Posted on 05 September 2007

 

Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have come up with a Co-operative Mechanism to ensure navigational safety and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This was decided at a meeting in Singapore attended by participants from the three countries.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar said the Mechanism needs to provide a transparent and inclusive platform for dialogue with all interested stakeholders.

About a third of global trade and half of the world's oil flows through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, visibly one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim said: "Where shipping is concerned, we cannot over emphasise the importance of international co-operation. The littoral states, user states, international and industry organisations all have a part to play in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

"Our common interest lies in ensuring that the Straits remain safe, open and secure for shipping."

According to an international study, in about 13 years' time, nearly 20 million barrels of oil are expected to pass through the Straits of Malacca.

Given the sheer volume and traffic, Professor Jayakumar said it is a constant challenge to the littoral states to ensure the navigational safety, environmental protection and maritime security for shipping in the Malacca Straits.

"Congestion and accidents in the Straits can cause major delays, with significant negative repercussions to the whole supply chain and the coastal and marine environment of the three littoral states. The threat does not come from navigational risks alone. These Straits have traditionally had a high incidence of armed robberies at sea," said Prof Jayakumar.

The piracy situation, which worsened after the Asian Financial crisis in 1997, has since improved.

Indonesia's Transportation Minister Jusman Syafil Djamal, said: "Piracy is going down compared to the year before. The co-operation between Singapore and Indonesia, and Indonesia and Malaysia should be maintained to reduce piracy. We hope we can maintain that by having good co-operation with our security forces."

Adding more teeth to the security of the Straits will be the new Co-operative Mechanism developed by the three littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

It will allow users of the Straits to exchange views, jointly undertake projects or even make direct monetary contributions to the Aids to Navigation Fund.

Six projects have so far been identified, among them the removal of wrecks in the Straits, co-operation in capacity building to deal with accidents involving hazardous and noxious substances, and replacing aids to navigation along the Sumatran coastal areas, which were destroyed as a result of the tsunami.

Participation of user states and stakeholders in this mechanism is voluntary.

Prof Jayakumar said: "Japan has made regular and significant contributions through the Malacca Straits Council, which is supported by the Japanese Government and the Japanese maritime community. They have contributed generously over the past 35 years, having expended nearly US$130 million on improving navigational safety in the Straits. They also helped to set up the Revolving Fund in 1981 to deal with oil pollution in the Straits.

"However, we now have a much broader range of stakeholders with different interests, concerns, expertise and capabilities. The Co-operative Mechanism is therefore necessary to provide a transparent, open and inclusive platform for dialogue with all interested stakeholders.

Through its Co-operation Forum, littoral states could spell out their needs and interests. On their part, user states and other stakeholders can consider areas where they can lend support, provide capacity building and functional co-operation through the projects, or contribute monetarily to the Aids to Navigation Fund, all on a voluntary basis. The key is to build on the areas of convergences on which we can develop mutually beneficial outcomes."

Secretary-General of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Efthimios Mitropoulos, said: "The time has now come for the IMO to act as a liaison with stakeholders who may, through voluntary contributions, assist in the implementation of the identified projects."

Countries like the United States, Japan and China are already taking part in some joint projects and the Singapore meeting hopes to get more users to play their part in making the Straits safer and more secure.

Channel News Asia, September 4, 2007

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