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Malaysia, Singapore Boardings Wrap Up Anti-Terrorism Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070821-24
Release Date: 8/21/2007 3:13:00 PM

By Edward Baxter, Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism Task Group Public Affairs

ABOARD USNS 1ST LT. BALDOMERO LOPEZ, At Sea (NNS) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy, the Republic of Singapore Navy and Coastal Police boarding teams concluded their search of the USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez (T-AK 3010) Aug. 19 and 20 as part of Exercise Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) in the Strait of Malacca.

Lopez was playing the role of a suspicious merchant vessel during SEACAT, a weeklong at-sea exercise designed to highlight the value of information sharing and multinational coordination within a scenario that gives participating navies practical maritime interception training opportunities.

Naval forces from Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia participated and Indonesia sent liaison officers to observe the exercise.

After the "arrest" of an alleged pirate aboard Lopez, Thailand advised Malaysian authorities to continue to track Lopez as the ship transited the narrow Strait of Malacca. Malaysian forces decided to board the ship and search for "smuggled" weapons.

With its “Lynx” helicopter hovering near Lopez’s flight deck, the Royal Malaysian frigate KD Jebat (FFG 29) deployed a team by small boat, boarding Lopez just off the Malaysian coast. The team secured the bridge and engine room and questioned the master about the ship’s cargo, last port of call and destination. The Malaysian team released Lopez but notified Singapore’s navy to continue to monitor Lopez.

“Terrorism is a major concern for every nation participating in SEACAT and the exercise means we can network and learn to share information,” said Royal Thai Navy Lt. Surasak Inprom, liaison officer embarked aboard Lopez. “Last year, we learned the very basics in terms of boarding operations, but this year’s exercise is far more advanced.”

Just after sunrise on Aug. 20, an eight-man team from the Republic of Singapore Navy and Coastal Police boarded Lopez by commercial pilot boat, as Singapore’s naval patrol craft RSS Dauntless circled Lopez. Once on board, teams fanned out quickly over the main deck. Other team members secured the bridge and engine room and checked the ship’s documents.

Next, U.S. Coast Guard team members from the Maritime Safety and Security Team (91107), Honolulu, assembled the team in the ship’s crew lounge, advising them that Lopez’s crew members were present, except one who could not be located.

The boarding team searched the ship’s living accommodations, finding the missing crew member sleeping in his rack. The crew member was questioned and was later confirmed to be a member of the crew.

Afterward, the Singapore boarding team and U.S. Coast Guard team members discussed what the team did well and how they could improve.

“The Singapore navy team was very systematic in their approach and asked some very good questions during the search,” said U.S. Coast Guard Electronics Technician 1st Class Dustin McAninich.

“We look at how other navies conduct their boarding operations, and pass that information back out commanders,” said Singapore Navy Capt. Ivan Chua, a liaison officer embarked aboard Lopez. “SEACAT is an excellent opportunity to share information and learn from each other.”

As the Singapore forces left the ship, Lopez wrapped up its participation in this year’s exercise.

“The merchant mariners aboard this ship are proud to serve with our forces, and with multi-national forces in an exercise designed to protect our nation and others from terrorism,” said Lopez’s master Capt. John Waters.

For more news from Commander Task Force 73, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/clwp/.