SEACAT is a multilateral train designed to reinforce cooperation amongst Southeast Asian international locations and supply mutual help and a standard aim to deal with crises, contingencies, and unlawful actions within the maritime area utilizing standardized techniques, strategies, and procedures. In a welcome return to normalcy, SEACAT 2022 was a full-scale, in-person train following primarily digital engagements and non-contact sea phases the earlier two years.
“These previous two weeks have reiterated what we already knew – our nations and maritime forces are smarter and stronger after we share data and work collectively.” mentioned Capt. Tom Ogden, commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. “The in-person, multilateral collaboration exhibited in SEACAT has undoubtedly enhanced {our relationships} and promoted maritime safety throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
Twenty-one companion nations participated within the train, together with Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.
Ashore, SEACAT included a Maritime Area Consciousness (MDA) seminar that featured shows, dwell query and reply periods, panel discussions, and interactive, small group breakout periods with representatives from all collaborating nations in addition to worldwide organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academia.
“The experience introduced by the collaborating worldwide and non-governmental organizations was invaluable and supplied life like context to our multinational maritime train,” mentioned Ogden.
Non-military contributors included members of EU Essential Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), Worldwide Prison Police Group (INTERPOL), Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research (IISS), Lee Kuan Yew Faculty of Public Coverage, Nationwide College Singapore (LKYSPP NUS), The Pew Charitable Trusts, Threat Intelligence, S. Rajaratnam Faculty of Worldwide Research (RSIS), Secure Seas, and United Nations Workplace of Medication and Crime (UNODC).
The shore part additionally concerned an Unmanned Aerial Techniques (UAS) workshop that introduced collectively UAS applications throughout the area to share finest practices in UAS employment, planning and operations to develop and enhance MDA.
“This joint train introduced distinctive coaching alternatives for worldwide data sharing and bolstered the trusted partnerships between all nations concerned,” mentioned Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Coast Guard Pacific Space commander. “Maritime Area Consciousness, which incorporates precious enter, collaboration and unity of effort from all companions, is vital to maritime governance and safety within the area.”
The ocean part included boarding operations by a number of nations throughout the contracted vessel designed to supply coaching alternatives in real-world at-sea environments. U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety Response Group (USCG MSRT) embarked the vessel and facilitated contributors’ interdictions and boardings, constructing on abilities practiced throughout the shore part Go to, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) workshop.
Operating concurrently with the ocean part, a command submit train at Singapore’s Data Fusion Middle served as a centralized hub for data sharing within the monitoring of the contracted service provider vessel simulating suspicious vessels of curiosity in seas all through Southeast Asia.
“Because the twenty first iteration of the SEACAT train sequence, 2022 underscores the longstanding function of SEACAT as a key venue for regional allies and companions to deal with shared maritime safety priorities and considerations,” mentioned Ogden. “We look ahead to following up SEACAT with routine cooperation day-to-day, after which elevated complexity and collaboration after we meet once more for SEACAT 2023.”
U.S. Navy contributors included employees from DESRON 7, P-8A Poseidon plane assigned to Activity Pressure 72, and personnel from Activity Pressure 76, U.S. seventh Fleet, and U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Because the U.S. Navy’s destroyer squadron forward-deployed in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the first tactical and operational commander of littoral fight ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7’s Sea Fight Commander, and builds partnerships by coaching workouts and military-to-military engagements.
Beneath Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, seventh Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific area.
