Malaysia, Singapore Partner On Sub-Surface Maritime Issues

MALAYSIA and Singapore today agreed to partner on building up the Submarine Emergency Escape and Rescue (SMER) capabilities between both countries. Signed by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Chief Rear Admiral Sean Wat and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Chief Admiral Zulhelmy Ithnain, the agreement was finalised during the introductory visit of Singapore’s newly-minted defence minister Chan Chun Sing to Malaysia, calling on his counterpart Khaled Nordin at the Ministry of Defence in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

The “Arrangement for Mutual Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation would see both sides offer mutual support and assistance should either side have submarine-related incidents. Furthermore, it designates the RMN Submarine Force Command and RSN as the main agencies responsible for the supervision and implementation of the initiative while the National Rescue Coordinators from both countries will also be appointed to ensure smooth communication and operational implementation.

An RMN statement said, “The operational coverage areas have also been identified to include key waters such as the South China Sea, the Singapore Strait, and the Malacca Strait… this will ensure that rescue capabilities can be implemented in important maritime routes for regional security and international trade,” according to the statement.

Both ministers had also discussed developments in regional security and bilateral cooperation in regional multilateral platforms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), ADMM-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

Minister Khaled added that among the topics discussed was the security of critical undersea infrastructure between the two nations, saying the issue was identified as one that requires focused attention and efforts to secure marine infrastructure, which connects countries in terms of energy supply and other critical matters. If left unaddressed, it could pose security risks for us.”

The RSN operates two Invincible-class submarines, RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable which were commissioned last September, attaining full operational capability while the fourth and third vessels, Illustrious and Inimitable are currently progressing well in trials and acceptance. They are expected to arrive in Singapore by 2028. The RSN also operates two Archer-class submarines, RSS Archer and RSS Swordsman which were transferred from the Swedish Navy.

Singapore also decided in May to purchase two more Invincible submarines produced by German firm
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tKMS), giving the RSN a sub-surface fleet of 6 submarines once the fifth and sixth submarines are delivered from 2034 onwards.

Meanwhile, the RMN operates two Scorpene Prime Minister-class submarines, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Abdul Razak. The Malaysian government previously had plans to purchase two more submarines in 2023, with the procurement split to one submarine in the 14th and 15th Malaysia Plans respectively.

In 2021, the Indonesian Navy’s Cakra-class submarine KRI Nanggala was lost off the coast of Bali while conducting torpedo drills, with 53 crew lost. After an international rescue effort comprising Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, American, Australian and Indian forces, KRI Nanggala was found split into three pieces. Both the RMN and RSN deployed their respective submarine rescue ships, the MV Mega Bakti and MV Swift Rescue respectively.–shp/adj/dl (Pix:ADJ,RSN, RMN)