Singapore and Thailand Navies in Bilateral Naval Exercise

COL Giam Hock Koon and CAPT Kosit Cheamsuphakit officiating at the opening ceremony of Exercise Singsiam 2010 at Changi Naval Base. Behind them is the frigate RSS Steadfast which is participating in the exercise.

21 September 2010 -- The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) are participating in a bilateral naval exercise, code-named Singsiam from 20 to 29 Sep 2010. The opening ceremony was officiated by Colonel Giam Hock Koon, Commanding Officer of the RSN's 185 Squadron, and the Chief of Staff Frigate Squadron 2 of the RTN, Captain Kosit Cheamsuphakit, at Changi Naval Base yesterday.

Hosted by the RSN, this year's exercise started with a shore phase at Changi Naval Base and a sea phase that will be conducted in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. The RSN is participating in the exercise with frigate RSS Steadfast, missile corvette RSS Valour and patrol vessel RSS Resilience. The RTN is represented by helicopter carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet for the first time, frigate HTMS Taksin and three S-70B naval helicopters.

RSN personnel working together with their counterparts from the RTN on details of the sea phase.

The biennial naval exercise, which is the 16th in the series by the two navies, has expanded in scope and complexity over the years. It has evolved from conventional naval warfare exercises to exercises incorporating maritime security scenarios. Exercise Singsiam serves to enhance interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies. The exercise also underscores the warm and longstanding defence ties between the Singapore Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

MINDEF