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A FIRE on board a cruise ship sets the scenario for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's first massive maritime evacuation exercise on Friday - one which Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said would also test how the authorities deal with a terrorist attack on ships around the coastline.
The exercise, Northstar VI, began shortly before 11am when plumes of smoke rose from cruise ship SuperStar Aquarius some 3km off the eastern coastline.
The evacuation exercise involved 12 agencies including the MPA, police, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
It saw MPA fire-fighting tug boats circling the cruise ship to put out the fire and numerous private ferry operators pitching in to evacuate 1000 'passengers' on board the ship.
Speaking to reporters after witnessing the rescue and fire-fighting efforts, DPM Wong said Northstar VI was an example of 'how we can prepare ourself to deal with major shipboard disasters'.
What was important was that the exercise also allowed the various agencies to test themselves on their plans in case of a 'major' terrorist attack of this nature.
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