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Asia’s struggle to strengthen anti-piracy network
An information sharing agency to combat piracy in Asia was launched last Wednesday amidst warnings that the need to ensure the safety and security of key shipping lanes will intensify. ‘‘There is no room for complacency,’’ Singapore’s transport minister Raymond Lim said at the in augural meeting of the new inter-governmental four teen member governing council. Ensuring the safety and security of key shipping lanes, particularly the Singapore and Malacca straits, ‘‘will intensify as the global security landscape evolves and becomes more complex’’. The 14 countries which took part in the in augural meeting included Japan, Singapore, Thailand, India, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Brunei, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Conspicuously absent were representatives from Malaysia and Indonesia. The two have not ratified the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), raising concerns over the effectiveness of the information sharing network. The two littoral states, which havethe strongest views on territorial sovereignty regarding the Malacca Strait, are said by analysts to have doubts about the way the centre will operate. Initiated by former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2001, ‘‘ReCAAP marks the first time in which regional governments have come together in a concerted effort to establish a formalised platform to tackle the problem of piracy in Asia,’’ Lim said. Noting the number of piracy attacks in Asia for the first nine months of this year dropped to 106, a 17-per cent decline from the same period last year, Lim still called for strengthened inter-governmental cooperation ‘‘given the transnational nature and growing sophistication of piracy attacks’’. Yoshiaki Ito, minister at Japan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, was named head of the US$1.4-million centre. The facility was formed to collect dataon attacks andmake the information immediately available on a secure network. The Malacca Strait, one the world’s busiest water ways with 50,000 vessels passing through it annually, is a major concern, but not the only one. Fuelled by the strong growth of China and India and the revival of the Japanese economy, Lim said the centre of gravity in world trade has shifted to Asia, with the region accounting for more than a quarter of the trade in value. ‘‘Asia now hosts eight of the top 10 ports in the world by cargo tonnage,’’ he said. The 24-hour secure web based information network forms the backbone of the network. Coast guards or maritime authorities in each member country will act as points of contact. The centre will also conduct analysis of the piracy situation in Asia and support efforts among countries to improve national responses. © 2006 The Brunei Times.
Cooperation reduces crimes at border with Philippines
Sandakan - Malaysia will continue to foster mutual co-operation with the Philippines towards making their common border a safe place against criminal maritime activities. First Admiral Mohd Rashid Harun, of the Royal Malaysian Navy, said such co-operation had reduced criminal activities on both sides of the border. He said this at the closing of the PHIMAL 12B/2006 Operations involving Malaysian and Philippine maritime agencies at the Royal Malaysian Navy base, KD Sri Sandakan, here. During the exercise, the Malaysian maritime authorities inspected 68 vessels in the Malaysian territorial waters, resulting in seven arrests by the Maritime Enforcement Agency (APM) for offences under the Malaysian Fisheries Act, he said. Mohd Rashid is also Maritime Enforcement and Co-ordination Centre Director and Chairman of the Border Patrol Co-ordinating Group (BPCG). The annual exercise was launched on Nov 20 at the Philippine naval base of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, in Zamboanga, by Commander Lt-Gen Eugenio V Cedo, who is also Philippine BPCG Chairman. The Malaysia-Philippine BPCG was established in 1995 to combat robberies at sea, smuggling, drug trafficking, intrusion of illegal immigrants and various criminal activities at the common border of the respective territorial waters, particularly in the East Sabah region. The PHIMAL 12B/2006 exercise involved 250 officers and personnel from all sections of the Malaysian armed forces and maritime enforcement agencies, including seven patrol boats and two aircraft. The Philippine team had 200 officers and personnel, drawn from the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Police, as well as three naval vessels and five aircraft. © Daily Express, Sabah, Malaysia.
Keeping Malacca Straits safe by Azlan Abu Bakar
The Straits of Malacca has been one of the world's most important sea routes since it was discovered back in the sixth century. Being the shortest waterway to cross over from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, it became an important passage for traders from places such as the Middle East, Eygpt, Africa, Turkey, Persia and India to travel and sell their goods to other parts of the world, including China and East Asia. Once known as the Spice Route, the Straits of Malacca is now one of the major sea routes and heavily travelled shipping channels in the world. The strait runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand to the east and covers an area of 65,000 sq km. It is funnel-shaped, measuring 800km in length, with a width of only 65km in the south that broadens northward to 249km between Sabang and the Kra Isthmus. From an economic and strategic perspective, more than 60,000 vessels pass through the strait per year, carrying between one-fifth and one-quarter of the world's sea trade and linking three of the world's most populous nations, namely India, Indonesia and China. "Half of the world's oil shipments carried by sea passes through the Straits of Malacca at an estimated capacity of 14 million barrels a day. "This makes up 80 per cent of Japan and China's energy requirements," maritime expert Jean Paul Rodrigues said in his paper titled "Straits, Passages and Chokepoints". He also noted that nearly half of the largest container shipping lanes and 18 of the world's top container ports in the world are based in Asian countries, namely South Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong. These countries collectively own 30.05 per cent of the total world shipping tonnage, or equivalent to 201,645 deadweight tonnage (DWT). A Maritime Department of Malaysia official told Business Times that in 1993, Japanese interests owned 27.6 per cent of the tonnage passing the strait, four times more than any other nation. Greece was second (6.5 per cent tonnage) and the US third (6.2 per cent). "However, these data have changed with the emergence of China as a main user of the strait, together with Taiwan and South Korea," he said. The official said 62,621 ships were reported in the Straits of Malacca last year compared with 43,964 ships in 1999, representing an increase of almost 42 per cent in six years. He said the data was based on the Vessel Traffic Reporting System with the capture vessels passing through the area. At the same time, there are 14,646 Malaysian- registered fishing vessels in the strait, and this number does not include Indonesian fishing vessels, he added. All these factors have caused the area to become a target for piracy and a perceived target for terrorism. Piracy has been a considerable problem in the area in recent years, rising from around 25 attacks in 1994 to 75 cases in 2000. A total of 37 cases were reported in 2004, up from 28 in the previous year. In 2005, the number of cases fell significantly to 12; and up to June this year, only six cases were reported. In response to the crisis, Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean navies have stepped up their patrols in the area. "The security situation in the Straits of Malacca has always been a matter of concern. For centuries, it has been a haven for pirates. "It is a narrow waterway - just 1.5 miles (2.4km) wide at its narrowest point. Choking the strait by blowing up a ship would not be difficult," said an analyst of the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) in an e-mail. He said the strait's shallow reefs, innumerable islets and the slow movement of ships - thanks to the heavy traffic in the waterway - provide the perfect environment for pirates and terrorists to operate, making it a tempting target. The IAGS analyst said fears of terrorism rest on the possibility that a large ship could be pirated and sunk at a shallow point in the strait (it is just 25 metre deep at its shallowest part), effectively blocking the waterway. "If successfully achieved, the attack would have a devastating effect on world trade. Opinions among security specialists differ about the feasibility and likelihood of such an attack," he said. He said that another shipping risk in the strait is the yearly haze that persists due to raging bush fires in Sumatra. The haze can literally choke shipping by reducing visibility to as little as 200 metres, making navigation in such a narrow and busy trade route hazardous. There is also the perceived risk that terrorists or pirates could, under the cover of the haze, take advantage to launch their attacks. The piracy and terrorist threats to the Straits of Malacca topped the agenda at a high-level security conference in Singapore, which saw a narrowing of the gap between the positions of the US and Singapore on the one hand and Malaysia and Indonesia on the other, with regard to measures to step up security in the waterway. While Singapore embraced the initiative of involving the US navy, Malaysia and Indonesia rejected the proposal as an infringement of their sovereignty. They have, however, signalled interest in cooperating with Washington on certain issues to enhance maritime security in this strategic waterway. A terrorist strike in the 805km-long strait would severely dislocate world trade for months. Closure of the strait in the event of a terrorist attack would require ships to travel an additional 1,599km from the Gulf, resulting in sharp increases in freight rates. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
Kenya: KPA woos Malaysia by Patrick Beja
Nairobi - The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has again cast its net wide in Asia for technology and expertise necessary to lift the operational standards at the Mombasa port. The latest strategy is twinning with one of the six high-performing ports in Asia - Port Klang in Malaysia. After a year of talks, Mombasa port finally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian port last Monday. Two years ago, KPA was in China where it bought its key cargo handling cranes worth about Sh2 billion. The cranes were recently praised for their performance of 1000 moves per 24 hours at Mombasa port. The deal signed between KPA chief executive officer, Mr Abdallah Mwaruwa, and Port Klang general manager, Ms Datin Paduka Phang, will see Mombasa port raise its cargo handling profile, marine projects and technology. In the MoU, the two ports agreed to mutual assistance in port studies, training, exchange of information, technical assistance, traffic development and promotion of services. Other areas are port planning, information technology, environment, safety, organisation and operation of vessel traffic management systems (VTMS) in the port. Mwaruwa said the new co-operation would be key to Kenya's economic growth. Phang added that Malaysia decided to enhance co-operation with Mombasa port in its bid to promote business between Asia and East Africa. "This is part of Malaysia's south-to-south co-operation and is meant to boost the business volume between East Africa and us," she said. Mr Gichiri Ndua, KPA corporate services manager and International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) vice president, said Malaysia provided appropriate technology necessary for Mombasa's development. "It is advisable to aim higher but still go for appropriate technology. What we are witnessing today (signing of the MOU) is the right way to go," Ndua said. He added that Kenya was borrowing heavily from Malaysia on its ambitious 2030 growth plan. The MoU with Port Klang will boost KPA's 25-year master plan developed last year and enable Mombasa port to eventually realise its vision of being rated among 20 ports in the world by the year 2010. The deal comes at a time when KPA is faced with the challenge of dredging Mombasa port to accommodate larger vessels. Apart from Port Klang, Malaysia also has Penang Port, Johor Port, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Kuantan Port, Kemaman Port and Bintulu Port which are run by private operators under the supervision of port authorities. The Malaysian government's policy on ports focuses on the provision of ample capacity in ports to ensure that there is no congestion. The policy also focuses on load centering. This means that Port Klang has been made the national load centre and the regional transshipment hub. Port Klang has developed a super infrastructure for free trade zone that mainly facilitates commercial activities within the port similar to those at Jabal Ali in Dubai, hence increasing cargo volumes. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by KPA chairman General (Rtd) Joseph Kibwana, Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) director general Mrs Nancy Karigithu and representatives of the maritime industry. Between 2004 and 2005, Mwaruwa observed, exports to Malaysia through Mombasa port increased by 69 per cent from 9,920 metric tonnes to 16,000 metric tonnes. "Interestingly, the exports for this year - between January and October - registered a drastic growth likely to double last year's," Mwaruwa said. The ports chief said there has been drastic increase in imports from Malaysia between January and October this year to 130,403 metric tonnes. Imports from Malaysia have been enhanced following the recent opening of a modern vegetable oil handling facility operated by Gulf Stream Limited at Mombasa port, Mwaruwa explained. Imports from Malaysia through Mombasa port include palm and vegetable oils, sugar, salt, iron and steel, plastic, clothing, fertilizer, vehicles, rice and chemicals. Exports to the Asian country comprise fish, coffee, tea, cotton, sodium carbonate, cement, tobacco and cocoa beans. Phang said her country has successfully privatised its six ports and developed a multi-million dollar free trade zone at Port Klang which has increased cargo volumes. She said Mombasa port would benefit from sharing with the developed Malaysian ports but cautioned that privatisation should be given time. © 2006 The East African Standard.
Malaysian, Singapore navies have joint exercise at Malacca straits
The Singapore and Malaysian navies are currently conducting a joint exercise at the Straits of Malacca, local media reported Friday. Starting from Nov. 27 until Dec. 9, the exercise, codenamed "Exercise Malapura", is hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy ( RSN), the Malaysian national news agency reported. "This year's exercise includes both conventional naval warfare and the conduct of a maritime security serial. A total of six ships from the two navies are involved," the RSN was quoted as saying in a statement. Colonel Joseph Leong, Commander First Flotilla and Commanding Officer of 188 Squadron, is commanding the exercise task group, with Commander Hisham Jaafar, Chief Staff Officer Exercise, HQ Fleet Operations Command, Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), as the deputy commander, the RSN said. Exercise Malapura, which is the 18th exercise in its series, provides a valuable opportunity for professional interaction between the RSN and RMN and to enhance the relationship between the two navies, the statement said. © Xinhua.
MIMA: Information technology plays bigger role in port development
Kuala Lumpur - Information Technology (IT) innovation will continue to be at the forefront of port development in the years to come, said Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) in a statement here Friday. "IT has assumed a critical role in the field of maritime, especially in port operations and management," MIMA research fellow, Nazery Khalid said at the Port Technology: Evolving Approaches to Innovation Through IT at the second Trans Middle East Conference 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He said in the coming years, IT will play an even bigger role in port operations to the extent that it will determine the level of competitiveness of ports along other 'traditional' yardstick such as locations, connectivity and physical features of ports. He said that the use of IT has become pervasive in port operations. The world's premiere ports are characterised by less dependency of labour and higher reliance on cutting-edge IT systems and IT backed technologies. Today, ports have evolved to become more than just a static entity where ships come and go and goods are loaded and unloaded, he said. Nazery said that as such, the role of supporting components such as IT has been elevated in tandem with the growing dependency of global trade on ports as crucial trade facilitators. He advocated IT as a strategic tool towards integrating various activities in ports, achieving innovation and interface between ports and other transport modes to enhance the ports performance and efficiency of their operations and management. © 2006 BERNAMA.
Owners oppose Malacca levy
Bangkok - ASEAN ship owners have opposed “any form of levy” for ships using the Malacca and Singapore straits. But they are supporting efforts for setting up a mechanism for voluntary funding towards the maintenance and renewal of aids of navigation as agreed at an IMO meeting in Kuala Lumpur in September. The Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA), which held its AGM in Bangkok this week, however, noted that ships that trade to the Malacca and Singapore littoral states are already paying port and light dues for maintenance of navigational aids. The meeting also noted that while the Strait of Malacca has been removed from the list of war risk areas by the London Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War Committee (JWC), “several areas” continue to be listed. These include southern Thailand, southern Philippines and Jakarta port, FASA Secretary-General Daniel Tan told Fairplay. “As there are no reports of any terrorist threat to ships in those areas, FASA therefore strongly urges the JWC to remove them from its list immediately, FASA has stated. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Security to lead ASEAN agenda
Manila - Security, trade and energy will top the agenda when Asian leaders meet in the Philippines next week, with declarations expected on combating terrorism, accelerating economic integration and boosting energy resources. North Korea's nuclear weapons program will also be discussed when the heads of China, Japan and South Korea meet their counterparts from 10 Southeast Asian countries in the central city of Cebu on December 11-13. The Philippines wants to use its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote regional social development. But guns and money are likely to overshadow the theme of "One Caring and Sharing Community". Counter-terrorism will take center stage during the ASEAN summit on December 11 when leaders hope to sign a convention clamping down on the unregulated movement of arms and Muslim militants among Southeast Asia's remote isles and coves. National security agencies would have to coordinate efforts to track down, arrest, detain and rehabilitate suspected militants as well as beef up border controls and suppress terrorist financing, according to a draft document seen by Reuters. Wary of China's growing regional might, the Southeast Asian leaders are also set to agree to accelerate a goal for an ASEAN community in economics, security and socio-cultural affairs to 2015 from 2020. But hopes for a European-style single market for goods, services, capital and skilled labor are unlikely to be realized in nine years, given the wide variations in economic development in Southeast Asia. And the region's free trade area, launched in 1992, remains riddled with temporary exclusions. On the security front, ASEAN's annual meetings and regular dialogues have helped lower tensions among states with lingering border and maritime disputes. So plans for improved military and police cooperation were seen as realistic. "Each meeting has its own contribution to regional cooperation, I would not dismiss it," said Aileen Baviera, dean of the Asian Center at the University of the Philippines. The Southeast Asian countries also hope to sign agreements on the rights of migrant workers and children as well as HIV prevention at the summit. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- countries with major differences in politics and development. Energy security. The leaders of ASEAN will hold an East Asia summit with the heads of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand on December 13 when, in addition to North Korea, the countries will discuss maritime relations. The East Asia gathering will also look at energy security, including calls, led by the Philippines, to require diesel and oil used in the region to have a 20 percent biofuel component by 2015, according to a senior energy official. But an agreement on energy stockpiling is unlikely to be inked because of reluctance among some ASEAN countries to build up costly reserves, said the official, who declined to be named. Efforts to create an East Asian community have been stymied by continuing bitterness between China and Japan but there are also tensions within ASEAN over Thailand's recent coup and Myanmar's refusal to heed international calls for democracy. Myanmar's military chief General Than Shwe will skip the summit but his presence will still be felt. Embarrassed by an international pariah in their midst, ASEAN leaders are looking at possibly sanctioning members who seriously violate their rules and jettisoning the principle of consensus for all decisions in guidelines for drafting a charter next year. "The fact that Myanmar has largely resisted ASEAN's attempts at soft diplomacy makes it more likely that ASEAN will decide to have more teeth, just as the North Korea issue is encouraging Japan to be more assertive," said Malcolm Cook, program director for Asia and Pacific at Australia's Lowy Institute. © 2006 Reuters. © 2006 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
Shipping sector must focus on quality: Shipowners
Malaysian Shipowners Association (Masa) said the shipping industry that is facing vast and rapid changes in the operating and trading regimes must take measures to respond in a coherent and coordinated manner. "The shipping industry is now witnessing and is at the centre of one of the most profound changes that the industry has ever seen in the 100 years of its recent history," said Masa chairman Nordin Mat Yusoff. He said the shipping industry has never faced so many new rules, regulations and conventions as it is facing now. "New rules and regulations now affect almost the whole spectrum of the industry, ranging from manning and crewing, safety and standards, security, ship operations and ship management as well ship design and construction," he said at a dinner last Friday on the occasion of the association's 30th anniversary. The new rules include those issued or mandated by the International Maritime Organisation, International Labour Organisation, Classification Societies, P&I Clubs, the European Union and the US. The raft of new rules is no doubt important in a rapidly changing and dynamic environment that is also re-shaping the trading world that we have been traditionally used to. He said more new rules are on the way. "Along with the raft of new rules, the dynamics of geo-politics, globalisation and liberalisation/deregulation, the emergence of electronic commerce, greater global competitiveness and changing key functionalities of transportation are some of the challenges that have an impact on the shipping industry. All these have to addressed in a coherent and coordinated manner. The challenges ahead are indeed many," he stressed. One of the things that the industry needs to focus on is quality shipping. "The days of rust-bucket ships, brass-plate shipping companies and signing-on and off seafarers along the waterfronts are all over. We need to ensure that the shipping industry is able to move on to a new plane that emphasises on quality ships and quality shipping," said Nordin. Quality shipping means that ships are built and classed to internationally-accepted standards, ships that are managed and operated under responsible registries, ships that are owned/managed by companies that are responsible and transparent, and ships are crewed by properly and well trained seafarers. An important component of promoting quality shipping is therefore paying attention to the human resource development, in particular further measures to enhance the skill levels of seafarers, both in the light of the changing shipping environment as well as to soaring demand for trained seamen. "I think the shipping industry, maritime training providers and education institutions need to take a re-look at some aspects of the training syllabus. In particular I think there is scope for wider application of electronic system and standards in the training of our seamen," he said. Nordin said the adoption of electronic-controlled simulators in enhancing and broadening the skill levels of officers is one area that should be seriously looked into by the relevant authorities. "Simulator training not only shortens the learning curve of officers to advance in their careers, such as in securing the master's certificate but also offers considerable opportunity to broaden and deepen their skills for shipboard application on bridge control and management. Specific piloting or bridge control skills are needed, like in emergencies, and this can be simulated to gauge response level of officers. These conditions cannot be gauged in real life and the experience gained from simulator training can be life-saving," he added. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
Singaporean, Malaysian navies conduct joint exercise
Singapore - The navies of Singapore and Malaysia are conducting a joint two-week exercise involving six ships, the city-state said Friday. The exercise, which covers conventional naval warfare and a maritime security drill, concludes Dec. 9, Singapore's Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The exercise in the Malacca Strait is being hosted by the Singapore navy, it said. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, which all border the Malacca Strait, have in recent years conducted coordinated maritime and air patrols to curb piracy and address concerns that international terrorists might target some of the 65,000 vessels that pass through the waterway every year carrying half the world's oil and more than a third of its commerce. © 2006 The Associated Press. © 2006 the International Herald Tribune.
Why did the Spratlys dispute de-escalate? by Ralf Emmers
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all lay claim on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which has led to tensions between the five powers in the 1990s. Today, however, the issue is no longer deemed an important security concern. The territorial dispute over the Spratly Islands was in the 1990s often described as a major security flashpoint. The dispute was one of the crucial problems afflicting China and the four Southeast Asian claimant states - Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Part of the defense modernization undertaken by the Southeast Asian states was related to this issue. The seriousness of the matter was demonstrated in February 1995, when China encroached on the Philippine claimed Mischief Reef in the Spratlys. The then Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando S Marcado, as reported by the BBC, would later describe the Chinese occupation of Mischief Reef and the fortification of its structures in late 1998 as a strong indication of China’s “creeping invasion” of the “disputed South China Sea chain.” The Spratlys dispute is today no longer discussed as a major security concern. It is interesting to note however that this shift in perception has occurred despite the absence of significant changes in the circumstances pertaining to the dispute. China has continued to modernize its navy and has constantly repeated that its sovereignty over the South China Sea is indisputable. The Southeast Asian claimants have also been unwilling to make concessions with regard to their territorial claims. Moreover, China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have failed so far to agree on a code of conduct for the South China Sea. Although a step in the right direction, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed by the ASEAN countries and China on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh in November 2002, can only be regarded as an interim accord. What then explains the de-escalation of the Spratly dispute? Sources of stability. First and foremost, the China threat perception has gradually changed among Southeast Asian policy elites. China has been acting as a status quo rather than as a revisionist power. Self-restraint and accommodation have characterized China’s foreign policy toward Southeast Asia. China has added diplomatic activism to its growing economic and military growth. China’s “charm offensive” towards ASEAN is in contrast to its previous suspicion of multilateralism. In October 2003, China was the first non-Southeast Asian state to adhere to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. This has been part of China’s overall courtship of ASEAN in recent years, as well as further demonstrating its willingness to respect the Association’s norms of inter-state behavior. The relative moderation in China’s foreign policy has also been observed in the context of the Spratlys dispute. Although China expanded its structures on Mischief Reef in late 1998, it has not seized additional disputed features in the Spratlys since 1995. As the first multilateral agreement signed by China on the South China Sea, the 2002 Declaration was also an indication of Beijing’s willingness to adhere to the principles promoted by the ASEAN countries. Second, the various claimant states have in recent years refrained from playing the nationalism card. Significantly, Beijing has been careful not to allow the South China Sea question to become an issue in Chinese domestic politics or to use this point as a subject of domestic propaganda. This is in contrast to the situation over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. One has observed with regard to that specific territorial dispute increased activity from nationalist groups in China and Taiwan criticizing the Japanese occupation of the islands to be an infringement of Chinese territory. This is not to say however that nationalism has stopped being an important factor in the Spratly dispute. The territorial claims are of nationalist importance and the claimant states have been inflexible on the sovereignty issue. Retracting territorial claims or a willingness to make concessions on the question of sovereign jurisdiction would be costly domestically and perceived regionally as a sign of weakness. Nonetheless, it is positive to note that the claimants have at least downplayed their nationalist rhetoric in their attempt at managing the dispute. Third, the de-escalation of the dispute derives from the limited proven oil reserves of the South China Sea. As exploration techniques have improved, oil reserves lying under the seabed in the deep water have become more viable. Yet the oil reserves of the South China Sea are still uncertain and initial estimations have been adjusted lower. As oil prices have risen substantially over recent years, the situation in the South China Sea could change for the worst if proof was found of sufficient oil reserves for commercial use. In March 2005, China signed with the Philippines and Vietnam agreements on the conducting of oil pre-exploration surveys in the Spratlys. The signing of such bilateral agreements guarantees Manila and Hanoi to be at least included in the exploration process in areas where they have overlapping sovereignty claims with Beijing. Yet the discovery of substantial oil reserves for commercial usage could raise tensions and leave the Philippines and Vietnam in a fragile situation due to the overwhelming asymmetry in power with China and the absence of an overall agreement on the sovereign rights of the coastal states. Finally, the restrained involvement of the United States has been another source of stability in the South China Sea. Washington does not consider the Spratlys dispute as a vital security concern. It does not want to further complicate its relations with China by getting involved in the question of sovereign jurisdiction. Though following closely the developments in the South China Sea, the US has consistently limited its interest to the preservation of the freedom of navigation and the mobility of its Seventh Fleet. Due to its own economic interests, China is not expected to interrupt the shipping lanes that cross the South China Sea. Conclusion. The de-escalation of the Spratlys dispute can be explained by the lessening of the China threat image, the downplaying of nationalist rhetoric, the limited proven oil reserves of the South China Sea and the restrained US involvement in the conflict. In the short to medium term, an armed conflict seems unlikely although risks exist of miscalculations or accidents that could lead to limited confrontation. In the longer run however the Spratlys dispute could again become a primary security concern in Southeast Asia if China significantly increases its power projection capabilities in the area. The upsurge of nationalist rhetoric would also complicate the peaceful management of the dispute. Moreover, proof of sufficient oil reserves in the South China Sea linked with high energy pressure in East Asia would transform security circumstances in the Spratlys. Finally, the worsening of Sino-US and/or Sino-Japanese relations would undoubtedly increase security competition in the maritime domain and undermine stability in the South China Sea. © 2006 Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. © 1994-2006 Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich.
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Census of seas reveals amazing forms of life
Washington - Peering deep into the sea, scientists are finding creatures more mysterious than many could have imagined. At one site, nearly 2 miles deep in the Atlantic, shrimp were living around a vent that was releasing water heated to 765 degrees Fahrenheit. Water surrounding the site was a chilly 36 degrees. An underwater peak in the Coral Sea was home to a type of shrimp thought to have gone extinct 50 million years ago. More than 3 miles beneath the Sargasso Sea, in the Atlantic, researchers collected a dozen new species eating each other or living on organic material that drifts down from above. "Animals seem to have found a way to make a living just about everywhere," said Jesse Ausubel of the Sloan Foundation, discussing the findings of year six of the census of marine life. Added Ron O'Dor, a senior scientist with the census: "We can't find any place where we can't find anything new." This year's update, released Sunday, is part of a study of life in the oceans that is scheduled for final publication in 2010. The census is an international effort supported by governments, divisions of the United Nations and private conservation organizations. About 2,000 researchers from 80 countries are participating. Ausubel said there are nearly 16,000 known species of marine fish and 70,000 kinds of marine mammals. A couple of thousand have been discovered during the census. The researchers conducted 19 ocean expeditions this year; a 20th continues in the Antarctic. In addition, they operated 128 nearshore sampling sites and, using satellites, followed more than 20 tagged species including sharks, squid, sea lions and albatross. Highlights of the 2006 research included:
- Shrimp, clams and mussels living near the super-hot thermal vent in the Atlantic, where they face pulses of water that is near-boiling despite shooting into the frigid sea.
- In the sea surrounding the Antarctic, a community of marine life shrouded in darkness beneath more than 1,600 feet of ice. Sampling of this remote ocean yielded more new species than familiar ones.
- Off the coast of New Jersey, 20 million fish swarming in a school the size of Manhattan.
- Finding alive and well, in the Coral Sea, the type of shrimp called Neoglyphea neocaledonica, thought to have disappeared millions of years ago. Researchers nicknamed it the Jurassic shrimp.
- Satellite tracking of tagged sooty shearwaters, small birds, that mapped the birds' 43,500-mile search for food in a giant figure eight over the Pacific Ocean, from New Zealand via Polynesia to foraging grounds in Japan, Alaska and California and then back. The birds averaged a surprising 217 miles daily. In some cases, a breeding pair made the entire journey together.
- A new find: a 4-pound rock lobster discovered off Madagascar.
- A single-cell creature big enough to see, in the Nazare Canyon off Portugal. The fragile new species was found 14,000 feet deep. It is enclosed within a plate-like shell, four-tenths of an inch in diameter, composed of mineral grains.
- A new type of crab with a furry appearance, near Easter Island. It was so unusual it warranted a whole new family designation, Kiwaidae, named for Kiwa, the Polynesian goddess of shellfish. Its furry appearance justified its species name, hirsuta, meaning hairy. © 2006 The Associated Press.
FMH eyes regional markets by Isabelle Francis
Freight Management Holdings Bhd (FMH), which is eyeing a transfer to the Main Board, is looking at acquisitions in the next financial year to boost its growth in the Southeast Asian region. Its managing director Chew Chong Keat said the company has always been Malaysia-centric and needed to step up its expansion to tap into the potential growth in the region. “It's important to move away from being Malaysia-centric. We are looking closely at Thailand and Indonesia. Southeast Asia is always our target. “What we have done so far is the acquisition in Singapore and setting up an office in Perth, Australia,” he told reporters after FMH’s AGM in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Without elaborating, Chew said it was planning to set up "one or two" joint ventures in the region. In February this year, FMH acquired a 51% stake in Singapore-based TCH Marine Pte Ltd, which specialises in the provision of barge, tugboat, and other marine services. TCH now offers freight services for bulk raw materials between Southwest of Thailand, West Malaysia and Singapore, via the Straits of Malacca. On its plan to transfer to the Main Board, Chew said the company wants a bigger capitalisation and a "wider acceptance" from institutional investors. “It is in line with our strategy to grow. But this is still subject to us meeting the financial requirements,” he said. On its expansion plans, Chew said it expects its newest RM30 million warehouse to start operations next year, increasing its warehouse space to over 260,000 sq ft. It also plans to buy a barge costing RM1.3 million in the second half next year, increasing its fleet to eight barges. Chew said it still needed to enhance its yields, especially in its less than one container load (LCL) sea freight services, to boost its profitability. “On the regional basis, the freight rate is still viable for us. What we want to do now is enhance our yield. “We are targeting a 10% to 15% growth in terms of volume (from the current 60,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit annually),” he added. Chew expects its sea freight, rail and barge businesses to maintain contribution of 60%, 10% and 10% respectively to its revenue. The remainder comes from supporting and warehouse services. He added that it was on track to meet its target of double-digit growth in net profit for the year ending June 30, 2007. © 2006 The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd.
Korean seas polluted by maritime garbage from neighboring countries
Seoul - About 12.5 percent of maritime garbage floating on the South Korean seas is dumped or accidentally spilled by neighboring countries, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said Wednesday. "Maritime garbage from neighboring countries seem to reach South Korea by ocean currents or have been dumped by vessels passing through the western and southern Korean sea," a ministry official said. The percentage was arrived at through sorting out the garbage collected from the sea within a radius of 100 square meters from 12 islets, he said. In terms of plastic bottles, foreign-made ones accounted for 42.4 percent of the total. Garbage originating from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong made up 91.4 percent, followed by Japan with 2.4 percent. In addition, maritime litter from Malaysia, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, the U.S., Britain and the Netherlands together accounted for slightly over 1 percent. © 2006 Yonhap News Agency.
Maritime institute sees high demand for oil rigs
The Maritime Institute of Malaysia (Mima) expects the outlook for the oil rig sector to remain upbeat in tandem with high levels of activities in the oil and gas sector. In a statement in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Mima said as the world's thirst for hydrocarbon energy continues unabated and the prices of oil and gas remain at high levels, the projection for the oil rig market should remain bullish. Mima research fellow, Nazery Khalid, said more deepwater projects will be coming onstream in the coming years, hence resulting in high demand for oil rigs of various categories. "The depletion of oils wells in 'traditional' locations such as on land and in brown water sites, or sites close to the shores has exerted pressure on oil majors to find new sites. "Therefore, more exploration and production activities have been carried out in farther and more remote locations at sea," he said at the Jack-Up Asia Conference in Singapore yesterday. Nazery was speaking on "The oil rig market's trends and outlook". He said the current huge demand for oil, especially from emerging economies such as China and India, had been a boon to the oil rig market, most notably rigs serving the deepwater sector. "On the order books of rig manufacturers, half of oil rigs on order are for deepwater use. However, the largest increase of unit mobilised is in the shallow water jack-up and semi-submersible rigs. "This reflects the fact that oil majors are under pressure to find oil not only in previously unchartered sites such as deepwater but also to revisit traditional sites nearer to the shore to revitalise previously explored locations," he said. He said the pressure for oil majors to find new deposits to meet huge global demand for energy has forced oil rigs owners to mobilise additional units. "Underlining the great demand for oil rigs, owners are even refurbishing and reactivating older units to satisfy market demand," he said. Nazery urged stakeholders to address the environmental concerns in 'cleaning up' after the completion of E&P and development activities involving oil rigs. "Some worthy solutions include converting oil rigs into 'boutique resorts' at sea and into artificial reefs to attract marine life and hence diving enthusiasts," he said. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
Panama to open maritime liaison office in KL
In a move aimed at taking advantage of opportunities in vessel flag registration in the wake of expansion of merchant fleets in the region, Panama, a leading flag-state country, is opening its Panama Maritime Affairs Liaison Office in Kuala Lumpur. The Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy will officiate the liaison office on Thursday which will collaborate with Incosia Maritime Sdn Bhd to attract Malaysian as well as other shipowners in the region to register their vessels under the Panama flag. Panama offers attractive terms and conditions for non-residents to register their vessels in the state, including the popular "Dual Registry System". Shipowners who wish to transfer their vessels to the Panamanian registry are not required to have the vessels re-surveyed, provided the vessels possess valid safety certificates. Provisions are made to accept foreign tonnage certificates at the time of registration, this obviates the necessity to have the ship dry-docked prior to the registration and consequently saves the shipowners considerable expenses. A major attraction of the Panamanian registry is the so called Dual Registry. The Dual Registry System was established in Panama by means of Law No. 1 of 1973 and later altered by Law No. 3 also in 1973. According to these laws, a foreign vessel, bare boat chartered for a period of two years can be registered in Panama for the same period without losing its previous registration, and the reverse is also permissible, that is, from Panama to the other countries. For this purpose a certificate of consent from the country where the vessel was originally registered will be required. The Dual Registry System represents a great advantage for the shipping community, especially for the shipowners who, for some reason or other, have no vessels under the open registry. The Dual Registry may be considered an answer to the problems confronted by the European ship- owners faced with the high cost of operation, represented by having vessels flying the flags of most European countries versus those under open registries. The Dual Registry System represents a great advantage for the shipping community, especially for the shipowners who, for some reason or other, have no vessels under the open registry. The Dual Registry System may be considered an answer to the problems confronted by the European shipowners faced with the high costs of operation represented by having vessels flying the flags of most European countries versus those under open registries. However, if the Dual Registry System is no longer reciprocal, any vessel from any nationality may be able to apply to the Panamanian Registry only if, the registrar of her home country allows it. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad,
Piracy on Malacca Strait down sharply: Indonesian Navy
The Indonesian Navy claimed Wednesday that piracy on the busy international water way of Malacca Strait has fallen sharply to two cases this year from 15 cases last year. "That is a drastic drop which makes us proud," Navy Chief Admiral Slamet Soebijanto told reporters here. Located on the maritime borders shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, the Malacca Strait is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, through which some 600 vessels and 11 million barrels of oil pass each day. The three littoral states have coordinated patrol operations in the Malacca Strait within the framework of Malsindo launched in July 2004. © People's Daily Online.
Tracking units for deep-sea shipping vessels
Hutan Melintang - Deep-sea fishermen must equip their vessels with tracking units for security reasons when they renew their licences. The units, linked to the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), will help the Fisheries Department in Putrajaya track their movement at sea. “They (VMS) will be able to monitor the movement of the vessel, its coordinates and the history of its journey,” said Perak Fisheries Department director Salehan Lamin. He added that the VMS would be able to detect the real-time position of the boat via the satellite. “We can even tell if the boats are stationary, catching fish or on the move,” he said during a dialogue session between maritime agencies and fishermen here on Tuesday. The tracking units will cost between RM4,000 and RM15,000 each, depending on the sophistication of the device. Salehan said that five deep-sea vessels of the country’s 800 vessels had already been fitted with the devices as a trial run. At the dialogue session, fishermen complained that their distress calls were not answered. “We want your help but every time we call, we get no response. The agencies seem to be passing the buck around. Who are we supposed to call?” said Hilir Perak Fishermen Cooperative Bhd executive secretary Kee Jeh Hai. Between Oct 27 and Nov 3 this year, at least five fishing vessels had been seized by foreigners and as much as RM635,000 paid out to recover the boats and secure the release of the fishermen, he said. Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Centre (MECC) director First Admiral Mohd Rashid Harun advised the fishermen not to deal with their captors by themselves. “You are encouraging them. Make a police report and let us do our job,” he said, adding that the lead agency handling security matters at the sea is the newly established Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM). He said fishermen kept making kidnapping claims but never once made police reports. However, he said, there were also occasions where local data showed that Malaysian fishermen did not cross into Indonesian waters although they claimed otherwise. “There may be overlapping borders and it is not clearly defined. Wisma Putra is trying to resolve this now,” he added. © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
World governments adopt sustainable fisheries resolution
New York - Concerned that overfishing, illegal catches, wasteful methods and destructive techniques are depleting fish stocks and ruining fragile marine habitats in many parts of the world, the UN General Assembly Friday called on all nations to take "immediate action," to sustainably manage fish stocks, and protect vulnerable deep sea ecosystems from harmful fishing practices. The General Assembly adopted a consensus resolution introduced by the United States that asks all countries to apply the "precautionary approach" and an "ecosystem approach" to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks. The resolution expressed the Assembly’s particular concern that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is a serious threat to fish stocks, marine habitats and ecosystems, as well as the food security and the economies of many nations, particularly poorer ones. Globally, more than half of global fish stocks, 52 percent, are fully exploited found a study issued jointly earlier this year by the UN Environment Programme, UNEP, and the World Conservation Union, IUCN. Overexploited and depleted species have increased from about 10 percent in the mid-1970s to 24 percent in 2002, according to the study, "Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Deep Waters and High Seas." As adopted by the General Assembly, the Sustainable Fisheries resolution addressed the issue of bottom trawling, which drags heavy gear across the ocean floor to catch fish, leaving behind few life forms of any kind. The resolution calls on Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, RFMOs to close vulnerable marine ecosystems to bottom trawling by December 2008 unless conservation and management measures have been adopted to prevent adverse impacts. The resolution also calls upon states negotiating the establishment of new RFMOs to adopt and implement interim measures to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems by December 2007. For areas where there are no RFMOs, states are called upon to stop authorizing their vessels to conduct bottom fishing until conservation and management measures are adopted. During debate on the resolution, IUCN spokesman Harlan Cohen welcomed "the call for a closure to bottom fishing of areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, are known or are likely to occur." But he said the IUCN is concerned that bottom trawling was not banned in areas where no regional fishery management organization is in place because these vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems are unprotected. Stuart Beck of Palau, speaking on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum, said the Forum is disappointed that the resolution did not generate an immediate interim prohibition on bottom trawling in unmanaged areas. Beck said the leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum met in October in Nadi, Fiji, where they agreed to "advance international efforts to institute an immediate interim prohibition on destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling," in unmanaged areas beyond national jurisdiction. Beck said the Forum leaders felt that urgent action on destructive fishing practices is needed because these practices undermine the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, which is so crucial to the way of life of small-island developing states. To combat global warming, there is an interest in placing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide deep beneath the sea floor. This process would be governed by the Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, the London Convention, which took effect this year. Cohen said the IUCN has greater concern about "a possible interest to sequester carbon through iron fertilization of the open ocean." Iron fertilization is the intentional introduction of iron to the upper ocean to increase the marine food chain and to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Dumping iron in the ocean is known to spur the growth of plankton that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but preliminary research done in 1999 and 2002 indicates iron fertilization may not be the quick fix to climate problems that some had hoped. "IUCN considers that before any such large-scale fertilization takes place, environmental impact assessments should be conducted to examine the likely outcomes and effects of such activities," Cohen said. He said the assessments should focus on determining whether iron fertilization "would actually sequester carbon dioxide on a long-term basis - that is in geological time - and whether such fertilization would have any harmful effects on regional ocean chemistry, including on pH levels, water clarity or marine biodiversity, either in the water column or on the benthos." During the debate, Raymond Wolfe of Jamaica, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, told the General Assembly that transport of radioactive materials through Caribbean waters remains "of paramount concern." Shipments of radioactive waste from Japanese nuclear power plants move through the Caribbean to Britain and France for reprocessing, and shipments of reprocessed nuclear fuel are sent back to Japan. CARICOM continues to implore states to examine alternative means of disposing of such materials and other toxic waste. "The damage and pollution that might flow from a nuclear waste-related accident would be devastating to lives and livelihoods in the region," said Wolfe. Namira Negm of Egypt, expressing concern over destructive fishing practices, said that the international community had not adopted sufficient measures to protect the marine ecosystem and establish its sustainable development. She said damage to coral habitats is a real problem that must be tackled in the near future. Kari Hakapaa of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, called for a "more integrated approach to the marine environment’s many threats." He said the EU proposes that a conference be convened to agree on prompt action to conserve and manage biodiversity. Hakapaa called for an implementation agreement to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to promote the conservation and management of marine biodiversity. This would support work towards achieving a representative network of marine protected areas by 2012, a commitment made by governments at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. © Environment News Service (ENS) 2006.
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Cheers turn to tears as whale dies
Kota Kinabalu - It seemed like a happy ending. The crowds cheered as the Bryde’s whale swam away from Pulau Gaya on Friday. And everyone assumed it had survived its ordeal because marine patrol officers didn’t spot it again. But it was not to be. Yesterday, its dead body was found at Lok Taman, the same spot it had beached on the first time. The sight brought tears to the eyes of many curious visitors. Dr Nicholas Pilcher, a marine biologist and Marine Research Foundation executive director and founder, was involved in Friday’s rescue. He was not surprised by the death of the whale. "A perfectly healthy whale won’t beach itself. There was already something wrong with it — we will never know what. A majority of stranded whales don’t survive, even after going back to sea with human aid. Most will beach again somewhere and die. "It was an honourable and commendable effort to try, knowing the chances and factors involved. To see so many people come together on Friday to save the whale was very nice, and serves as a reminder of relationships between humans and the environment." Dolphin expert Dr Lindsay Porter, who was also at the scene on Friday, agreed saying: "The rescue workers tried their best to give it a fighting chance for survival, despite knowing its chances. We didn’t know what kind of injuries it had, besides the cuts and bruises on its body." Scores of people from Sabah Parks, the Maritime Agency, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), dive enthusiasts, marine biologists, civil servants and members of the public were at the whale’s side the whole day, keeping it cool and wet while authorities planned its rescue on Friday. Dive instructor Jimmy Fabian, who brought a boatload of divers to the scene, was one of those who mourned its death. "It’s so sad to see it dead, after all the effort everyone put in to save it on Friday. We’ve never seen a whale here before in all the years I’ve been diving. It’s so very sad," said Jimmy, who has been diving in these waters for about 11 years. The huge body was spotted by residents and fishermen about 2am. By 10am, it had drifted some 200m off the island into the shallow reefs. About 1pm, a fishing boat hired by the Fisheries Department towed the carcass about 10km off the island and anchored it until it submerges on its own. Fisheries Department director Rayner Stuel Galid said it could not be buried on land because of its size. "Once the body can sink, we will tow it about 55km further out where it will submerge naturally into the ocean. "We can’t do that now because it might float to a beach or bay and become a problem for someone else," he said. He said that the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Borneo Marine Research Institute could contact the department in the next few days if they wished to conduct more research on the mammal, which had never before appeared in Sabah waters. © 2006 NST Online.
Indonesia, Malaysia to beef up security in Malacca Straits
Jakarta - Indonesia and Malaysia on Friday agreed to strengthen their maritime cooperation to tighten security in the Malacca Strait due to several accidents in the waters between the two countries recently, Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said here. Minister Sudarsono made the statement in a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Tun Najib Razak after days of regular meeting between the armed forces of the countries. Despite the presence of the coordinated patrol among the littoral states, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, Sudarsono said that it was possible terrorist uses the narrow sea-lane to launch strikes. Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to "strengthening of maritime cooperation for the security of the Malacca Straits," he said. "Scores of incident have occurred in spots between the two countries in past years," said Sudarsono. Indonesia and Malaysia have engaged in armed forces cooperation coordinated by the General Border Comittee. A number of obstacles have appeared to be hindrance, such as terrorism, illegal logging, and smuggling, Minister Sudarsono said. Najibh Razak, who is also the deputy of the Malaysian Prime Minister said that both countries need to beef up their cooperation in security. "We need a tough cooperation in the border," he said. The deputy said that the Malacca Straits has been excluded from the war risk zone classification. He cited that the smuggling and piracy in the sea have decreased from 228 cases in 2005 to 142 cases in 2006. One of the busiest waterways in the world, the 900-kilometer-long straits had been plagued by piracy and ship hijacking for many years. Since last year, the littoral states of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have strengthened patrols along the straits through waters and air. © Xinhua News Agency.
Malaysia, Indonesia form joint police committee to combat cross-border by Mohd Nasir Yusoff
Jakarta - Malaysia and Indonesia have formed a Joint Police Cooperation Committee to tackle cross-border crimes. The formation of the committee was agreed at the 35th General Border Committee (GBC) meeting between the two countries that was chaired jointly by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Malaysia's Defence Minister, and Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, here Friday. "The Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Police Committee is being established to combat cross-border crimes, a major challenge for the police of both countries," Najib told a media conference after the meeting. Najib said that although police cooperation between both countries existed under the GBC, the Joint Police Committee will become a new structure to increase cooperation in crime prevention along the two countries common border. Asked whether it meant that the police of both countries could move freely across the border, he said it was not the case as they would still be restricted to their own areas but it would make the patrols more effective. On piracy in the Straits of Melaka, Najib said that the number of cases had dropped from 238 in 2005 to only 142 cases this year. He said that a negative campaign about piracy in the straits had led to a drop in the number of ships using it to 6,441 in 2005 but it had increased to 19,312 this year. Effective patrolling of the Straits had also resulted in a drop in cases of illegal immigrants coming into Malaysia from 17,240 in 2005 to only 7,711 this year, he said. "However, where cross-border crimes are concerned, it is on the uptrend from 105 cases in 2005 to 138 cases this year," said Najib. He also advised fishermen to go out in groups and to be equipped with radio communications and if possible global positioning system (GPS) to avoid falling prey to pirates. Asked about cases of fishermen caught in foreign waters, the Deputy Prime Minister said that they normally knew where the border was but still encroached due to the abundance of fish on the other side. Najib also said that the three littoral states of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore would not make changes to the coordinated maritime patrols being deployed, adding if there was a need to cross the border of any of the states, the other party involved would have to be informed. © 2006 BERNAMA.
Malaysian firms invited to bid for Panama Canal expansion works by Sharen Kaur
The Republic of Panama is inviting qualified Malaysian companies to bid for sub-contract works for the US$5.8 billion (RM20.6 billion) expansion of the country’s famed canal. Panama's Ambassador to Malaysia, David Guardia Varela, said the project will start next month and take about seven years to complete. “International tenders will be called and Malaysian companies with engineering, design, construction and supplies expertise and capabilities can bid for sub-contract works,” he said. Varela added that Panama will also execute the construction of a mega port at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, where Malaysian port operators and construction firms can also participate. He was speaking at the launch of Panama Maritime Affairs liaison office in Kuala Lumpur last week. Varela was officially appointed as Panama’s first Ambassador to Malaysia last month. He said Panama hopes to strengthen bilateral ties with Malaysia with the signing of several agreements next year, including technical and scientific cooperation, and agriculture. “We expect to sign the agreements with Malaysia soon as we are very keen to increase our niche in crops,” Varela told Business Times. Panama hopes to develop up to 20,000ha of new plantations over the next five years. Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said last year there were 70 Panamanian flag ships’ arrival with a tonnage of 1.03 million in Malaysian ports. This year, it rose to 231 ship calls with a total tonnage of 4.65 million. “The establishment of the liaison office here will also provide opportunities for Malaysian seafarers,” he added. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
Malaysian, Indonesian police link up to combat crime by Leslie Andres
Jakarta - A Joint Police Co-operation Committee (JPCC) will be set up under the auspices of the Malaysia-Indonesia General Border Committee (Malindo GBC) to fight transnational crime. Announcing this yesterday, Malindo GBC joint chairmen, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, said the move was to bring greater effectiveness to operations between the two nations’ police. Najib said the committee was the next logical step in fighting transnational crime as the problem was becoming more challenging. Juwono said police presence, especially around the border areas, would have to be increased. Najib and Juwono were speaking to Malaysian and Indonesian reporters after chairing the meeting here yesterday. The Malindo GBC is jointly chaired by the defence ministers of both countries. It was formed to deal with border issues between the two nations, with delegates discussing intelligence and operational factors for enforcement agencies. Speaking to Malaysian reporters, Najib said the JPCC would begin early next year, with the structure to be decided by the two nations’ police forces. On who would head the committee, he said it would be decided later. On the scope of the JPCC, Najib said it would focus on operations on land borders between the two countries (between Kalimantan and Sabah and Sarawak), but would also include riverine borders, meaning that Marine police operations would also be included. He said the police forces of both nations would still be confined to operations within their own borders, but greater co-operation was expected with the setting up of the committee. Najib said another issue discussed during the Malindo GBC meeting was the issue of joint patrols in the Straits of Malacca. He said the present system of co-ordinated patrols would continue as joint patrols would lead to problems. Najib said another way of better patrolling the Straits was to increase the "eye-in-the-sky" programme wherever possible, according to the capabilities of the Straits’ littoral states — Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. On another matter, Najib said Malaysian students studying in Indonesia would now only have to apply for a study visa once — for the duration of their studies. He said the change, as agreed to by the Indonesian government, will enable a student to qualify for a multiple-entry visa which will be effective according to the length of time needed for the respective course the student is taking. The news of the new visa-ruling was passed on to Najib by Indonesian Vice-President Jusof Kalla when the Deputy Prime Minister paid a courtesy call on him yesterday. © 2006 NST Online.
PDZ targets Middle East market
KUALA LUMPUR 20 December – Malaysian shipping operator PDZ plans to expand its business into the Middle East next year. PDZ, which owns six vessels, will enter the regional market as an intra-Asia operator, according to a source who spoke to Fairplay on condition of anonymity. To help facilitate its operations, PDZ will appoint two agents to be based in Dubai and also plans to acquire two new vessels, although the company would not disclose details of the ship type. PDZ, according to the spokesman, achieves 40% of its revenue from the Chinese Hong Kong and Singapore markets. For now it also plans to “expand vigorously into the India market and cover most of its ports”. PDZ Holdings Bhd, according to its website, has been publicly listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange since 1996. Its principal activity is as an investment holding company, with subsidiaries engaged in ship ownership and operation, shipping agency and ship management. ©Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
PTP Executive Wins International Recognition
Johor Baharu - A 27-year-old container terminal planner received international recognition recently for developing a computerised programme that can lower the overall cost of operation for ports. For his effort, Chua Cheng Hock, who is working at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) here, won the Best Practice Awards 2006, an annual contest organised by the APM Terminals group, the world's third largest port operator. Speaking to Bernama, Chua said his programme, which he named "Berth Optimizer", was developed using the software platform of Microsoft Office Excel, a spreadsheet program. Using the programme features like intuitive interface, graphics and calculation tools, Chua was able to design a new programme that could calculate the optimal vessel berthing location. Chua said it took him about six months to write the programme, which was now being developed to be implemented at all the APM Terminals operations worldwide. "Unlike the traditional method where vessel berthing which is decided based on the space available at the port, Chua's programme helps to direct vessels nearest to their cargo at the yards and thereby optimizing its berthing location," said PTP senior general manager, operations, Martijn van de Linde. "By directing the vessels straight to their cargo, port operators can minimize truck driving distances and shorten the turnaround time from the yard to the berth," he said. "For PTP, which has a quay length of about 2.8 kilometres and handles thousands of containers a day, Chua's programme will help reduce the containers' travelling distance from the yard to the vessel by several hundred metres per container," he added. PTP chief executive officer Harun Johari, commenting on Chua's achievement, said the program directly increased productivity as truck driving distances will be shorter, resulting in vessels being able to minimize berthing time. The shorter driving distances and turnaround time meant savings on fuel, maintenance and labour cost for ports, he said. Harun said the company was proud of Chua's achievement, adding that it has always been PTP's policy to develop its internal human resources. Chua joined PTP three years ago after graduating with a degree in maritime management from the Science and Technology University College of Malaysia in Terengganu. He is the eldest of three children in his family, and his father works as a rice salesman in Johor Baharu. Chua said the training provided by the PTP management has significantly increased his knowledge, resulting in him being able to create the programme. He also thanked his superiors for all their help and support. © 2006 BERNAMA.
PTP generates RM13 Bln worth of investments for Johor by Yong Soo Heong
Kuala Lumpur - The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has indirectly contributed to more than RM13 billion in local and foreign investments to Johor, including about RM2 Billion of foreign direct investment in PTP Free Zone alone, said its chairman, Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman. This, he said, had indirectly helped in positioning Johor as the number one investment destination in Malaysia, ahead of Penang and Selangor. In a statement released here in conjunction with the visit of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to PTP Thursday, Mohd Sidik said that in 2005 about 33 per cent of the total foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Malaysia was invested in Johor compared to only 23 per cent in Penang. He said companies such as Flextronics, CIBA Vision, JST & Cameron International had opted to locate their operations at PTP. "These manufacturing facilities have not only contributed to Johor's FDI but also in the creation of more job opportunities for locals," he said. Mohd Sidik added that these four companies alone would provide jobs to more than 20,000 people in PTP's vicinity and directly stimulated economic activities in southwest Johor. He said PTP's continued growth would create more spin off developments in southwest Johor, such as the upcoming export orientated industries at Nusa Jaya. "Simultaneously, it will encourage infrastructure investments and expedite development for the Pontian district, especially for industrial and residential development," Mohd Sidik said. PTP, he said "is very relevant to the government's Ninth Malaysia Plan to develop South Johor into a Logistics Hub." Mohd Sidik said the government's decision to designate the surrounding areas of PTP to be developed into international petrochemical centres, a maritime industrial centre, a regional bunker supply centre and national load centre would see a speedier implementation due to the already existing excellent facilities that PTP already has. He said PTP's future expansion would take into account the transformation of Johor to be the premier logistics centre in the region. PTP, the international gateway of the southern region, has been experiencing rapid growth over the past five years, proving itself as a successful regional distribution hub and trade and logistics centre. Its Phase 2 expansion programme is currently ahead of schedule. PTP's Phase 2 development plans started in 2002 and this saw an additional eight berths being planned to add 2.88 km of quay length to increase the port's container handling capacity. The first two berths under the Phase 2 expansion project were completed in 2004 while two more berths are currently undergoing the final phase of commission. Mohd Sidik said the location of PTP at the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia and at the confluence of the east west trade lanes going into the Melaka Straits made PTP a very strategically located port. "Shipping lines should really look at PTP to make it their hub to serve not only the South East Asia region but other parts of the world," he said. Mohd Sidik said the development of PTP was in sync with the federal and Johor state governments' vision to develop PTP as the southern region's load centre and cargo hub. He said investors should really look at PTP as they had the option to build their own facilities or to lease ready-built facilities. PTP's Free Zone, he said, was a very attractive place to invest as it offered competitive lease rental rates for land and building. He said there should not be any difficulty for investors as PTP had a one-stop agency set up to assist with start up operations and interface with the relevant government agencies. "The ease of doing business at PTP will help attract more FDIs to our Free Zone," he said. © 2006 BERNAMA.
Shipowners: prepare for changes in global shipping regime
The Malaysian Shipowners Association (Masa) has expressed the need for the local industry to prepare itself for the vast and dramatic changes taking place in the global shipping regime. Masa chairman Nordin Mat Yusoff said the industry faces tremendous challenges in the changing operating environment. "The fluidity or volatility of the bunker fuel market, shortage of onboard crew and onshore management expertise, rising operating/manning costs are some of the profound challenges that we are expected to face and cope with," he said in the latest issue of the association's publication, ShipMonitor. He said the demand for quality shipping is expected to intensify in line with the rigourous regimes that are being introduced. Nordin felt a major outcome of the demand for quality shipping is greater focus on training of seafarers at all levels. "In this regard, I would like the shipping community at large to serious consider the need to employ modern concepts and application systems in the training of seamen," he said. "Use electronic simulators as part of the training syllabus to give trainees who are required to handle/navigate ships a wider range of skills. "This will also help shorten the learning curve of the trainees who now on account of the need to fulfill specific sailing hours take a very long time to qualify as full-fledgedmasters," he added. Masa, he said, will work with the Malaysian Marine Department and bring to the attention of the International Maritime Organisation to look into incorporating simulator training for seafarers. Nordin noted that developments in global trade are increasing influenced by geopolitical factors and these factors impact on the nature and character of demand for shipping services. "We as shipowners must not only keep a close watch on these developments but even perhaps anticipate them," he urged. "Trade lanes, for instance, are changing because of geopolitical factors and this will influence the demand for shipping," he said. Nordin also noted that the key functionalities of transporting cargo from point to another is changing to cover the entire transportation pipeline, what has come to be known as the logistics supply chain management. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
Straits cooperation: A glass half-full by Mark J. Valencia
The states bordering the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (the Straits states -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) and the extraregional maritime powers that depend heavily on the Straits for transit of commercial and naval vessels have divergent interests. More than 70 percent of vessels using the Straits do not call at any Straits state port and thus the Straits states receive no direct benefit from their passage. Yet the Straits states have been bearing the brunt of the burden of maintaining the safety and security of navigation and the environment there. Consequently, the Straits states have been trying to forge an agreement with the user states to assure that they contribute to Straits safety and security. A ministerial meeting of the Straits states in August 2005 and International Maritime Organization-sponsored meetings in Jakarta in September 2005 and in Kuala Lumpur in September 2006 between the Straits states and the user sates produced an agreement of sorts. But many issues remain unresolved and some states remain dissatisfied. Indeed the glass remains half-full. Malaysia and Indonesia are primarily concerned with both their conceptual and practical sovereignty in the Malacca Strait, i.e., control, and keeping the Strait free from pollution, as well as preventing piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing. Singapore and the user states are much more concerned with the safety and security of navigation. The United States in particular is interested in preventing possible terrorist attacks on its vessels and in interdiction of vessels carrying weapons of mass destruction. The meetings were an attempt to implement Article 43 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which all involved have ratified -- except for the United States. The Article provides that in such Straits used for international navigation user states and littoral states should co-operate in the establishment and maintenance of necessary navigational and safety aids and in the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships. The meetings produced a proposal by the Straits states to establish a mechanism to meet on a regular basis with user states and the shipping industry. This mechanism would be used to discuss safety, security and environmental protection of the Straits and to facilitate co-operation in keeping the Straits safe and open to navigation, and sharing of the cost of doing so. The principles governing the functioning of the mechanism will include
* littoral state sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Straits;
* littoral state primary responsibility for the safety of navigation, environmental protection and maritime security in the Straits; and
* compliance with international law, i.e., any measure taken in the Straits should be in accordance with international law including the 1982 UNCLOS, while at the same time acknowledging the interests of user states and states bordering the sea lanes leading to the Straits.
The mechanism has been praised for avoiding sensitive issues like creating a system for charging users for the services provided by the Straits states, defining user states, allocating jurisdiction and rights and responsibilities in the Straits, and creating a Straits management scheme. But that is exactly where it falls short of what is needed. Indeed, no matter how well it is dressed and differences papered over, this arrangement is a lowest common denominator compromise that fully satisfies no one. The Straits states' long-standing hope that the user states would finally begin to significantly share the burden remains largely unfulfilled. Such assistance could take the form of contributions to projects identified and agreed with the littoral states either in the form of direct financial contributions or in-kind technical assistance or equipment. However, such contributions remain voluntary and other than long-term contributor Japan, the only other user state offering such assistance is China. Moreover the agreement does not define user states or the direct and indirect beneficiaries of Straits use such as shippers, shipping companies and consumers of oil and goods that transit the Straits. This means that the net cast to solicit contributions remains narrow and porous. Although good intentions have been expressed by some users, the proof will be in the giving. Until then, most users will remain free-riders, benefiting from the efforts of the littoral states and the two contributors while contributing nothing themselves. The agreement also avoids the critical issues of sovereignty and jurisdiction -- and thus rights and responsibilities in the Straits -- a contentious issue between Indonesia and Malaysia on the one hand and Singapore on the other. There is not even a differentiation between the Malacca Strait which is bordered solely by Indonesia and Malaysia which have exclusive rights and responsibilities there, and the Malacca and Singapore Straits which includes Singapore as a littoral state with all attendant rights and responsibilities. Moreover, some boundaries remain uncertain and issues of jurisdictional rights and responsibilities will not be resolved in these areas until they are agreed. The agreement also avoids any formal arrangement among the littoral states for cost-effective and efficient management of the Straits. Indeed, the ad hoc nature of current Straits management is reinforced in that assistance can be bilateral, which is preferred by Indonesia. Although the Tripartite Technical Expert Group on Safety of Navigation will oversee developments, needed urgently is a coordinating committee to solicit and select appropriate projects including training and capacity building, collect funds, enhance efficiency, eliminate redundancy, monitor and report on project implementation, collect and disseminate information, and share intelligence. Thus the agreement is hardly an example of robust co-operation between the littoral states -- as one entity -- and the user states. Further, the issue of security in the Straits is not addressed. While security can be discussed in the forum to be set up under the mechanism, the focus of discussions will be on safety and environmental protection. Moreover, direct user state assistance in enhancing security in the Straits continues to be unwelcome by the Straits states. This will disappoint India, Japan and the United States which have repeatedly offered such assistance. Thus for both Straits states and user states the agreement is much ado about little. The only incremental change is the establishment of a forum in which user states can use to pressure the Straits states regarding their security concerns. User state assistance in improving safety and security in the Straits remains elusive. And the interests of the Straits states and the user states are likely to continue to clash. © 2006 The Jakarta Post.com
US to demand much more container data
WASHINGTON, DC 15 December – US Customs will require much more information about the contents of US-bound containers as what is called the “10+2” is rolled out next year. Customs & Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham told a small gathering of reporters yesterday that the added data, needed to identify high-risk shipments, will be rolled out gradually but will be in place by the end of summer. His remarks to the media came after he told about 700 importers and other trade executives at the annual CBP trade symposium that he “wants to be sure that all the issues that impact your business are resolved before we go to full compliance." Addressing fears that the added data might be used against shippers, Basham said the information “will not be used for compliance purposes.” Fairplay suggested that ocean carriers would like to share in that information so they would know what they are carrying. Basham’s deputy, Michael Mullen, responded by saying the new data will be for law enforcement purposes only and will not be shared with the industry. Mullen, assistant commissioner over the Office of International Affairs and Trade Relations, said the new data will be collected by third-party “fusion centres” and funnelled to CBP’s targeting centres for evaluation. The information newly required will include detailed data on contents, shippers, recipients, eventual buyers, consolidators, ports transited and more. World Shipping Council president Chris Koch told the group the 10+2 scheme will be challenging to implement but said it is “absolutely the thing to do”. As to a lack of information sharing with the industry, he told Fairplay: “that’s fine” as long as the government ensures the boxes are safe. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006
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Heavy vehicles may be banned from Causeway by Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi & Chong Chee Seong
Johor Baru - The Causeway is to be closed to heavy vehicles under a new move being considered by the federal government. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this would relieve the Causeway of congestion and improve traffic flow within Johor Baru since much of the traffic would be diverted through the use of the Second Link. The move, he said, would also be a boon for the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) as hauliers would be persuaded to use the port instead of Singapore now. "This is something we would like to happen," he said. Last September, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had announced a ban on heavy vehicles on the Causeway to facilitate the construction of a bridge to the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex here. He said at the time that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib had given the go-ahead for the plan. However, this was opposed to by the Pan Malaysia Lorry Drivers’ Association, which argued that the government could not force hauliers to use the Second Link without giving an option. Its president, Er Sui See, said the Second Link was not an attractive proposition because of the high toll and the extra 50km one had to travel from Johor Baru. Lorries entering Singapore now pay RM22 in toll to get to Singapore, but via the Second Link, it will cost RM160. Er had threatened to take the matter to court if lorry drivers were not given an option. Singapore had also expressed reservations because of inadequate facilities at its checkpoint in Tuas to handle large volumes of heavy vehicles from Malaysia. Meanwhile, Najib said the government planned to develop and position PTP as the one of the leading logistics hubs in the region. He said the federal government was committed to supporting the growth of the port into a world-class entity. "We are proud to have a port which can even handle the world’s largest container vessel like the Danish Maersk. We are impressed with the service, competitiveness and efficiency of PTP." Najib said this to reporters after witnessing container ship Emma Maersk docking at PTP yesterday. He said the fact that such a vessel was making PTP its regular port-of-call was proof that the Johor port had what it took to service international ocean-going vessels. Najib said PTP’s plus point was its strategic location, adding that with the growth of the Iskandar Regional Development, PTP’s role would rise significantly in the near future. PTP’s growth over the past five years has been phenomenal and the port is poised to do even better in the coming years due to rapid economic growth. According to PTP chairman Datuk Mohamed Sidik, the location of PTP at the southern tip of the peninsular and at the confluence of the east and west trade lanes of Straits of Malacca was very strategic. "I am confident that PTP will play a major role in contributing to the government’s vision of the Ninth Malaysia Plan by developing into the preferred port in this region." He said PTP Free Trade Zone also offered attractive options for investors to build their own factories or lease ready-made factories. "PTP also serves as a one-stop agency for investors to start up operations and interface with relevant government agencies such as the Customs, Immigration Department, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia Industrial Development Authority and others," he said. To date, PTP has contributed more than RM13 billion in local and foreign investments to Johor. Of this, RM2 billion comprised direct foreign investments at the PTP Free Trade Zone. © 2006 NST Online.
PTP becomes first Asian port to get PEMSEA award by Yong Soo Heong
Kuala Lumpur - The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has become the first port in Asia to receive recognition for fully complying and adhering to the Port Safety Health & Environment Management System (PSHEMS) Codes laid down by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA). A PTP spokesman told Bernama that PEMSEA is a regional programme brought about by the collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and 12 countries bordering the East Asian Seas (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, South Korea, North Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Brunei and Cambodia). PTP has been participating in the programme for the past two years. The spokesman said the objective of the project is to develop a strategic management framework to ensure a safe and environment-friendly operation while protecting the health of port workers. PTP CEO Harun Johari received the award on behalf of PTP from Dr Chua Thia-Eng, Regional Programme Director of PEMSEA in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province in China, recently. In commenting on the award, Harun said the introduction of an integrated management system in PTP has "proven to be positive for the port, not only in promoting and enhancing a culture of safety, heath and environmental protection into the business process of the port, but also improving the corporate image of PTP by being one of the few ports in the region that is committed to adopting an internationally recognised management system". He said PTP would continue to ensure that not only best quality services are provided to its customers but these services will comply to national and international laws and standards related to occupational safety and health and protection of the environment. On the other benefits of having such a system in place at PTP, include improving the overall safety consciousness among PTP employees and other measurable improvements like less accidents, higher productivity, lower operating cost and reduction in cargo claims, he said. © 2006 BERNAMA.
Taiwan steps up patrol in disputed South China Sea
Taipei - Taiwanese coastguards have stepped up patrol in the disputed South China Sea after local fishermen complained that they were harassed and robbed by Vietnamese pirates, it has been reported. The move came as Taiwan is building a runway on one of the islands in the disputed Spratlys, sparking protest from Vietnam. The coastguards, whose frigates previously sailed to Tongsha (Pratas) once every month, have extend patrols to the disputed Sisha (Paracel) islets, which are about 1,100 kilometers from Taiwan, the Liberty Times said. Tongsha is some 455 kilometers (273 miles) from Taiwan. The new patrol area also covers waters off the disputed Jhongsha (Macclesfileld Bank) islands, it said. "There were frequent reports of pirates ransacking fishing and cargo vessels sailing through that area," Cheng Chang-hsiung, head of the Maritime Patrol Directorate General, told the daily. "Local fishermen also complained that their fishing nets and catches were stolen by Vietnamese fishermen," Cheng said. However, Taiwanese fishermen were unenthusiastic about the expanded coastguard patrol saying it did little to protect local fishing boats operating off the disputed Spratlys, a major fishing ground for 200 fishing vessels from southern Taiwan. Taiwan in January 2006 rejected Vietnam's demand that it stop building a runway in the Spratly Islands. Vietnam's foreign ministry had described the building of the runway as a "severe violation of Vietnam's sovereignty" and said it would have a negative impact on peace, stability and regional cooperation. Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim all or part of the potentially oil-rich Spratlys. All claimants except Brunei have troops based on the archipelago of more than 100 islets, reefs and atolls, which have a total land mass of less than five square kilometres (two square miles). © 2006 Agence France Presse.
Vietnam re-builds Spratly airport
Vietnam has started renovating an old airport on the highly-disputed Spratly islands, it said on Friday. Vietnam recently started sending small groups of tourists to the archipelago, and said the airport would enable it to fly more visitors in. The tourism plans provoked protests from some of the five other countries that claim the South China Sea islands. The archipelago straddles vital shipping lanes and is believed to contain vast oil and gas reserves. Commercial flights. Vietnam has begun work to bring a disused 600m (2,000-foot) runway on Truong Sa Lon (Big Spratly) island back into working order. "It is a small airport that was used by South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War and was captured in 1975," said Duong Xuan Hoi, of Vietnam's tourist ministry. "The Army Air Force is now renovating it for tourism purposes. When it is finished small aircraft will be able to land there," he said. Tourist officials said the development could open the way for Vietnam Airlines to run commercial flights to the Spratlys. The islands, which amount to less than 5 sq km (2 sq miles) of land, lie 450km (280 miles) off Vietnam's south-eastern coast and have no indigenous inhabitants. Besides Vietnam, some or all of the islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei. The Asean group of South-East Asian Nations has committed to try to work out the sovereignty of the islands, but some of the countries have been staking their own claims. Taiwan has constructed a house raised on stilts on one of the islands, the Philippines has held military exercises nearby, and China has been erecting markers in the area. All except Brunei have military personnel on some of the 100 islets, reefs and atolls, which include Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef and Flat Island. © BBC MMVI.
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