TNAG-2897-FCO40-4171-Hong-Kong-piracy-in-the-South-China-Sea-1993 — Page 28

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Profile of the Malacca Strait

Malacca Strait is defined as the area lying between the west coasts of Thailand and Malaysia on the NE, and the coast of Sumatra on the SW between the following limits:

On the NW:

A line from Ujung Baka (Pedropunt) (5°40'N,95°26′E), the NW. extremity of Sumatra, to:

Laem Phra Chao (7°45'N,98°18′E), the S extremity of Ko Phukit, Thailand

On the SE:

A line from Tanjung Piai (1°16'N,103°31'E), the S extremity of Malaysia, to:

Pulau Iyu Kecil (1°11'N,103°21′E), thence to:

Pulau Karimum Kecil (1°10'N, 103°23′E), thence to:

Tanjung Kedabu (1°06'N, 102°59′E).

The Strait is approximately 520 miles in length and varies in width from 200 miles in the north to 11 miles at the southern extremity.

Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait together form the main seaway connecting the Indian Ocean with the China Sea.

This seaway is also the shortest route for tankers trading between the Persian Gulf and East Asian countries.

Depths within the straits are irregular and there are many areas of sandwaves. Depths in the main shipping channel vary from over 73 m to less than 25 m.

Through routes are constricted by local topography. Channels are further constricted by sandbanks and controlling depths are liable to change.

Traffic separation schemes have been established off One Fathom Bank and in the NW approach to Singapore Strait. There is no routeing system between these two schemes. The latter leads into a further scheme in Singapore Strait and thence to South China Sea in the vicinity of Horsburgh Light.

Draughts of many vessels using Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait closely approach the controlling depths, and the factors affecting changes of draught are critical.

Tidal heights require careful prediction for deep draught vessels.

The controlling depths in the Straits (Malacca and Singapore) for deep draught vessels are generally in both lanes of the traffic separation scheme at One Fathom Bank, off Cape Rachado and in the vicinity of Fair Channel Bank.

There are numerous wrecks and shoal patches reported (some 51 unconfirmed wrecks according to Malaysian authorities) some of them being in close proximity to the fairways.

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