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Another fact of concern to the Group was the number of vessels (not participating in the VTIS) who had to be contacted by a VTIS operator and warned that they were standing into danger. In particular it was noted that on two recent occasions ships were warned of developing situations, acknowledged the warning but took no action, with a resultant collision and grounding.
Minimization of pollution (reduction and control)
62 The Group did not address directly the question of marine pollution prevention and control. It, however, concerned itself with pollution of the Malacca Strait area resulting from a maritime accident due to e.g. erratic navigation and, in particular, pollution that may be caused by ships (especially tankers, chemical and gas carriers) left unattended to sail through the Strait while under the control of pirates or armed robbers and involved in a collision or grounding.
63 During the Group's visit to Singapore, the Group was introduced to the East Asia Response Ltd. (EARL) which is being developed as an oil spill response centre with a 24-hour response capability extending throughout the Asia and Pacific Region. It has its main base in Singapore and a satellite base in Port Dickson, Malaysia. It is a non-profit making company founded by five oil companies: BP, Caltex, Exxon, Mobil and Shell which have significant interests in the region.
64 The objective of the company is to ensure that the industry has the ability to respond effectively, with expertise and equipment, to a major incident in the region. To this aim, the company will stock-pile essential equipment, provide training facilities for developing oil spill response expertise in the region and encourage integration into industry and national oil spill response plans. The company will be fully operational in the second quarter of 1993 and expects to integrate the present smaller Singapore-based Tiered Area Response Capability (TARC) whose area of response is primarily in the Malacca and Singapore Straits.
65 With the aid of Hercules C-130 on lease and three dedicated vessels of special design, the Centre expects to be capable of providing an airborne response to oil spills throughout the Asia-Pacific region, with a waterborne response capability for the Singapore and Malacca Straits. The five founding oil companies will provide both the capital and operating costs.
Tripartite Technical Experts Groups (TTEG)
66 Since the early seventies, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have been holding consultations on safety of navigation through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Technical officials from the three countries meet periodically in the Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG) meetings. Broadly, the discussions are aimed at exchanging information and seeking means to enhance safety of navigation in the Straits.
67 Matters discussed include routeing of ships, aids to navigation, surveys of the Straits, production of up-to-date navigational and tidal charts, verification of wrecks and shoals and their removal or marking as necessary.
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