1.0 Overview
1.1 The IONS Maritime Exercise 2025 - Table-Top Exercise was hosted by the Royal Thai Navy at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok from 28 July to 1 August 2025, with participation from 19 countries, including 13 IONS member states: Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and Thailand and 6 observer states: China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and Spain. A total of 80 participants took part in the exercise.
The main concept of the exercise was the Blue Economy, conducted under the theme of Silent Tide, with a scenario focused on Maritime Environmental Security in the Indian Ocean.
2.0 Objectives of the Exercise
- 2.1 To identify operational capability gaps within the Indian Ocean area of operations, which can serve as a basis for future training and co-operation.
- 2.2 To enhance participants' awareness of the importance of developing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities within the Indian Ocean region, particularly for the emerging threats, challenges, and obstacles that may hinder situational understanding in the area of operations.
- 2.3 To strengthen confidence-building and trust among IONS member states.
- 2.4 To expand co-operation within the Indian Ocean Region, increasing opportunities to broaden collaborative efforts among IONS member states and promoting long-term co-operation and mutual understanding.
3.0 Conduct and Control
3.1 The exercise was conducted and controlled by the Maritime Security Division, Office of Maritime Security Affairs, Naval Operations Department, Royal Thai Navy from 29 to 31 July 2025 using the IORIS platform provided through the EU's CRIMARIO project.
4.0 Pre-Exercise Lectures
Pre-exercise preparations included special lectures by subject-matter experts on topics relevant to the exercise, as follows:
- 4.1 A lecture on “The Blue Economy, Climate Change and Implications for Maritime Security” delivered by Dr. Dipinder Singh Randhawa, Senior Fellow, RSIS Singapore.
- 4.2 A lecture on “Law of the Sea & Ocean Governance: Legal Practice to approach the Contributions to Blue Economy Regimes” delivered by Asst. Prof. Dr. Nutcha Sukhawattanakun, Lecturer from Faculty of Law, Prince of Songkla University.
5.0 Participating Groups
The participants were divided into groups based on geographic areas, as follows:
- 5.1 Group 1- Northwestern Indian Ocean: India, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Russia.
- 5.2 Group 2- Northeastern Indian Ocean: Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, and Germany.
- 5.3 Group 3- Southeastern Indian Ocean: Australia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Italy, and Japan.
6.0 Exercise Scenarios
A ship-collision incident in the northwestern area of the Indian Ocean. The simulated scenario involves the following: On 29 July 2025 at 0800 hrs (Thailand time), the oil tanker MV MARIA CARA, carrying Crude oil, collided with a large passenger vessel approximately 500 nautical miles east of Muscat. The passenger vessel, while transiting the area, continued sailing despite having lost steering capability, and the impact occurred at the stern section of MV MARIA CARA, where the engine room is located. The collision resulted in a significant oil spill into the ocean and caused severe structural damage to MV MARIA CARA, leading to the vessel gradually sinking. The incident poses a potential threat of extensive environmental damage due to the oil leak. It was reported that two crew members of MV MARIA CARA were missing, and numerous personnel sustained injuries.
A ship-collision incident in the northeastern area of the Indian Ocean. The simulated scenario involves the following: On 29 July 2025 at 0800 hrs (Thailand time), the oil tanker MV NOTORIUS BV, carrying 16 foreign crew members, collided with a large passenger vessel approximately 250 nautical miles southeast of Port Blair, India. The passenger vessel, coming from Sri Lanka, continued sailing after the collision despite losing steering capability. The impact caused significant damage to the starboard stern of MV NOTORIUS BV, where the engine room is located, resulting in an oil spill into the sea. The tanker began to slowly sink due to structural damage. The incident resulted in numerous crew injuries, with two crew members reported missing, and urgent assistance was required.
A commercial aircraft disappeared in the area of eastern Indian Ocean. The simulated scenario is as follows: On 29 July 2025 at 0745 hrs (Thailand time), Flight PH742 of Pacific Horizon Airlines, a Boeing 787, en route from Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan (NRT) to Perth International Airport, Australia (PER), lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) while flying over the eastern Indian Ocean, approximately 350 nautical miles northwest of the Australian coast. The aircraft was carrying 267 passengers and 12 crew members. The last communication from the flight occurred at 2145 hrs (local time), when the pilots acknowledged instructions from Perth ATC to begin descent. Shortly afterward, the aircraft disappeared from radar, with a brief distress signal transmitted before it was lost entirely. At 0945 hrs (local time), Flight PH742 was located floating on the surface of the eastern Indian Ocean, approximately 318 nautical miles south of Bali Island. Multiple life rafts and survivors were observed around the aircraft. The fuselage appeared largely intact but was sinking rapidly. Immediate co-ordination was required for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and aircraft recovery.
7.0 Exercise Execution
The exercise was conducted in the form of a Table-Top Exercise (TTX) using the lORlS platform for communication and situational display at sea. Each participating country was tasked with designating ships and aircraft for the exercise, using references based on the vessels and aircraft currently in active service within their respective forces. Each group was assigned a country to act as a Virtual Regional Command Center (VRCC) to co-ordinate operations with other countries, integrate capabilities, and manage the evolving scenarios effectively. The countries serving as VRCCs for each group were: Pakistan for Group 1, India for Group 2, and Australia for Group 3. Each VRCC also led discussions on establishing co-ordinated courses of action with other participating countries within the assigned scenarios.
8.0 Result of the Exercise
The result of the exercise indicates that all groups were able to respond effectively to the given scenarios, including demonstrating well co-ordinated operations across the designated areas. The operational approaches of each group can serve as foundational input for the future development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to the TONS co-operative framework.
