Singapore Navy Ship RSS Tenacious Arrives in Visakhapatnam for SIMBEX 2023
The Singapore Navy Ship RSS Tenacious, along with an embarked helicopter, has arrived in Visakhapatnam to participate in the 31st Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX). This exercise is taking place from October 23-29 at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
Exercise Phases
The exercise is divided into two phases: the Harbour Phase from October 23-25 in Visakhapatnam, and the Sea Phase from October 28-29 in the Bay of Bengal. The Harbour Phase includes Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sail briefings. The Sea Phase will feature advanced naval drills such as live weapon firings, anti-submarine warfare training, and tactical maneuvers.
Strengthening Ties
The Ministry of Defence stated that this year’s SIMBEX aims to enhance the strategic partnership between India and Singapore by improving interoperability and maritime domain awareness. SIMBEX, which started as ‘Exercise Lion King’ in 1994, has become a key collaboration between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy.
Recent Developments
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Singapore, India and Singapore elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. PM Modi and Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong discussed bilateral relations and exchanged four MoUs in digital technology, semiconductors, skill development, and healthcare. PM Modi invited PM Wong to visit India, which he accepted.
Doubts Revealed
RSS Tenacious -: RSS Tenacious is a ship that belongs to the Singapore Navy. ‘RSS’ stands for ‘Republic of Singapore Ship’, which is a prefix used for ships in the Singapore Navy.
Visakhapatnam -: Visakhapatnam is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the eastern coast of India and is known for its beautiful beaches and naval base.
SIMBEX 2023 -: SIMBEX stands for Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise. It is a joint naval exercise between the navies of Singapore and India, held annually to improve cooperation and skills.
Harbour Phase -: The Harbour Phase is the part of the naval exercise that takes place at the port. During this phase, ships are docked, and activities like planning and training are conducted on land.
Sea Phase -: The Sea Phase is the part of the naval exercise that takes place in the open sea. During this phase, ships perform various naval drills and maneuvers to practice and improve their skills.
Bay of Bengal -: The Bay of Bengal is a large body of water in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership -: A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a strong and deep relationship between two countries. It involves cooperation in many areas like defense, trade, and technology.
MoUs -: MoUs stands for Memorandums of Understanding. These are agreements between two or more parties, often countries, to work together on certain projects or issues.