TNAG-2897-FCO40-4171-Hong-Kong-piracy-in-the-South-China-Sea-1993 — Page 71

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to initiate the process which hopefully will lead to the apprehension of the pirates or armed robbers. Discussions with the authorities around the Malacca/Singapore Straits have, however, revealed that most ships being attacked, or being subject to attempted attack, do not normally inform shore authorities about the attack until at best hours after the attack, or in cases days or weeks after the attack. There are also clear indications that a number of attacks or attempted attacks are not reported at all to the relevant littoral State.

some

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5 It is evident that long delays with respect to reporting attacks virtually eliminate the possibility of law enforcement agencies apprehending the attackers at least not "red-handed". Thus, merchant ships should recognize that they have a vital role to play with respect to combating piracy and armed robbery. Each merchant ship must do everything possible to ensure that any case of attack or attempted attack is reported by radio to the appropriate coastal State as rapidly as possible. In this respect, reference is made to paragraphs 27, 28, 54 and 60 of the British Merchant Shipping Notice No.M.1517 Piracy and Armed Robbery. A number of the recommendations in this document are intended to contribute to early detection of pirates or armed robbers.

6 The three littoral States around the Malacca/Singapore Strait area operate a number of coast (earth) stations for different radiocommunication systems/frequencies; i.e. including MF telephony/telegraphy, HF telephony/ telex/telegraphy, VHF telephony, INMARSAT telephony/telex/EGC, plus transmission of NAVTEX warnings and reception of COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRB alerting.

7 Although many different radio systems may be used to inform shore authorities about piracy attack, experience indicates that ships generally prefer to use either VHF or INMARSAT; partly because time is normally very critical in cases when a ship is capable of informing coastal authorities prior to or during an attack.

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Referring to the ITU List of Coast Stations, there are approximately 25 VHF coast stations around the Malacca/Singapore Strait area; most of those

The are Indonesian, but the majority are not operational 24 hours a day. following VHF radio stations in the Malacca/Singapore Strait area are continuously operational and keep a continuous listening watch on VHF

channel 16:

Indonesia: Dumai Radio and Belawan Radio

Malaysia:

Singapore:

Keland Radio and Penang Radio

Singapore Radio

The above named coast stations also keep continuous listening watch on 2,182 kHz (radio telephony) and on 500 kHz (morse telegraphy). (According to the ITU List of Coast Stations, Dumai Radio is not continuously operational on 500 kHz; however the Group was informed that it is in continuous operation). Most of these stations (and also most of those Indonesian stations in the area which are not operational on a 24-hour basis) operate services in the HF (short wave) band as well.

9 In total, these coast stations should be able to cover the Malacca/Singapore Strait area reasonably well with respect to MF radiotelephony and -telegraphy.

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