70-
27 The Malacca Strait littoral States should continue and further develop co-ordinated patrols by both ships and aircraft.
28 Other countries with abuting coastal waters affected by pirates and armed robbers should develop similar co-ordination of effort.
29 Police forces and Governments should maintain close liaison with neighbouring States to facilitate the apprehension and conviction of criminals involved in such unlawful acts.
SAFETY OF NAVIGATION
30
It is recommended that the present rule 8 of Assembly resolution A.375(X) - Rules for vessels navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, be renumbered rule 8(a) and a new rule 8(b) added as follows:
31
"All vessels and tows of 300 gross tons or more and all passenger vessels transiting Singapore Strait are strongly recommended to participate in the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information Service (VTIS)".
Singapore should be requested to review the VTIS to ensure that additional traffic can be catered for and to ensure that the training of operators complies with the relevant IMO Guidelines.
32 Shoal patches should, as necessary, be urgently resurveyed to effectively ensure the safe navigation of deep-draught vessels in the Malacca and Singapore Straits.
33 The OCIMF proposal (MSC 61/7/1) is basically supported.
34 The NAV Sub-Committee should be invited to request the Ships' Routeing Working Group to consider the need for additional TSSs and/or other routeing measures in the Strait.
35 The Maritime Safety Committee is invited to re-emphasize the need for proper training of both shipboard and shore-based (VTS operators and staff manning radio stations, SAR units, pilot stations, etc.) personnel making use of the Straits in their respective areas of activity.
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS
36 Generally speaking, merchant ships being attacked or being subject to attempted attacks by pirates and armed robbers, normally delay too long the transmission of radio messages to the authorities in the relevant littoral State. This factor seriously reduces the possibility of law enforcement agencies apprehending attackers. There is, therefore, a need for ships in general to take the necessary precautions, and to implement the necessary procedures to ensure rapid reporting of any case of attack or attempted attack.
37
The shore-based radio facilities in the Malacca/Singapore Strait area are generally characterized as satisfactory, although improvements would be desirable in certain respects. This relates in particular to VHF communications but the Group was informed that such improvements are planned both with respect to area coverage starting this year and with respect to gradual introduction of DSC: the three countries in the Malacca/Singapore Strait area are planning to establish a complete "Al area" (GMDSS) covering most of this area; however, the time for full implementation has not yet been decided.
W/9181e
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