SINGAPORE AND THAILAND CONDUCT BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE
1. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) will be conducting a bilateral naval exercise, code-named Exercise Singsiam from 12 to 20 Jul 2006. RSN Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Tan Kai Hoe was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony at Changi Naval Base today.
2. This year’s Exercise Singsiam, which is hosted by the RSN, is the fourteenth in the series of such exercises between the two navies. Three RSN ships, RSS Vengeance, RSS Sea Tiger and RSS Dauntless, as well as two RTN ships, HTMS Witthayakhom and HTMS Chon Buri, will participate in the exercise. The exercise comprises a sea phase and two shore phases to be conducted at Changi Naval Base and Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand. Exercise Singsiam will end with a closing ceremony jointly officiated by Rear Admiral Tan Kai Hoe and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Fleet Admiral Nopporn Ajavakom at Sattahip Naval Base.
3. Since its inauguration in 1981, the biennial Exercise Singsiam has expanded in scope and complexity over the years, evolving from conventional naval warfare exercises to incorporating maritime security exercises. This year’s Exercise Singsiam will also incorporate a maritime surveillance and tracking exercise for the first time. Exercise Singsiam serves to enhance interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies, and underscores the close and longstanding defence ties between the Singapore Armed Forces and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
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