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47
Different types of communication links are used between the different relevant authorities for maritime safety/security in the three countries in the Malacca/Singapore Strait area. Even if some of the links used could be replaced by more reliable types, based on practical experience as was reported to the Group, there are no clear indications that the present reliability and availability is unsatisfactory. Thus, there does not seem to be a justification for giving general recommendation to implement more advanced/reliable solutions in this area.
Recommendations
48 Ships operating in piracy threat areas:
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Detailed recommendations to ships are given in the British Merchant Shipping Notice No.M.1517 Piracy and Armed Robbery. Every ship intending to sail to piracy threat areas should carefully consider the advice therein prior to such voyages and implement those procedures, which are considered suitable and necessary for the ship and its crew.
The coastal States in the Malacca/Singapore Strait area
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Any country currently not fulfilling this condition, is recommended to ensure that each national RCC, which may be contacted by RCCs from other countries, is capable at all times of communicating in English. Thus at least one person with a satisfactory knowledge of the English language both written and spoken should always be on duty.
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In order to minimize co-ordination problems and possible delays in cases when distress/safety messages related to the Malacca/Singapore Strait area are received, e.g. by European Coast (Earth) Stations and RCCs, it is recommended that common meetings/seminars for key personnel both from those RCCs which regularly receive messages from this area and personnel from the RCCs situated in this area be arranged to exchange views and to establish suitable procedures and actions in different types of situations. Consideration should also be given to arranging common exercises to verify that the procedures and actions are effective.
Subject to IMO approval, the NAVTEX transmitter in Singapore should be used for the transmission of piracy attack warnings with category "Important" or "Vital", as appropriate, whenever such warnings can be transmitted sufficiently early to enable ships to take precautions appropriate to preventing attacks.
For those radar surveillance and VHF DF (direction finding) systems, which are established or planned in the Malacca/Singapore Strait area and for which plans and procedures for its utilization for anti-piracy purposes are not yet established, the potential suitability of such facilities for anti-piracy purposes should be investigated. If such facilities are judged to be suitable for such purposes, the facilities and procedures necessary for their rapid and efficient use should be established.
W/9181e