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Harmful ships' paint systems to be outlawed as international convention meets
entry-into-force criteria
An international convention banning the use of harmful organotins in
anti-fouling paints used on ships' hulls will enter into force on 17 September
2008, following accession to the treaty by Panama on Monday 17 September 2007.
The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on
Ships (AFS Convention) was adopted on 5 October 2001 by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations specialized agency with
responsibility for safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine
pollution by ships. Under the terms of the Convention, it enters into force 12
months after 25 States representing 25 per cent of the world's merchant shipping
tonnage have ratified it. With the ratification by Panama, the AFS Convention
has been ratified by 25 States, with a combined 38.11 per cent of world merchant
shipping tonnage. When the Convention is in force, ships will no longer be
permitted to apply or re-apply organotin compounds which act as biocides in
their anti-fouling systems; ships either shall not bear such compounds on their
hulls or external parts or surface or, for ships already carrying such compounds
on their hulls, a coating that forms a barrier to such compounds will have to be
applied to prevent them leaching from the underlying non-compliant anti-fouling
systems. The Convention also establishes a mechanism to evaluate and assess
other anti-fouling systems and prevent the potential future use of other harmful
substances in these systems. The Convention will apply to ships flying the flag
of a Party to the Convention, as well as ships not entitled to fly their flag
but which operate under their authority and to all ships that enter a port,
shipyard or offshore terminal of a Party. It will apply to all ships, including
fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs), and floating
production storage and off-loading units (FPSOs). IMO Secretary-General Mr.
Efthimios E. Mitropoulos welcomed the latest ratification and encouraged others
to follow suit. "I am very pleased to be able to announce today that, following
the ratification by Panama, the 2001 International Convention on the Control of
Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships will enter into force in 12 months time."
he said. "This is an important convention which is one of a series of measures
that IMO has adopted over the years to prevent and control pollution caused by
ships and to mitigate the effects of any damage that may occur. These are all
positive proof of the firm determination of Governments and the industry to
reduce, to the barest minimum, the impact that shipping may have on our fragile
environment." Mr. Mitropoulos urged all those States who have not yet ratified
this convention to do so at the earliest opportunity, so that the percentage of
global merchant shipping tonnage covered by the convention can be as high as
possible. Anti-fouling systems. Anti-fouling paints are used to coat the bottoms
of ships to prevent sealife such as algae and molluscs attaching themselves to
the hull - thereby slowing down the ship and increasing fuel consumption. The
AFS Convention defines "anti-fouling systems" as "a coating, paint, surface
treatment, surface, or device that is used on a ship to control or prevent
attachment of unwanted organisms". In the early days of sailing ships, lime and
later arsenic were used to coat ships' hulls, until the modern chemicals
industry developed effective anti-fouling paints using metallic compounds. These
compounds slowly "leach" into the sea water, killing barnacles and other marine
life that have attached to the ship. But studies showed that these compounds
persist in the water, killing sealife, harming the environment and possibly
entering the food chain. One of the most popular anti-fouling paints, developed
in the 1960s, contained the organotin compound tributylin (TBT), which has been
proven to cause deformations in oysters and sex changes in whelks. Today, there
are a variety of effective anti-fouling systems available which do not contain
TBT, such as organotin-free anti-fouling paints and biocide-free non-stick
coatings which have an extremely slippery surface - preventing fouling occurring
and making it easier to clean when it does. © 2002 International Maritime
Organisation.
Marine police ready to keep local waters safe during Raya by Sylvia Looi
Lumut - At least 40 marine police boats will be deployed to keep the Malaysian
waters safe during this coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Bukit Aman marine police
(development, finance and project) assistant commander Asst Comm Abdul Aziz
Yusof said manpower would be increased if there was a need to step up security
during the festive period. "For this Hari Raya, our officers will take turns to
be on duty so that our operations will not be affected," he told reporters after
hosting a buka puasa event at the Kampung Acheh marine police base here, about
80km from Ipoh, on Tuesday. Also present were northern region marine police
chief ACP Zainul Abidin Hasan and Perak marine police commanding officer Deputy
Supt Salehuddin Mat Zaman. ACP Zainul said marine police from the northern
region would be patrolling the shores from Langkawi in Kedah to Selangor. "We
will concentrate on problematic areas such as Port Klang which is known for the
illegal entry of immigrants and for smuggling activities," he added. © 1995-2007
Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
Milestone agreement reached on co-operation over the Straits of Malacca and
Singapore
A new framework, in which the littoral States of the Straits of Malacca and
Singapore (the Straits) can work together with the international maritime
community to enhance navigational safety, security and environmental protection
in the Straits, has been formally agreed. Dubbed the "Co-operative Mechanism",
this far-reaching initiative was cemented at an international meeting hosted by
Singapore, convened by IMO and organized in close co operation with the Straits'
two other littoral States, Indonesia and Malaysia. The Singapore Meeting was a
direct outcome of the initiative of the IMO Council to consider the protection
of vital shipping lanes such as the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. It was
designed to follow up and build on the outcome of previous meetings on enhancing
safety, security and environmental protection in the Straits that were held in
Jakarta, Indonesia, in September 2005 and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in
September 2006. The Co-operative Mechanism will provide a regular platform for
dialogue between the littoral States, user States and users of the Straits, as
well as a structured framework for co-operation with the international
community. It represents the successful establishment, for the first time ever,
of the type of co operative mechanism for the management of international
straits envisaged in Article 43 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea. It will enable the three littoral States, user States and users of the
Straits to exchange views, jointly undertake projects and make voluntary
monetary contributions through the following three components:
• a forum for
regular dialogue;
• a committee to coordinate and manage specific projects;
and
• a fund to receive and manage financial contributions.
Participation
in the Co-operative Mechanism is intended to be inclusive of all stakeholders
and undertaken voluntarily. The Meeting saw a widespread show of support for the
projects aimed at enhancing the safety of navigation and environmental
protection in the Straits that were first proposed by the littoral States at the
Kuala Lumpur Meeting. The projects (on response to incidents involving hazardous
and noxious substances (HNS); Class B transponders on small ships; establishing
a tide, current and wind measurement system; and replacement and maintenance of
aids to navigation and aids to navigation damaged in the tsunami disaster of
December 2004) were widely endorsed and the Governments of Australia, China,
Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of
America pledged financial and in-kind support. In some cases, work is already
underway. China, for example, has been actively pursuing the implementation of
the project concerning the replacement of aids to navigation damaged by the 2004
tsunami and, along with the United States of America, has conducted a needs'
assessment survey on the response to HNS incidents. The Meeting also noted the
progress made in the implementation of the Marine Electronic Highway
Demonstration Project for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (the MEH
Demonstration project), developed by IMO in co-operation with the littoral
States and funded by the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank,
with additional financial support provided by the Republic of Korea. The Meeting
also noted, with appreciation, developments in the Malacca Straits Security
Initiatives of the littoral States and that the Information Sharing Centre of
the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against
Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) had become operational. At the end of its deliberations,
the Meeting adopted the Singapore Statement, which confirmed the consensus among
the participants that collective efforts were needed to enhance navigational
safety and environmental protection in the Straits and expressed support and
encouragement for the Co-operative Mechanism.Speaking at the end of the Meeting,
the IMO Secretary-General, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said, "I am delighted with
the progress made so far and with the fact that we have reached the stage where
we are today. I am particularly pleased with the launching of the Co-operative
Mechanism developed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and with the spirit of
goodwill demonstrated by all stakeholders, especially the three littoral States
of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. I view the Co operative Mechanism as a
milestone breakthrough in the efforts of all parties in enhancing safety and
environmental protection through the Straits. However, we should not consider
the launching of the Mechanism as the end of the road. Rather, we should view it
as an opportunity to maintain, even strengthen, the already established channel
of communication among all parties concerned, thus facilitating a meaningful
dialogue for the accomplishment of all objectives set." Mr. Mitropoulos also
looked forward to being advised of further voluntary contributions, in
particular from user States, to implement the projects identified by the
littoral States. Some 250 delegates representing 38 countries, one United
Nations Specialized Agency, one intergovernmental and 14 maritime-related
non-governmental organizations attended the Meeting. Statements of support for
the Co-operative Mechanism came from Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, China, Cyprus,
Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, South
Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the
United States of America, as well as from industry representatives ICS,
INTERTANKO, BIMCO, OCIMF and the Asian Shipowners Forum. Furthermore, the Nippon
Foundation stated that it is prepared to contribute to the Aids to Navigation
Fund (which is established under the Co operative Mechanism) up to a third of
the costs associated with the funding of the maintenance and repair of the aids
to navigation in the Straits during the initial five-year period, until the
necessary funds have been collected from voluntary contributions from around the
world. The three littoral States are now working toward convening the inaugural
meetings of the three components of the Co-operative Mechanism in 2008. These
meetings are expected to be held annually. © 2002 International Maritime
Organisation.
MISC pushes into petrochemicals
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian ship operator MISC has set up a joint venture with
Dialog Group to spearhead its expansion into petrochemicals. Dialog is
Malaysia’s leading integrated technical services provider to the oil, gas and
petrochemical industries, and the tie-up fits MISC’s new strategy called ‘Growth
to Partnership’, which emphasises co-operation rather than sole ventures. The
deal is expected to result in more chemical tanker newbuildings to follow the 16
ordered earlier this year. Both companies will develop independent centralised
tankage facilities and tank terminals at the port of Tanjung Langsat, to be
administered jointly under a new company Dialog CTF, with MISC taking a 45%
interest. Abridged notes of the agreement given to Fairplay say DCTF will
command an 80% stake in the terminal itself, while the remainder will be through
global energy trader Trafigura Beheer, through its subsidiary Puma Energy Asia
Pacific. The subsidiaries, says the agreement, will oversee the tankage
facilities in Langsat on a ‘build, own, operate and transfer’ basis. DCTF has a
share capital value of M$100,000 ($29,000) of ordinary shares at $0.29 and an
initial issued and paid-up share capital of $0.58. Both MISC and Dialog Group
will take steps to increase the authorised and the issued and paid-up share
capital of DCTF. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Najib: Malacca strait no longer a war-risk
zone
Putrajaya - Datuk Seri Najib Razak says greater co-operation among the littoral
states of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore has reduced the incidence of piracy
in the Straits of Malacca dramatically. Describing the co-operation as very
good, the deputy prime minister said yesterday that better co-ordinated patrols
and new initiatives like the "eye in the sky" air surveillance had resulted in
the straits being declassified as a war-risk zone by Lloyds of London. This, he
said, had brought tangible economic benefits as ship owners now paid lower
insurance premiums on their ships. In addition, improved security along the
straits had also helped Malaysia in the promotion of its ports, such as Port
Klang, Penang Port and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas. Said Najib: "For us to
combat piracy and to prevent any possible acts of terrorism along the Straits of
Malacca, one of the prerequisites is for us to share quality and timely
intelligence. "Terrorism is a phenomenon that does not confine itself to any
single country. Terrorism is fluid. It moves from one country to another, it has
regional and even global networking. And for us to stamp out any form of
terrorism would require regional and global co-operation." Najib, who is also
defence minister, made these remarks in an interview in conjunction with the
First Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference to be held over three days in
Kuala Lumpur from Wednesday. Intelligence chiefs from 22 countries, including
the United States, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South
Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam,
Rwanda and South Africa will be taking part in the conference organised by the
Defence Ministry and the Malaysian armed forces in co-operation with the US
Department of Defence. Najib said the objective of the conference, themed "To
Enhance Capacity of Intelligence and Information Sharing", was to enhance
relations and co-operation among the participating countries in security
matters, including present and future threats. "We are taking this step as there
is a need to increase our capability in intelligence gathering because we face
non-conventional threats, and one of the important dimensions in facing such
threats is how we can gather quality information and intelligence both accurate
and timely," he said. "Such intelligence information may not be obtained by us
alone because the source or cause may be in other countries. As such,
co-operation in the Asia-Pacific is very important to better our capability to
face these threats." Najib said the conference organisers would be looking to
establish a more formal mechanism in intelligence-gathering so that the
countries concerned would be comfortable working together in terms of the
standard operating procedures, the cultural aspects and the doctrine to be
employed. Asked whether more formal co-operation would lead to the formation of
a region-wide intelligence centre, he said: "I don’t think there is a need for
us to have a centre. Intelligence, by nature, is only shared on a need to know
basis. If it concerns another country, the exchange will be on a bilateral
basis." Najib said he would like the conference to "increase the capacity for us
to react to any eventual threat to the region, whether as a whole or any
individual country". He said the capacity to react had to be predicated on
quality intelligence that could be shared between the countries concerned. He
hoped there would be greater appreciation of this fact by the participants so
that there would be a greater willingness to exchange information. Asked on past
successes as a result of co-operation between Malaysia and other countries, he
said: "I don’t want to be too specific, but the very fact that there has been no
act of terrorism of any significant consequence is indicative of the fact that
we are on top of the situation. We cannot be on top of the situation unless and
until we have quality intelligence. "We are in possession of quality
intelligence but, at the same time, we don’t lull ourselves into a false sense
of confidence that we know and have everything. That is why the sharing of
information is important between the armed forces in the region." Asked whether
the sharing of intelligence would compromise the security of the country, Najib
said there were different types of information. Some information was not
sensitive in nature and could be aired openly but intelligence, by nature, was
sensitive and for strategic reasons, it was not aired openly. For example, he
said, if there was information about Malaysia’s internal security or its armed
forces, then that information would not be exposed to anyone outside. "On the
other hand, if the information involves the movements of an individual who may
be involved in terrorism or is a terrorist who may pose a security threat to us
or others, then we need to exchange the information," he said. Asked on the
level of co-operation among countries in this region in terms of natural
disasters, Najib said the 2004 tsunami showed that the initial response was slow
but picked up momentum. "I think we learnt quite a bit from the tsunami
experience. Hopefully, it will not happen (again) but if it does, I think
countries in the region and outside would be better prepared." Asked on
Malaysia’s acquisition of a submarine, due to be delivered in 2009, Najib
described it as a strategic asset in the security of the country. He said
Malaysia would continue to "acquire more dedicated platforms" to enhance its
security.- BERNAMA. © 2007 NST Online.
US inspection plan may affect smooth supply
chain flow, says MIMA
Kuala Lumpur - The US plan to scan all containers at ports outside the US
destined into the country will result in more bottlenecks along the maritime
supply chain without guaranteeing to make it any safer. "The ensuing delay in
processing ships and cargo as a result of the stringent checks would be anathema
to the essence of speed and efficiency as expounded by modern supply chain
management," said Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) research fellow, Nazery
Khalid. He said this in his talk on "The Economic Impact of Attacks on Ports" at
a conference in Mississippi State University in the US today. Nazery said a
sluggish supply chain flow, as a result of the proposal to carry out the
inspections was not conducive to facilitating the transport of huge amount of
goods at the lowest cost and shortest time possible. The risk-based initiative,
known as the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI), was introduced by US Customs and
Border Protection. Under the SFI, all containers exported to the US via the port
will be scanned and the information gathered from the scanning will be fed to
the agency which will assess the containers' security risks. Nazery said the
shippers feared that more of such measures would further inconvenience them and
other port users already reeling from the delays caused by more strict
inspection of containers in the wake of Sept 11 incident. "The SFI proposal will
add more woes to shipping lines and shippers. "To add insult to injury, the port
of origin is supposed to bear the full cost of the inspection. The ports are
already saddled with extra costs in the name of providing 'better security'.
"Inevitably, port operators will pass down the costs to their users in the form
of security surcharge to cover their costs, and shippers will in turn pass down
their costs to customers," he said. He said while security efforts put in place
thus far were laudable, the current piecemeal approach to securing ports and the
maritime supply chain lacked cohesion and even the consensual support of all
parties. "Only when measures introduced can garner the support of those affected
will they stand a good chance of being implemented efficiently and in a
sustainable manner," he said. Nazery said port stakeholders must find a balance
between meeting the need for ports to serve the supply chain efficiently and to
protect ports from security threats. © 2007 BERNAMA.
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Week 3 (14 - 20 October
2007) |
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Australian Navy coming for ‘tabletop’ exercises by Joel Guinto
Manila - Australian naval forces will be in the country for a four-day tabletop
exercise on maritime security and surveillance with Filipino counterparts, a
regional spokesman for the Philippine Navy said Monday. The fifth run of the
annual Philippine Navy-Royal Australian Navy Exercise Lumbas 2007 will run from
Wednesday to Saturday and involve some 200 to 300 troops from both forces, said
Lieutenant Alex Garso, spokesman of Naval Forces Central. The Australians,
onboard HMAS Parramatta, a vessel capable of surface and undersea warfare,
surveillance, reconnaissance, and interdiction operations, and air defense, will
dock at the Cebu City port on Wednesday. The Lumbas kick-off on Wednesday will
bring to three the number of joint exercises between and Filipino and foreign
military forces this week. The Philippine Air Force kicked off "Talon Vision"
exercises with American troops at the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga province
and the former Subic Naval Base in Zambales province. On Tuesday, Filipino and
American Marines will start the amphibious Phiblex exercises in Crow Valley,
Tarlac province; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province; and the Philippine
Marine base in Cavite province. "These are purely tabletop exercises; there will
be no movement at sea," Garso told reporters. "[The exercises] will consist of a
series of scenario-driven activities that will engage the various maritime and
government agencies in conducting maritime security operations," he added. It
will be first time that the Lumbas exercise will be staged in Cebu. Previous
runs were done in Luzon, he said. In May, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and
Australian Prime Minister John Howard signed in Sydney the Status of Visiting
Forces Agreement (SOVFA), which will pave the way for large-scale join training
between the two countries' militaries. The SOVFA is awaiting approval of the
Philippine Senate. © 2001-2007 INQUIRER.net.
Enforcement gaps: Aim for a mentality change by Susai Anthony Muthu
Here we go again! Ferry catches fire enroute to Pulau Tioman and four people
drown. Marine department says ferry has no valid licence and passenger
certificate. Whose responsibility is it to ensure that all the ferries have the
relevant documents to certify their seaworthiness? Who is responsible for
ensuring the safety of passengers using this facility? Palestinian stowaway
found in the nose wheel well of a Singapore Airlines jet at Changi Airport on
arrival from KLIA. Who is responsible for this security breach? Are we going to
blame one lowly security guard? Are we going to say that the manning level was
low because of the festive season? With aviation security at its tightest, the
rest of the world is not going to take kindly to this. Recently, while driving
to Seremban in heavy rain, I was caught in a massive jam. It turned out that
there had been an accident on the highway near the Seremban/Port Dickson exit.
PLUS personnel were on hand to attend to the stricken vehicles and motorists.
But there was not a single law enforcement officer to be seen and the jam
stretched for several kilometres both ways. Where was the highway patrol? Every
commercial vehicle has its maximum laden weight and unladen weight printed on
its side. Now, who is actually monitoring the laden weight? How is it that we do
not have any weighing stations on the highway? What is PLUS doing about this? In
most other developed countries, every commercial vehicle that intends to get
onto the highway is weighed first. The fact that there are so many lorries
struggling to go up the inclines on the highway suggests that all is not right.
Whose responsibility is it to ensure that commercial vehicles do not carry more
than their maximum laden weight? I also witnessed a family of three on a
motorcycle on the highway in the driving rain. Cold, wet and barefoot, the
unfortunate child was stuck between his parents. This is a common sight even in
the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Why do we allow this? Is there no law that states
only persons of a certain age can ride a motorcycle? Is there no law that states
that it is an offence for more than two persons to ride on a motorbike? The
statement by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that the
government should not be blamed if there is no change of attitude among
motorists is a rather simplistic way of looking at a very serious problem. I
would think that in order for attitudes to change, there first has to be
stricter enforcement of the laws. Our laws are sufficient but the enforcement is
lackadaisical at best. This 'tidak apa' attitude is evident at all levels. Must
there always be a tragedy before we do what we are in fact paid to do? And even
then, on a 'hangat-hangat tahi ayam' level? This is the reason why ferries
operate without licences, lorries are loaded till breaking point, public vehicle
operators with several summonses to their name are still active on the road, car
lights are not switched on in heavy rain or even when it is dark, there is
illegal parking and motorists do not signal their intention to turn or change
lane. The learner-driver syllabus needs to be reviewed but more importantly, the
matter of who is qualified to be a driving instructor has to be addressed. Ad
hoc measures like 'Ops Sikap' are not going to change the mentality of people.
It is not just a matter of obeying traffic rules. The social and psychological
dimensions of the problem cannot be overlooked. We must work towards instilling
a sense of self worth, a culture of safety and respect for others. There was a
nationwide outcry over the killing of a child recently. Yet we turn a blind eye
when innocent children are exposed to unnecessary danger, riding on motorbikes
with no form of protection whatsoever. Do we stand by and watch as the
statistics multiply? © 2007 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad.
Fishing made easy with satellites by Sonia Ramachandran
Kuala Lum[pur - Imagine a fisherman waking up in the morning to a telephone
call, text message, an email or fax telling him exactly where the fish is going
to be that day. Far-fetched? Not so. In an effort to improve the income of some
90,000 fishermen, the government is undertaking a fish-forecasting programme
which will enable them to fish at the right spot at the right time. This will
translate into better yields and more income. The pilot project is under way in
Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister
Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis and the Malaysia Centre for Remote Sensing (Macres)
director Darus Ahmad are working to make this a nationwide reality by 2010. The
country produces about 1.2 million tonnes of marine and freshwater fish and
seaweed a year. The plan is to increase this to two million tonnes by 2010.
Jamaludin said the government had made a commitment to eradicate hardcore
poverty. Since quite a large number of the hardcore poor were from the fishing
community, Jamaludin wants to use technology to address the problems. "Fishermen
in our country are still using traditional methods to fish so I said why don't
we use technology to increase their yield? "Technology can be used to study
weather and sea patterns, as well as the temperature, to locate schools of fish.
A radar on the boat which can locate fish within a certain radius would be
useful, but it is important for the fishermen to know where the fish is first
before they use the radar," he said. Besides Macres, the project involves the
Fisheries Department, Fisheries Development Board (LKIM), National Fishermen's
Association (Nekmat) and Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (Mimos
Bhd). "We will invite Universiti Putra Malaysia Terengganu to get involved as it
has the expertise in this area. We are also working with the research division
of the Fisheries Department in Kuala Terengganu," said Darus. The project, he
said, was fully funded by the government and was expected to cost RM12 million.
Darus said the expertise of advanced countries such as Japan, which are familiar
with fish-forecasting models, would be sought. "We are in the process of
negotiating with them on this," he said. How does fish forecasting work?
"Theoretically, we use information obtained from satellites related to fishing.
For example, the satellite can detect the phito-plankton and since this is fish
food, the fish can be expected to be around there. "The satellite can also
measure sea temperatures. This is important as the growth of plankton is related
to sea temperatures. Fish is also influenced by water temperature," he said.
These, said Darus, together with ground data such as the fish catch by the
fishermen, would be the parameters analysed, with the final product being the
location map of potential areas. "We will use the ground data and satellite data
to see the correlation between both to produce a good computerised fish
forecasting model," he said. The satellites being used for this project are the
Aqua, Terra, OceanSat and NOAA AVHRR satellites. "These images are available
daily through our ground station in Temerloh. Sometimes, though, the images are
not clear due to cloud cover." Currently, he added, some fishermen were using
the sonar echo sounder (a radar to detect fish within a certain radius). "The
difference between this and fish forecasting is that the fishermen have to go
out to sea before they can use the sonar system. "With fish forecasting, the
location of the fish can be determined before the fishermen go out to sea," he
said. The information, said Darus, would be relayed to the fishermen through
whatever communication technology available as often as possible, with the
minimum frequency being once a week. "The project will be expanded to other
states and if it becomes successful, it will position Malaysia as a major fish
industry player," added Darus. © 2007 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad.
Four dead as Malaysian ferry sinks
Kuala Lumpur - Four passengers died as a Malaysian ferry proceeding to a resort
island off the east coast caught fire and sank in choppy seas on Saturday. Three
are still missing while the rest of the 106 passengers and crew have been
rescued. Search for the missing is continuing, Rompin district deputy police
chief Abdullah Sani told Fairplay. The accident took place about seven n-miles
off Tioman – a popular resort island – in the South China Sea. The 20 m wooden
boat Seagull Express was allegedly operating without a valid licence. It is also
said to have left a private jetty in Mersing in the southern Johor province
without obtaining port clearance and without furnishing a passenger manifest.
Mersing-based owner Seagull Express and Accommodation, however, insisted that
the licence had been renewed. Passengers apparently had to jump into the sea
with children after the crew abandoned the boat. They have blamed faulty wiring
for the fire and have complained that there were insufficient life jackets. The
Malaysian government has ordered an investigation. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay
Limited 1999 - 2006.
Japan donates patrol ships to Malacca piracy effort
Japan has donated three patrol ships to help securing Malacca Strait. Jakarta –
Japan has donated three patrol ships to help securing Malacca Strait, Indonesian
military chief and spokesman said on October 3. Spokesman of the military Rear
Air Marshal Sagom Tambun said that the ships would arrive in December, the first
donation by the Japanese government. Indonesian Military Commanders Air Marshal
Djoko Suyanto said the ships would be operated by officers from littoral
countries. Over 50,000 vessels per year pass through the 900km Malacca Strait,
carrying one quarter of the world’s sea trade. © Mathaba News Network.
Maritime boundary disputes by B.A. Hamzah
I have long suspected that the decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
at The Hague in Dec. 2002 to reward the ownership of Ligitan and Sipadan to
Malaysia has unfortunately strained bilateral relations between Malaysia and
Indonesia. Ambalat has become a new territorial dispute and I hope that the
resolution, if any, will be different from Sipadan and Ligitan. Besides Ambalat,
Jakarta has also disputed the boundaries of the exclusive economic zones with
Malaysia in the Malacca Straits and off Datu in Sarawak. The maritime boundary
problems between the two neighbors should not be allowed to spill over into
other areas at a time when both countries need to stick together to ride over
some geopolitical and economic turbulence in our midst. As neighbors, we must
not lose sight of the larger geopolitical picture and let petty issues consume
our energies. Malaysia and Indonesia need to resolve their maritime boundary
problems amicably. Needless to say both sides must understand the changing
internal political and social cultural dynamics that can impact foreign
relations. Both sides must take positive measures to contain extremist views and
not to stoke fears and intimidation by sensationalizing petty personal problems
as threats to the stability of relations at the state level. As policy planners
go about attending to their daily routines, they must not lose sight of the real
purpose of any foreign policy: preserving and promoting the core national
interests -- political independence and territorial integrity. Within the
framework of the core interests, a good foreign policy is a friendly policy that
aims at strengthening diplomatic relationship between states. A bad policy is
one that increases enmity or unilaterally exploits weaknesses simply to score
points. Finally, the way forward is to rebuild trust, remove prejudices and
discus the differences openly and frankly. Nothing whatsoever is to be gained by
sweeping problems under the carpet; nor does it make sense to say that
everything is fine when it is not. Even among close friends, it is wise not to
take relationships for granted. B.A. HAMZAH, Ampang, Malaysia ©
thejakartapost.com
MISC JV wins FPSO contract
Kuala Lumpur - LNG operator MISC and Petroleum Technical Services have secured a
$350-400M contract from Petronas Carigali Vietnam (PC Vietnam). In a statement
to Malaysia’s stock exchange, MISC identified PC Vietnam as an operator of a
production sharing contract for blocks 1 and 2, 155km east of Vung Tau. The
contract for the provision of a FPSO, it says, will be for eight years. Sources
close to MISC told Fairplay much of the goodwill resulting in a deal, came from
Petronas’s “earlier forays into the international arena”. The FPSO’s capital
expenditure is estimated to be at $260-290M. First oil is expected in March
2009. The repair, life extension and conversion of the FPSO is to be undertaken
by Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MMHE), a wholly owned subsidiary of
MISC in Pasir Gudang, Johor. MISC is one of the world’s largest operators of LNG
vessels. Its website shows a fleet of 29 vessels with a combined deadweight of
more than 2M. On 25 October it will commission yet another LNG vessel. © Lloyd's
Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Regional cooperation in info-sharing helps reduce robberies at sea by S. Ramesh
Singapore - The spate of petty robberies out at sea has dropped over the last
three years, according to the information centre overseeing regional cooperation
on combating piracy and armed robbery. But the centre's deputy director, who
spoke at a coastal surveillance conference, feels that more could be done to
improve this situation, especially in preventing robberies at night when ships
are docked at ports. The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and
Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre is
barely a year old, but it has already scored some achievements in areas such as
capacity building and cooperation enhancement. The ReCAAP's Deputy Director
Nicholas Teo said: "One is to reach out to industry. Through our reports, we
have been advocating that ships should report to the various coastal stations so
that information can be very quickly addressed and passed on." As a result,
there have been improvements in the number of robberies out at sea. A total of
26 minor cases were recorded this year between January and June, down from 37
cases in the same period two years ago. For the moderately serious cases, there
has been a sharp drop from 22 cases between January and June last year to just
four in the first six months of this year. More efforts are being planned to
enhance cooperation among the countries which are taking part in the ReCAAP. In
fact, a major table-top exercise is being planned early next year to enhance
various levels of cooperation. Analysts said all this is important because
nearly half of the world's oil supplies pass through the Straits of Malacca and
Singapore, making these sea lines of communication critical for ships. The
two-day conference also has an exhibition displaying some of the latest
acquisitions by shippers to prevent danger at sea. © 2007 MCN International Pte
Ltd.
Securing the Straits by Mohd Nizam Basiron
Progress is being made on a multilateral approach to ensuring safety in the
Straits of Malacca, but more nations need to be involved, writes MOHD NIZAM
BASIRON FOR years, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have asked users of the
Straits of Malacca and Singapore to help maintain safety of navigation and
protect the marine environment. Now, they have finally got what they wanted --
broad-based international support for a co-operative mechanism which would
ensure that the straits remain safe and open for navigation while protecting the
interest of the littoral states in terms of their sovereignty and the
environment. This support, with several pledges of project financing to boot,
was given at the "Singapore Meeting on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore:
Enhancing Safety, Security and Environmental Protection", held in early
September. It was the third in a series of meetings organised by the littoral
states in co-operation with the International Maritime Organisation, which began
in Jakarta in 2005 and continued in Kuala Lumpur in 2006. The long-drawn process
leading to this meeting was at times fraught with difficulties and
misunderstandings, not least because many users were reluctant to pay for
services currently provided free by the littorals, but also because the littoral
states have jealously guarded their sovereignty and insisted that any
co-operative ventures respect their rule over this important waterway.
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia's concern is understandable, as the straits
are the subject of a continuous tussle between current and past superpowers
seeking control over the world's many strategic choke points and sea lanes of
communication. Historically, the littoral states have also had different views
on the role of the international community in the straits. Malaysia and
Indonesia have in the past been wary about this, while Singapore has adopted a
more "open" position. What transpired in Singapore, therefore, is very important
as it unified the position of the littoral states, and strengthened that with
support and contributions from the users. It is also a first in terms of
implementing Article 43 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos),
which calls for co-operation among user states and littoral states in the
establishment, maintenance and improvement of aids to navigation and in the
prevention of pollution from ships in straits used for international navigation.
Professor S. Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, stressed this in his
opening remarks at the meeting. By going back to Unclos, the three countries
have strengthened the legal basis for co-operation in the straits and put the
onus on users to respond to the call for co-operation as outlined in the
"Co-operative Mechanism" presented to the meeting. At the heart of the new
co-operation in the straits is that blandly titled document. The mechanism is
currently a "three-legged" creature, comprising a co-operative forum, co-ordinating
committees for six projects aimed at enhancing safety of navigation and
protection of the environment in the Straits, and an "Aids to Navigation Fund"
dedicated towards maintaining critical aids to navigation in the straits. The
co-operative forum will be the venue for the stakeholders to deliberate on
issues relating to the straits, while the six specific projects would involve
such tasks as the removal of wrecks in the traffic separation scheme in the
straits, capacity-building to combat spills of hazardous and noxious materials,
and replacement and maintenance of aids to navigation (including those damaged
by the 2004 tsunami). Five of the six projects received additional pledges for
contributions in cash and kind from some participating countries. This is in
addition to the commitments made at the Kuala Lumpur meeting in 2005. The most
significant commitments made in Singapore were the financial contributions
announced by Japan through the Nippon Foundation, and by South Korea and the
United Arab Emirates (UAE), towards the Aids to Navigation Fund. The Nippon
Foundation announced that it would provide one-third of the initial five-year
cost of the fund, an estimated US$9 million (RM30 million). This underlined
Japan's continued commitment towards safety of navigation and pollution
prevention in the straits, and reflects Japan's dependence on the straits, which
carry more than 90 per cent of its energy supply. Australia, China, Japan, South
Korea, the UAE and United States have also expressed willingness to contribute
to safety of navigation and environmental protection in the straits, but major
European shipping nations and ship owners remained largely on the sidelines at
the Singapore meeting. While all expressed support for the co-operative
mechanism and were prepared to participate in the forum, the response from major
European shipping nations and the shipping industry where funding and other
contributions are concerned is disappointing, to say the least. Membership-based
ship owners associations may need to consult their members before making any
commitments, but the two years since the Jakarta meeting should have been ample
time for that. The co-operative mechanism and its elements are, however,
long-term initiatives. As such, there should be more opportunities for user
states to contribute, lest they are viewed as perpetual free-riders who
continuously demand improvements but are unwilling to contribute. The outlook
for co-operation in the Malacca Straits appears rosy in the immediate term, but
the long-term prognosis depends on a number of factors. The impact of increasing
traffic in the straits has to be studied. Japan's International Transport
Institute estimated that traffic in the straits increased by 25 per cent from
75,061 vessels in 1994 to 93,755 in 2004, and will increase further to
approximately 117,000 in 2010 and 141,000 in 2020. This will exert more pressure
on the resources of the littoral states. How will they and their benefactors
cope with the corresponding increase in cost? This could be the acid test for
the co-operative mechanism. Financially, a lot will depend on the ability of the
littoral states to attract more donors to the Aids to Navigation Fund and future
projects. This means attracting users who have not made any contributions to the
maintenance of the straits through the co-operative forum and other means.
Administratively, the littoral states may need to consider whether the somewhat
anachronistic rotation system proposed under the co-operative mechanism would
meet the demand for safe navigation as the number of vessels increases. They
will also have to implement stringent financial and audit requirements imposed
by the littoral states on themselves and expected by the users. For now,
Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia appear resolved to fast-track implementation
of the Co-operative Mechanism by building on the momentum of the Singapore
meeting. Malaysia, for example, has offered to host the first co-operative forum
in 2008 while a pre-project co-ordination committee meeting for the six projects
is scheduled for this October in Manado, Indonesia. The success of the Singapore
meeting should be seen as a catalyst for future co-operation in ensuring that
the straits is safe and secure for navigation and free from ship-based
environmental pollution. Mohd Nizam Basiron is a research fellow with the
Maritime Institute of Malaysia. The full version of this article will appear in
the MIMA Bulletin 14 (4), December 2007. © 2007 The New Straits Times Press (M)
Berhad.
Tioman ferry tragedy: four killed, 3 missing by Sim Bak Heng and Kamachy
Habimanan
Mersing - Four people were killed, four others seriously injured and three
feared drowned after a ferry heading for Pulau Tioman from here caught fire and
sank on Saturday. There were 106 on board the ferry at the time. Marine police,
responding to a distress call made by the crew of the Seagull Express 2 just
before it sank at 1.30pm, plucked 94 survivors from the South China Sea just
seven nautical miles from the resort island. Also recovered were the bodies of
Hoo Lee Lan, 67, of Kuala Lumpur; Hong See Tiew, 53, and Teh Siew Lian, 52, both
from Klang, and Tee Moi @ Haw Lee Maoi, 68, from Batu Pahat. The missing are
Wong Sing Ling, 37, Chong Yong Kim, 43, both from Klang, and Wong Han Wan, whose
age has yet to be ascertained. In Pekan, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib
Razak yesterday ordered a thorough investigation. Najib, who is the National
Disaster Management and Relief Committee chairman, stressed that the
investigation would be conducted transparently and professionally. "I would like
to express my sadness over the incident and send my condolences to the families
of the victims," he said after attending his Hari Raya open house at Dataran
Pekan here. "I want to make it clear that a thorough investigation must be
carried out into the incident, particularly because it involves public safety."
A massive search and rescue operation, comprising Royal Malaysian Navy and
marine police vessels, tour boats and fishing boats, is under way to locate the
missing trio. District police chief DSP Harun Idris said the seriously injured
were admitted to the Mersing Hospital, the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor
Baru and the Batu Pahat Hospital. They are Yong Sai Yoon, 26, and Lee Jhi Yin,
35 (at Mersing), Chong Wing Yi, 7 (at Sultanah Aminah), and Nga Lee Ling, 14. A
Marine Department officer, who declined to be identified, said the permit for
the ferry had expired in December, adding that although there were 106 people
onboard at the time, including the crew, there were only 75 names on the
passenger manifest. A Mersing jetty terminal spokesman claimed the permit for
the ferry had expired last year, adding that the operator had been reprimanded
earlier this year for several offences. Marine Department director (southern
zone) Hazman Hussein said an investigation would be carried out but declined
further comment. Meanwhile, Bernama reports that ferry operator Seagull Express
and Accommodation Sdn Bhd has offered to pay the funeral expenses of those
killed in the incident. One of the owners of the company, who declined to be
identified, said the company would make the arrangements and bear all costs. He
said the Mersing-based company, owned by six businessmen, had also provided
accommodation and meals at a hotel here for 20 victims involved in the incident.
Asked on the condition of the ferry which was reported to be old and not
seaworthy, the owner, in his 60s, denied the claims. He also refuted claims that
the ferry did not have a valid permit to operate. © 2007 The New Straits Times
Press (M) Berhad.
Tioman ferry tragedy: operators will be punished by Sharanjit Singh
Kepala Batas - The operators of the unlicensed passenger ferry which caught fire
and sank on its way to Pulau Tioman on Saturday will face the full force of the
law, the prime minister said. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the blatant
disregard for human life by the operators of the ill-fated Seagull Express 2 was
totally unacceptable and tough action would be taken. Abdullah also directed the
authorities to immediately start a nationwide inspection of all boats used to
ferry passengers and goods to ensure they were licensed and met specifications.
The prime minister said he had spoken to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong
Choy for an explanation over the tragedy in which four people died and three
others went missing. Abdullah said he had been briefed that the ferry was not
licensed as it did not meet the regulations for carrying pasengers. "However,
the owners decided to operate the boat despite it being an offence. Now an
accident has happened and people have died. There is also no insurance." Asked
how the operators could have managed to keep running the ferry service without a
licence since last year, Abdullah said: "These are exactly the questions I asked
Chan. He will provide a full report. "I am very unhappy over the incident. My
condolences to the families of those who died. Action will be taken as we cannot
allow this to happen again." Abdullah said the operators of the Seagull Express
2 should have been sensible enough not to use the boat to carry passengers. "I
hope that owners of unlicensed boats will cease operations immediately. "I want
the authorities to conduct a thorough inspection to ensure all boats are in good
order." The prime minister was speaking at a press conference after hosting a
Hari Raya open house at Dewan Millenium here. Also present was his wife, Datin
Seri Jeanne Abdullah. The ferry, with 106 mostly holidaymakers on board, caught
fire and sank about seven nautical miles off Pulau Tioman about 1.30pm on
Saturday. A majority of the passengers who jumped overboard were plucked from
the South China Sea by passing boats before a search and rescue operation for
the missing, involving the navy and marine police, got under way. 2007 The New
Straits Times Press (M) Berhad.
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Crew don't know number of exits on ferry, says maritime agency
Kangar - The Maritime Enforcement Agency of Malaysia, in its daily sea patrols,
has identified occupational weaknesses among ferry crew, which if not remedied,
will pose a big risk during emergencies in open sea. Northern Region Operations
director Kapt Abdul Rahim Abdullah said during a surprise check yesterday on a
ferry on its way to Kuala Perlis from Langkawi, a crew member was unable to tell
the number of exits on the ferry. "He took a long time to count the number of
exits on the vessel," he said. "As crew of a passenger ferry, they should know
the number of exits on the ferry to facilitate operations during emergencies,"
he told Bernama at the end of an operation in the waters off Perlis, Langkawi
and Kuala Kedah Friday night. He said that although most ferries complied with
procedures to be equipped with safety gadgets for emergencies, some passenger
ferries still ignored the importance of having fire extinguishers on board. "We
are considering whether to take legal action or hand over the case to the
Peninsular Malaysia Marine Department to impose a compound," he said, referring
to the ferry which was carrying nearly 200 passengers. This Bernama reporter,
who followed the operations, also noticed that there were adequate life jackets
on the ferry but it was quite a task pulling them out of the iron rack on the
ceiling. "In times of emergencies, this can be a problem," he said. During the
operations involving three speedboats, maritime personnel checked fishing and
tourist boats plying between Langkawi and Pulau Dayang Bunting. The northern
region maritime agency, responsible for the maritime area spanning between
Sungai Bernam in Selangor to the Thailand border, has seven ships and 10
speedboats. Meanwhile, a ferry passenger, Zaidi Abdullah, 35, said surprise
checks by the maritime personnel on ferries would enhance public confidence in
ferry services in the country, especially following last week's Tioman Island
ferry tragedy in which seven people were killed. "Since the Tioman ferry
tragedy, people are apprehensive to use ferry services. "However, the people
have no choice but to continue using the services. The commitment shown by
maritime enforcement officers to conduct spot checks on ferries can help restore
the people's confidence," said the Baling-born businessman who is a trader in
Pekan Kuah, Langkawi. Another passenger, Afiza Mat Ali, 23, from Taiping, said
she felt safer to use the ferry if there were frequent checks by the
authorities. In last Saturday's Tioman ferry tragedy, the "Seagull Express 2",
with 106 holidaymakers on board, caught fire and sank when cruising from Mersing
to Tioman Island. © 2007 BERNAMA.
First Malaysian sub launched by Choi Tuck Wo
Cherbourg, France - Malaysia’s first Scorpene submarine was launched Tuesday
signifying yet another leap in the nation’s pursuit of new technology. KD Tunku
Abdul Rahman, named after the country’s first Prime Minister, was unveiled in a
historic ceremony at the DCNS dockyard here, about 400km from Paris. In keeping
with maritime tradition, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor broke a bottle of water
against the submarine’s sail to signify the official launching and naming of the
vessel. The Deputy Prime Minister’s wife then unveiled a plaque with the
submarine’s name and called upon “Allah to bless her and all who serve and sail
with her”. Accompanying her were Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri
Ramlan Mohamed Ali, DCNS chairman Jean-Marie Poimbeouf and Submarine Force
Project Team head Laksamana Pertama Rosland Omar. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,
French Defence Minister Herve Morin, Defence Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz
Zainal and senior officials from both countries witnessed the ceremony. Later,
the VIPs toured the submarine which is equipped with torpedoes, sub-surface to
surface missiles and sea mines. The vessel was one of two bought by Malaysia in
2002, with both being jointly constructed by DCNS of France and Navantia of
Spain. In his speech, Najib said the submarine was named after the Tunku in
recognition of his contribution in leading the country to independence. “His
courage, wisdom and foresight had steered our nation to what it is today,” he
added. He said the submarine acquisition was part of the Malaysian Armed Forces’
modernisation programme which could contribute significantly towards creating a
more balanced capability. As a maritime nation and given its geographical
setting, it is inevitable that Malaysia’s national interests and security
concerns are closely related and associated with the seas, he said. He said
commercially, more than 90% of the country’s domestic and international trades
were dependent on sea transportation. On the seabed lies underwater pipelines
that transport Malaysia’s oil and gas ashore as well as cables that link major
international communication networks. “It is thus crucial for Malaysia to have a
small but credible and effective naval force to not only safeguard its
sovereignty and maritime interests but also contribute to the region’s maritime
security and safety,” he added. Najib said the project signified a major leap
into high technology defence acquisition, providing the impetus for the local
industry to acquire cutting-edge technological knowledge and expertise. KD Tunku
Abdul Rahman is set to sail home, manned by the country’s first submarine crew
in January 2009 while the second vessel, to be named KD Tun Razak, is expected
to be delivered by October 2009. © 1995-2007 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
Forget the seas, fish in your backyard by Chok Suat Ling
The Sungai Besar fishing community in Sabak Bernam has seen better days. Its
fishermen may haul in the largest volume of fish in Selangor, but they are not
basking in satisfaction. They cannot afford to. Over the past decade or so, one
fact has become increasingly and glaringly apparent: fish resources are
depleting. Sungai Besar Fishermen's Association deputy secretary Chia Bak Long
says this scarcity is not only felt by his community but around the country and
even globally. "It has affected our livelihood. Operational costs have also
risen, as have petrol prices." At the same time, many new rulings are making
things difficult, he claims. The Department of Fisheries wants to introduce a
38mm net size, for example, but the fishermen are afraid this will let too many
fish through. "We will incur heavy losses. We want to use the current 25mm net,"
Chia appeals. He says the community will welcome an alternative means of income
or any new technology that will help uplift their lot. Farmers are also seeking
an alternative means of income. Some, including those in the Kinta Valley, are
facing problems since the licences for the land which they are leasing have
expired. For others like Ng Ah Tee, who farms in Sabak Bernam, any opportunity
to earn more money to supplement his meagre earnings is a welcome prospect. The
MCA has been studying the plight of both fishermen and farmers and offers a
solution: aquaponics. It may be practically unheard of in Malaysia, unlike its
much more popular cousin hydroponics. But its proponents say those willing to
give it a try stand to gain high profits. Aquaponics is simply aquaculture and
hydroponics combined. Aquaculture involves raising fish in a contained system,
usually tanks or ponds, while hydroponics is growing plants without soil. Marry
the two concepts and the result is aquaponics where fish is reared alongside
plants in an enclosed, re-circulating environment. It can be carried out on a
commercial scale in a warehouse or factory, or, alternatively, at home in the
backyard. MCA Modern Agriculture and Biotechnology Bureau head Dr Chan Kook Weng
says the fish waste provides the nutrients the plants need and the plants, in
taking up these nutrients, help to purify the water the fish live in. "It is a
natural cycle. Waste material from one system becomes resource material in
another system. It is very environment-friendly as wastes are not transported
out of the system." The technology evolved in the United States some two decades
ago. The MCA is promoting aquaponics in a big way through Chan's bureau. The
party is hoping to encourage not just fishermen and farmers to take it up but
also people in New Villages. It is an alternative they can venture into with
capital as low as RM2,000, says Chan, who is also senior research fellow at the
Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Chan says fishermen who set up aquaponics systems
would not have to worry about depleting fish resources, overfishing, competition
from illegal trawlers and other problems. He also hopes to promote the option to
those in the 450 New Villages around the country. "Their economic activity is
now limited and this will help bring them back into the mainstream," says Chan.
Many young people in New Villages move out to cities and towns to eke a living,
he notes. "With this new opportunity, we hope they will stay back." According to
Chan, aquaponics is easy to learn, simple to manage, does not require much
labour and turns out valuable products and byproducts like high-value organic
fish and crops, fertiliser and biomass, which can be used as fuel. The system
also eliminates all soil borne diseases as water is used for planting. Chan
lists other benefits: "Power usage is low. Plant spacing can be very intensive,
allowing one to grow more plants in a given space. Pesticides and herbicides
cannot be used making the end product organic, safer and healthier. Crops can be
grown all year round." Farmers could choose off-season crops, Chan suggests.
They could plant tomatoes when it is off-season in Cameron Highlands, for
example, so there will be supply all year round. "It will also help Malaysia
reduce its current RM1.3 billion food import bill." Besides the local market,
selling high grade and organic fish to the US is a huge marketing opportunity.
Singapore and Japan also currently import very large quantities of high-grade
fish and vegetables, notes Chan. "We hope to attract big investors and will be
showcasing a working model in November." Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman faculty
of engineering and science's Associate Professor Dr Gideon Khoo explains that
aquaponics is an upgrade from the traditional integrated system. "The
traditional method involves rearing fish and livestock, and planting various
types of vegetables in one farm. The water from the fish pond is used to water
plants, and livestock manure is used to fertilise the plants and also the pond
to produce the algae which the fish feeds on. Aquaponics, however, needs less
land," Khoo adds. It also needs less water, experts claim. Water is only added
to replace water loss from absorption by the plants or evaporation into the air.
The old method, Khoo notes, is also exposed to rain, floods and other inclement
weather. "In an enclosed system, however, this threat is removed." Khoo's
colleague, Associate Professor Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat, urges fishermen especially
to give aquaponics serious thought. "Marine fish resources are becoming less, as
they have noted. At the same time, the human population is increasing and the
demand for fish is higher. It will also be difficult and unsustainable to rely
on marine cultured fish alone." Aquaponics, however, presents several
challenges. The first is identifying suitable fish and vegetable types. For Ong,
it is pointless to select fishes such as tilapia. "We need to choose high-end
value fish. In Western countries, they rear salmon. In Malaysia, most high-end
value fish are marine and it will be cheaper to culture them in the sea." Pilot
trials must be carried out to identify the type of fish that can be reared, he
says. "The vegetables that can be planted would most probably be the leafy kind.
They should complement the fish species selected," Ong adds. Another challenge,
he points out, is training. "Fishermen and farmers must be trained to determine
the parameters, water quality, nutrient concentration and other essentials." The
supply chain is also crucial, Ong stresses. "The authorities have to make sure
the produce can be marketed locally and overseas. There is need to convince the
people they are getting their money's worth as they will inevitably need to pay
more for it." Farmer Ng has attended some briefings on aquaponics and says, "We
think it could work." And for fisherman Chia, aquaponics represents hope. "If it
all works out, it will keep our heads above water." © 2007 NST Online.
Malaysia promotes home shipbuilding
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia has allocated a fund to subsidise its shipbuilding
industry. “We have created a special fund where you can take soft loans with
minimal interest to build ships,” Capt Datuk Ahmad Osman, director of the Marine
Department, told Fairplay. The fund is also to assist yards get their holdings
“up to standard”, he says of the $143M kitty. The country’s Third Master Plan
calls for improvements in domestic small shipbuilding capabilities, repair and
maintenance. Investment in shipbuilding amounted to M$1.28Bn ($379M) between
2000 and June last year, Malaysia’s Deputy International Trade and Industry Ng
Yip Long has told parliament. Describing the industry as a “growth sector” and
“a focus of the Third Master Plan”, Ng referred to investment incentives such as
tax exemption on revenue or qualified capital expenditures for companies
involved in shipbuilding. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Possible new marine species found in Celebes Sea
Manila - A swimming sea cucumber, a Nemo-like orange fish and a worm with
tentacles sprouting from its head are among dozens of possible new species found
during a survey of the Celebes Sea, researchers said Tuesday. A team of US and
Filipino scientists plunged up to five kilometres (three miles) underwater in
early October in an area that has been isolated by rising sea levels and may
have spawned sea life not found elsewhere. They collected between 50 and 100
potentially undiscovered species of marine invertebrates and fishes. "These
waters are the richest biological regions of the world but have been largely
unexplored," said expedition leader, Larry Madin, of the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institute. The survey was conducted by Woods Hole, National
Geographic and Filipino scientists at the Coral Triangle, bodies of water
bounded by the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia that are known to contain the
world's richest biodiversity in shallow water marine species. It will take a few
more weeks of study of the deepwater sea life samples before they can be
declared new species, Madin said during a video presentation of the findings in
Manila. Among the more unusual finds were an orange-tinged sea cucumber that
uproots itself from the seabed and swims using flaps on its transparent body,
and a worm with tentacles coming out of its head and transparent paddle fins
growing all over its tan body. "We don't know what this is," Madin said of the
worm. "It might be something big." Of the fish collected, a tiny, angular orange
one with a puckered yellow mouth looked like the main character in the animated
Hollywood film "Finding Nemo," Madin said. The team also collected various types
of deepwater jellyfish, predatory eels and single-celled organisms -- as well as
piles of household garbage. The area holds promise for more discoveries, Madin
said. © 2007 AFP.
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