Puerto Princesa City – The Philippine Navy, through the Naval Forces West, participated in the Maritime Training Activity Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (MTA SEACAT) 2023 which was held from 15 – 25 August 2023.
MTA SEACAT is a scenario-driven fleet training hosted by the U.S. 7th Fleet involving the use of the Singapore International Fusion Center and Multinational Operations and Exercise Center at Changi Singapore, focuses on real-time information exchange, coordinated surveillance operations, tracking, and eventual conduct of Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) to the designated maritime Vessel of Interest (VOI).
According to Navy Information Office chief Commander Benjo Negranza, this year’s SEACAT training consisted of shore events in Changi, Singapore, and At-Sea phase in different Southeast Asian countries.
The objective of this training was to enhance cooperation among participating countries and provide mutual support and a common goal to address crises, contingencies, and illegal activities in the maritime domain using standard tactics, techniques, and procedures, Negranza explained.
Naval Forces West took part in the exercise through the participation of its OPCON units together with TACON units under JTF-Malampaya in At-Sea events and was led by the Deputy Commander for Fleet Operations Navy Captain Charles Merric A Villanueva PN(GSC), who is also the Commander of Naval Task Force – 41, as the designated Exercise Director.
The exercise events in the NFW Area of Operations took place on the 25th of August, Friday at the vicinity waters of El Nido, Palawan, and were facilitated and monitored through the activation of Battle Staff led by the Exercise Director aboard NFW Operations Center as the Exercise Directorate Headquarters.
The events comprised the Capability Demonstration of involved units in the following scenarios: Maritime Air Surveillance / Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance conducted by NV312 aircraft that gathered the VOI information; the Maritime Interdiction Operations and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) conducted by the 2nd Boat Attack Division and the SEAL Team of NAVSOU4; and the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through AIS feed of the VOI monitored from LMS-Lalutaya and the live feed of the VOI provided by the MUARS71 ScanEagle. Reports for SEACAT Exercise 2023 were received by the NFW representative, Lieutenant Commander Rex Ryan C Daclan PN in Changi, Singapore.
MTA SEACAT 2023 concluded with a developed capability and trust among participating countries to cooperate and provide mutual support in the maritime domain and have equipped PN personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve the PN’s vision to be a “modern and multi-capable Philippine Navy.
