Shipping Engagement
IFC recognises that maritime security is a shared responsibility and takes a proactive approach to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation with the shipping community.
IFC partners closely with the shipping industry leadership to raise maritime security awareness,
provide recommendations and strengthen collaboration between regional authorities and the shipping community.
IFC appointed Mr Michael Phoon, Executive Director of Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) as IFC Shipping Industry
Advisor to support IFC by bridging communication with the global shipping community, providing expertise in merchant
vessel operations and enhancing regional maritime security. IFC and SSA regularly co-organise the Shared Awareness
Meetings to reach out to a wider audience from the shipping community. SSA also invites IFC to co-chair their quarterly
Maritime Safety & Security Sub-Committee meetings to discuss matters directly affecting maritime safety and security.
Appointment ceremony for IFC Shipping Industry Advisor, Mr Michael Phoon during 36th SAM on 24 November 2020
SSA Council Members visit to IFC on 17 January 2020
IFC also works with industry leaders and other stakeholders to support and/or co-produce guidebooks and provide recommendations for ships transiting in the region.
Guidebooks and publications produced in collaboration with international MARSEC partners and shipping industry leaders
IFC conducts SAM tri-annually, bringing together military, law enforcement agencies and the shipping community to discuss maritime security issues.
First IFC-SSA co-organised 34th SAM on 10 October 2019
38th virtual SAM conducted on 8 July 2021
IFC organises dedicated discussion with shipping companies within the same sub-industry to discuss in-depth maritime security concerns.
Focus Group Discussion with INTERCARGO and their members on 25 November 2021
IFC conducts regular visits to shipping companies and associations to provide situational updates and
recommendations, and discuss maritime security issues.
Virtual TTV with BIMCO on 25 August 2021
TTV to Cosco Shipping Tanker (Singapore) Pte Ltd on 28 June 2019
IFC conducts visits onboard merchant ships to engage the ship master to address maritime security issues on
the ground and provide situational updates and recommendations.
Ship Visit on board cruise ship Royal Princess on 9 December 2021
Ship Visit on board Chevron LNG Tanker on 29 January 2020
IFC participates in security drills to help ships and company security officers (CSOs) to strengthen their
info-sharing processes, build new linkages and provide suggestions to improve current security measures.
IFC’s participation in Teekay’s annual security exercise was a great value addition and highly informative. Recommendations provided to improve security measures onboard for early detection and mitigation of maritime threats as per drill scenario were practical and actionable. IFC has been at the forefront of providing actionable information to cue responses by MARSEC agencies to deal with the full range of MARSEC threats and incidents. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and working closely with IFC in the future.
PIL is happy to have worked with IFC on this maritime security exercise, as such exercises are vital in ensuring that our crew is ready to deal with difficult security situations at sea
IFC participated in a company security drill and a follow-up discussion session with Teekay Tankers on 30 November 2021
Photo credits: Teekay Tankers
IFC participated in a company security drill with PIL in September 2021
Photo credits: PIL
IFC conducts capacity-building activities to strengthen MARSEC awareness and actively promotes info-sharing processes
in the region. The shipping industry are invited to some of these activities such as the Maritime Information Sharing
Exercise (MARISX), Regional MARSEC Practitioner Programme (RMPP) and IFC MARSEC Webinars to share different
perspectives, strengthen linkages and info-sharing processes with the military and law enforcement participants. In
addition, IFC works together with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) to invite selected shipping
partners to attend topics that are relevant.
IFC shipping partners and ILOs attended the United Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) workshop co-organised by IFC and RSIS
Collaboration between MSI Ship Management, military and law enforcement participants during a table top exercise in the 7th MARISX from 27 to 29 July 2021
Participants of the IFC MARSEC Webinar attending the virtual 36th SAM on 24 November 2020
Discussion between participants from the military, law enforcement and shipping industry during MARISX 2019 from 13 to 15 May 2019
Ships operating in IFC’s Area of Interest are encouraged to report their positions, occurrences of maritime security
incidents or anomalous behaviours to the IFC. This includes cyber attack incidents and any interference that is observed on RF, GPS, and radars.
In return, IFC provides MARSEC advisories and alerts to the reporting ships.
The IFC has partnered with the UK Hydrographic Office to develop Maritime Security Charts Q6112 and Q6113 which to establish the reporting
procedures. The IFC has expanded the VCR area to be consistent with IFC’s Area of Interest which has grown with more International Liaison
Officers joining the IFC. The new VCR area will be reflected in future updates of the MARSEC charts Q6112 and Q6113.
Please click here for details of the VCR.
IFC Voluntary Community Reporting (VCR) Area
Over the years, IFC has received timely reports of maritime security incidents from the shipping industry. This has allowed IFC and the
relevant authorities to quickly react and cue operational responses leading to the successful capture of the perpetrators.
Case Study 1: In January 2020, IFC was alerted by the tug master that five perpetrators boarded the tugboat to steal scrap metal along the
eastbound lane of the Singapore Strait. Through the real-time updates provided by the tug master, IFC shared the incident with the
Indonesian Navy, leading to the subsequent capture of the theft syndicate on land.
IFC provided actionable information to the Indonesian Navy which led to the capture of the theft syndicate on land
Case Study 2: The ship master immediately alerted IFC of a sea robbery incident while it was transiting through
the Indonesian waters in March 2020. IFC subsequently informed the Indonesian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy,
which enabled both agencies to coordinate responses leading to the eventual arrest of the perpetrators.
IFC cued both the Indonesian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy for ops coordination which eventually led to the arrest of the perpetrators
IFC has produced a set of bridge card for use on board merchant vessels transiting in IFC’s Area of Interest. The card is intended to provide a
quick reference for ship crew on IFC recommended measures when transiting hotspot areas.
Please click here to download a copy of the IFC bridge card.
IFC Bridge Card (Front)
IFC Bridge Card (Back)
Shipping Engagement Structure