Maritime Security Task Force

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.{{Cite book |last1=Bowers |first1=Ian |title=Grey and White Hulls: An International Analysis of the Navy-Coastguard Nexus |last2=Koh |first2=Collin |publisher=Springer Nature |year=2019}}

The Coastal Command was restructured in 2004–2005, when the Fearless class vessels were transferred from the Fleet to the Coastal Command.{{Cite book |last1=Goldrick |first1=James |title=Navies of South-East Asia: A Comparative Study |last2=McCaffrie |first2=Jack |publisher=Routledge |year=2012}} 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.

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.{{Cite journal |last=DeSilva-Ranasinghe |first=Sergei |date=June 2012 |title=The Republic of Singapore Navy |journal=Headmark |issue=144}}{{Cite book |last=Raska |first=Michael |title=Military Innovation in Small States: Creating a Reverse Asymmetry |publisher=Routledge |year=2015}}

It initially consisted of three groups:{{Cite book |last=Heng |first=Yee-Kuang |title=Managing Global Risks in the Urban Age: Singapore and the Making of a Global City |publisher=Routledge |year=2016}}{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Yinghui |date=1 December 2021 |title=Singapore's Conceptualization of Maritime Security |url=https://amti.csis.org/singapores-conceptualization-of-maritime-security/ |website=Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative}}

• Comprehensive Maritime Awareness Group, which pieces together a comprehensive operational picture, by building information-sharing networks and collating information gathered from national agencies, international partners, and shipping community.
• Operations Group, which comprises operations planners from the Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force, and Singapore Army, who plan and execute operations with an integrated approach.
• Inter-agency Coordination Group, which includes representatives from the Police Coast Guard, SCDF Marine Division, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and Singapore Customs, to ensure seamless coordination in the execution of national-level operations.

The Maritime Security Task Force is helmed by a rear admiral,{{Cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Ai-Lien |last2=Tee |first2=Zhuo |date=1 February 2019 |title=A*Star to be headed by Mindef deputy secretary Frederick Chew from April 1 |work=The Straits Times}}{{Cite news |last=Koh |first=Fabian |date=27 June 2019 |title=Commander of maritime task force in charge of securing Singapore's waters off Tuas among 500 promoted |work=The Straits Times}}{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Min Zhang |date=12 December 2020 |title=Pioneer RSN sailor shares memories as last two patrol vessels are decommissioned |work=The Straits Times}} and is operationally responsible to the Chief of Defence Force. It comprises two operational groups, and an information-sharing centre.{{Cite news |last=Mahmud |first=Aqil Haziq |date=2 March 2020 |title=SAF to restructure intelligence and cyber defence units, acquire new ships for maritime security amid evolving threats |work=Channel News Asia}}{{Cite news |last=Mahmud |first=Aqil Haziq |date=29 June 2020 |title=COVID-19 delays new submarines, but delivery of F-35 fighter jets on track: Ng Eng Hen |work=Channel News Asia}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Rauf |first=Taofiq |date=28 August 2020 |title=Bakamla RI dan MSTF Kerja Sama Pertukaran Informasi |work=InfoPublik}}

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.{{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Anit |title=Merlion And The Ashoka, The: Singapore-india Strategic Ties |publisher=World Scientific |year=2015}}{{Cite book |last1=Desker |first1=Barry |title=Perspectives On The Security Of Singapore: The First 50 Years |last2=Ang |first2=Cheng Guan |publisher=World Scientific |year=2015}}

The Information Fusion Centre is a multinational maritime security information-sharing and collaboration centre.{{Cite news |last=Frécon |first=Eric |date=28 March 2020 |title=Commentary: A cat-and-mouse game between pirates and Southeast Asian maritime security authorities |work=Channel News Asia}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Koh |first=Fabian |date=10 March 2021 |title=Regional maritime security requires international cooperation: Zaqy Mohamad |work=The Straits Times}}

The Maritime Security Task Force conducts annual exercises to drill whole-of-government responses to maritime incidents.{{Cite journal |last=Parameswaran |first=Prashanth |date=30 September 2016 |title=Singapore Hosts Military Exercise to Counter WMD Proliferation |journal=The Diplomat}}{{Cite news |last=Cheng |first=Kenneth |date=30 June 2017 |title=Across land, air and sea, SAF beefs up defences to fight terror |work=Today}} These include Exercise Highcrest and Exercise Apex.{{Cite news |last=Law |first=Francis Micah |date=5 November 2015 |title=Unmanned surface vessel featured at maritime security exercise |work=TYoday}}{{Cite news |last=Mahmud |first=Aqil Haziq |date=12 November 2021 |title=Singapore developing improved system to detect maritime threats 'as early and as far away' as possible |work=Channel News Asia}}{{Cite news |last=Yong |first=Clement |date=3 November 2020 |title=Inter-agency maritime security exercises held to ready Singapore's response to potential terrorist attacks |work=The Straits Times}}

{{Singapore Armed Forces}}

Category:Republic of Singapore Navy