New projects for straits safety, efficiency

AMID the expected sharp rise in traffic in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore Strait, the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) has embarked on new projects to keep pace with the developments.

These include acquiring the latest-generation Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) to gain better operational efficiency, beginning trials of a proposed signal for crossing the traffic separation scheme (TSS) and another demonstration project for Class B Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) for smaller vessels. This was said by MPA's assistant director, vessel traffic management, Kevin Wong, at the Singapore Shipping Association's Maritime Safety and Environment Protection seminar yesterday.

Other projects launched under the auspices of the so-called Cooperative Mechanism on navigational safety and environmental protection in the straits include the replacement and maintenance of navigation aids in the TSS, replacement of navigation aids destroyed by the 2004 Asian tsunami and developing a wind, tide and current measurement system among others.

However, while some of these projects have found support and sponsors from various countries, the question that was asked and only partially satisfactorily answered was who is going to pay for all the work that needs to be done? Various organisations such as Japan's Nippon Foundation and the Middle East Navigational Aids Service have started the ball rolling with some very generous contributions, but the expectation is that shipowners will start to contribute as well in the future.

The straits' littoral states cannot be expected to contribute much because despite the high expenses that will arise, they may not all derive the same benefits. Amid the less than enthusiastic response however, the concern is that if they do not take up the slack in future, even these organisations might grow weary of continuing to carry the burden of these critical functions.

The Singapore Strait is already one of the world's busiest sea lanes that sees a third of the world's trade and half of its oil being shipped through it. Last year alone, 50,000 vessels passed through it in addition to the 128,568 vessels that called at the port of Singapore.

The other element of maritime safety in the straits that was covered at the seminar was the topic of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. The situation has improved significantly but ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) executive director Yoshiaki Ito quipped: 'Taking the advice of the Singapore Police Force, I would advise ships' masters to still be alert because low piracy does not mean no piracy.'

Turning to the situation in the Gulf of Aden, Mr Ito added that Asian countries are already starting to share information about incidents taking place there because although it is not strictly within the ISC's mandate, it is still a continuation of the trade lane that goes through South-east Asia.

He also noted that there is a need for greater cooperation between ISC and the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau but there are some complications arising from different definitions in incident reporting.