The 2024 Regional Maritime Security Practitioner’s Programme (RMPP) was held from 22 to 26 July 2024 in Changi Naval Base. The event, co-organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), discussed fundamental concepts of maritime security and the international maritime law, taking first-hand accounts of the RMPP’s participants into practice, together with theoretical and conceptual aspects offered by RMPP’s facilitators and subject matter experts. Overall, the event brought together 141 participants from 31 countries representing navies, maritime law enforcement agencies, coastguards, and commercial shipping and business communities.
The event provided a platform for participants and facilitators to interact and exchange views on fundamental maritime security issues that impacted their day-to-day operations, allowing them to mull over best practices to mitigate maritime security issues in their respective maritime domains. The week-long programme covered various topics such as the Law of the Sea, cyber security, dark shipping, and other maritime security matters.
Participants were inducted into classroom-style lectures and presentations from subject matter experts, and undertook syndicate group discussions on several topics that were presented by the experts. To facilitate networking and interaction, the programme organised experiential learning through visits to the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) Headquarters – Brani, the Singapore Navy Museum, the Singapore Maritime Gallery, and the Pacific International Lines (PIL) shipping company.
Participants also had the opportunity to interact with senior flag officers during the Senior Commanders’ Dialogue session. The session saw senior officers providing their first-hand account of their experience in their respective offices, and the path they took to reach their current position.
All in all, the programme provided a space for professional maritime security practitioners to enhance their acknowledgment of maritime security, and to avail to them the space to interact with counterparts from various sectors to exchange ideas, build confidence, friendships, and opportunities to espouse more collaborative activities among the international maritime security community.
