure the security of shipping in its territorial waters, as well as to protect its ports, key maritime infrastructure and vital offshore installations from terrorist threats.

Source: Xinhua