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Canada's navy could help to secure Malacca Straits
Canada's navy could consider helping to secure the strategic Malacca Strait, a naval commander said during a port stop. The waterway between Singapore and neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia carries about one-third of global trade, including about 11 million barrels of oil daily. As one of the busiest waterways in the world more than 60,000 ships used the strait in 2005. The traffic volume is forecast to double by 2020, according to Malaysian estimates. Regional navies grouped in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium have discussed the responsibilities of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia but also of ``other international navies in providing for security of the Strait of Malacca,'' Commander Darren Hawco told reporters aboard the frigate HMCS Ottawa. ``This represents an example of what our Canadian navy could consider contributing,'' Hawco said, emphasising that he was expressing a personal opinion. Canada is an observer in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium. The three nations bordering the Malacca Strait conduct joint sea and air patrols but last month, Malaysia's transport minister Chan Kong Choy said maintaining security in the strait was costing those countries millions of dollars every year. ``The responsibility to keep the strait safe, secure and clean shouldn't be only the sole responsibility of the littoral states,'' Chan said. ``The user states should also ... contribute,'' he added. In addition to maritime ``terrorism'' and piracy, littoral states also had to worry about ship accidents and marine pollution, he said. Hawco said a Canadian naval contribution to strait security would be consistent with his country's national security policy, one plank of which calls for Canada to contribute to international security. HMCS Ottawa is in Singapore en route to the Gulf region as part of a United States Navy amphibious Expeditionary Strike Group, participating in what the navy calls ``the global war on terrorism.''. © 2006 The Brunei Times.
Four-nation meeting to discuss replacing light houses in Malacca Strait by Hoo Ban Khee
Beijing - Chinese officials will meet their counterparts from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore in the next two months to discuss the replacing of lighthouses and other navigation aids in the Straits of Malacca damaged by the tsunami in 2004. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who met the Chinese Minister of Communications Li Shenglin on Thursday evening, said he had offered to host the meeting in Malacca. He said China is committed to participate in three of the six projects to enhance the safety in navigating through the Straits of Malacca and protecting the straits' environment. China, he said, has also agreed to set up a tide, current and wind measurement system for the straits. He said Malaysia was asked by Indonesia and Singapore to co-ordinate with China in carrying out the projects. Chan said Malaysia and China agreed to enhance co-operation in shipping and port development. China Shipping has made Kuala Lumpur its regional headquarters for Southeast Asia and also Port Klang as its only trans-shipment port in this region. Both countries are also working out an exchange of visits by maritime officials, trainings in traffic management, maritime accident investigation and search missions. Chan and his delegates left for Shanghai on Friday morning after a two-day visit to Beijing. © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
International Maritime Bureau unveils online piracy map
International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has launched an online piracy map which gives users a visual on the nature and location of attacks to help them better understand and track incidents. The IMB says shipmasters and owners now have a new tool to help them prepare voyages through piracy hotspots. The map can be accessed on the IMB website (www.icc-ccs.org). The map is available as either a satellite view, provided by Google, a plain view (indicating countries and borders), or a combination of both. Viewers see not only the relief of the coastline but also the bays and coves from which pirates may initiate their attack. "It is not easy to get an immediate picture of the piracy risk of an area by reading lengthy reports full of data and numbers," said IMB director Pottengal Mukundan. "We hope the map, coupled with the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) alerts, will help seafarers spot the warning signs and better prepare for possible attacks." While the map is primarily aimed at helping shipowners, managers and their crews, Captain Mukundan noted that law enforcement officials will find it useful in deciding where best to concentrate their searches for pirates, and researchers will benefit from actually seeing the geographical circumstances of piracy attacks to predict trends. This user-friendly map red balloons mark actual attacks while yellow balloons show attempted attacks. Clicking on these initiates a pop-up with a summary of the attack including the date and time, the type of vessel attacked, the type of attack and the number of crew affected. As with IMB's quarterly and annual piracy reports, the information comes directly from ship masters and ship owners. Once verified by IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre new attacks or attempts will be added to the map within 24 hours. Users can click on the year of their choice to bring up the corresponding map of attacks and their details for previous years, making visual comparisons of hot- spot activity much easier to understand. Feedback on the map and suggestions are welcome and should be directed to the IMB directorate. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
MMEA to install radars in Sabah
Kota Kinabalu - The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has identified several locations in Sabah where it can place its radars, its Sabah and Labuan region enforcement chief, Capt. Maritim Ahmad Puzi Abdul Kahar, said Thursday. His department had applied to the State Government to install the radars in these locations to form a radar network for Sabah, Labuan and surrounding islands under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), he told reporters after presenting Hari Raya delicacies to commanding officers of ships and patrol boats under the agency on the deck of Maritim Berani, here. The radar system would be strengthened with helicopters and planes which the agency planned to buy, he said. According to him, Sabah was given priority for the radar system in view of its long coastline. The agency, which began operations in Sabah and Labuan in June, has a staff-strength of 200, three ships and six speedboats now and is expected to have 20 vessels in all by the end of the year. The MMEA Operations Room is open 24 hours a day and can be contacted at 088-385174. © Daily Express, Sabah, Malaysia.
Palm oil shippers brace for shortage of space
The impending entry of the MARPOL Annex II and the International Bulk Chemicals Code effective 1 January 2007 that will affect all vessels engaged in the carriage of chemicals and vegetable oil is expected to create severe shortage of shipping space for palm oil shippers in Malaysia. Effective 1 January 2007, all vessels that carry chemicals and oil like substances including vegetable oils in bulk will be subjected to substantive revisions of MARPOL 73/78 Annex II and the International Bulk Chemicals (IBC) Code. Vegetable oil shippers, including shippers of palm oil in Malaysia are bracing themselves for potential shortage of shipping space as shipowners are also likely shift their preference to the carriage of chemicals with the entry of the new International Maritime Organisation-mandated regulation. Freight rates for shipping palm oil are also likely to increase on account of the new regulations which shipowners must comply with added cost and well as because of short supply of ships. Also, shipowners are also likely to deploy their ships in the trade to carry more chemicals that offers premium freight rates compared with the carriage of vegetable oils, including palm oil. © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.
Petronas wins China LNG contract
Kuala Lumpur - Petronas, the Malaysian oil and gas giant, has concluded its first LNG supply contract with China, worth $25Bn. Under the agreement, Malaysia LNG, a subsidiary of Petronas, will supply Shanghai LNG Co up to 3M tonnes of LNG a year for 25 years. LNG will be supplied from the Bintulu complex, said to be the “largest integrated” LNG facility in the world with a combined production capacity of 23M tonnes a year. The deal was officially announced yesterday after a meeting between the visiting Malaysian prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao, Petronas said. LNG will be delivered to the receiving terminal at Zhong Ximentang Island, at Shengsi in Zhejiang Province, which is expected to be ready by mid-2009. The receiving terminal is being built by China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and its partner Shenergy Group. Shipping arrangements have not been revealed. China began importing LNG only in May this year from Australia’s North West Shelf at terminals in the southern Guangdong province. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Singapore to review manpower needs
Singapore - Singapore is reviewing its Maritime Manpower Development Plan to target specific needs of various maritime sectors that are seeing unprecedented growth. Maritime and Port Authority chief executive BG Tay Lim Heng said the “comprehensive” review will cover seafaring, offshore and marine and maritime services. Speaking at the inauguration of the 7th biennial Martech international conference at the Singapore Maritime Academy last week, Tay invited the maritime industry to partner MPA to ensure that all major stakeholders are involved in the review. “We have to convince bright students that the maritime industry offers challenging, rewarding and satisfying careers,” Tay said. The MPA is also setting up a new Maritime R&D Advisory Panel to identify a “few major” R&D programmes to which the industry will be committed. The panel will comprise local and international experts. SMA Director, Roland Tan revealed that the institution has produced over 2,700 maritime diploma graduates in marine engineering, nautical studies and maritime transportation management over the last 10 years. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Two cargo ships seized
Kuching - Two cargo ships have been seized for illegally transferring more than 9,000 pieces of sawn timber from one to the other, off Sarawak's western coast. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak region chief Kept Muhammad Abdul Basar Taji said on Friday that the two ships, the Indonesian-registered Sarana Bahari and Sarawak-registered Starlite Glory, were caught in the act by the agency’s patrol boat KM Ikhlas on Thursday afternoon. “Some 9,640 pieces of sawn timber were being illegally transferred from the Sarana Bahari to the Starlite Glory near Talang-Talang Kecil island, about nine nautical miles from Tanjung Datu,” he told reporters at the Marine Department’s office at Muara Tebas here on Friday. The sawn timber, measuring 3.66m long by 0.9m square was believed to have originated from central Kalimantan. Abdul Basar said the case would be handed over to the state Customs Department for further investigation. The crew of both ships, comprising 13 Indonesians on the Sarana Bahari and four Malaysians and four Myanmarese on the Starlite Glory, have been detained. © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
Two ships with cargoes of sawn timber detained: 17 foreigners and four Malaysians arrested by Nancy Nais
Kuching - The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained two cargo ships containing 3,531,156 metric tonnes (9,640 pieces) of sawn timber and arrested 17 foreigners and four Malaysians. MMEA state chief enforcement Captain Muhammad Abdul Basar Taji said both ships were found transferring the sawn timber yesterday about 2.30pm near Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil 9, about nine nautical miles from Tanjung Datu. The mother ship "Sarana Bahari" from Indonesia was transferring the timber to the receiving ship, the Sarikei-registered "Starlite Glory", when the enforcement team approached them, Abdul Basar said at a Press conference here today. He said MMEA has yet to determine the value of the timber seized as the matter is still under investigation and the Royal Customs and Excise Malaysia will be making the evaluation. "MMEA also arrested 13 Indonesian crew, four Myanmar nationals and four Malaysians aged between 20 and 50. All the foreigners failed to produce valid travel documents," he added. Abdul Basar also said that three small packets of suspected ganja (cannabis) were found in the mother ship. The raid was conducted following a tip-off regarding large quantities of sawn timber being smuggled into the country. "This case will be investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and both ships will be handed over to the State's Royal Customs and Excise," he said. © 2006 NST Online.
UN’s environmental agency warns of rising marine pollution threat from land-sources
With close to 90 per cent of Asia’s sewage discharged without treatment the region’s marine environment is increasingly stressed, threatening economically vital coastal areas, including fishery industries, the United Nations’ environmental agency warned today. “The Asian region crystallizes the challenges and opportunities facing the global community trying to balance economic development and poverty eradication with social and environmental factors,” noted an official of the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP), at an international conference to combat marine pollution that opened today in the Beijing, China. Awareness about this challenge has never been higher and a growing number of countries – more than 60 - have developed “national programmes of action” to staunch land-based sources of marine pollution, noted the official, Veerle Vandeweerd, but at the same time “these successes are being overwhelmed by booming populations, rapid urbanization and industrialization and a range of growing pressures in the coastal zones.” As a consequence “governments need to hurry up and step up action to reduce pollution from land-based sources, otherwise rapid development will come at a high price as a result of losses and damage to economically important habitats, ecosystems and marine resources from coastlines and coral reefs to mangroves and fisheries”, she warned. Some 700 delegates from around 115 countries are attending the conference aimed at charting a new course for the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Sources -- a voluntary UNEP initiative. Organizers are hoping this week’s meeting will result in commitments to more directly link management of freshwaters, including rivers and lakes, with efforts to minimize coastal-based pollution in recognition that a substantial portion of marine contamination comes from inland areas via rivers and other freshwater sources. UNEP is also hoping for commitments towards greater cooperation and alliances between Governments and civil society, local authorities, private business and other non-governmental organizations. Although “tackling marine pollution is the primary responsibility of national Governments……it is also a responsibility of all sectors of society from private business to local authorities,” said Ms. Vandeweerd, who serves as UNEP/GPA coordinator. The ten year-old GPA can point to a range of success stories financed by increasing national commitments as well as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a multibillion-dollar financing initiative that assists developing countries meet environmental challenges. The GEF has invested $1.2 billion in efforts to staunch land-based pollution sources through its International Waters programme, catalyzing co-financing of a similar amount, resulting in investment funds of $400 million to protect East Asian seas; a $380 million fund for the Mediterranean and another $400 million fund covering the Black Sea and the Danube. A major report - the "State of the Marine Environment" - compiled for Governments attending this week’s review highlight untreated sewage, soaring sediments due to rampant deforestation, increased fertilizer use, and coastal developments as among the key threats facing the region’s seas. Sewage treatment access varies widely – from roughly 60 per cent of Japan’s population to 15 per cent in Mumbai, India, to about 6 per cent in Karachi, Pakistan. Discharges from many big industrial plants situated along the coast is also a threat and is a “common feature” in much of South Asia, Ms. Vandeweerd. Two thirds of the world’s total sediment transport to the oceans occurs in South and East Asia. Rampant deforestation is particularly acute in Southeast Asia and studies in the Philippines and Indonesia estimate damage to coral reefs from logging-induced sedimentation greatly exceeds the economic benefits of logging. © UN News Service.
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