TNAG-2897-FCO40-4171-Hong-Kong-piracy-in-the-South-China-Sea-1993 — Page 93

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38 The MF radio services in the Malacca Strait area are occasionally problematic - in particular radiotelephony in the MF band. However, these problems are mainly caused by very high levels of atmospheric noise; for; which there is no simple remedy. The HF bands seem to be adequately covered by coast stations in the area and some of these stations are considered to be very efficient.

39 Parts of the area under consideration are already covered by VTS ̧and other types of radar surveillance systems and the coverage of such systems planned to be expanded in the years to come. Consideration should be given to utilizing such systems also for anti-piracy purposes. The design of (at least some of) these systems indicates that they should also be capable of detecting small craft of the types used by pirates and armed robbers and could, therefore, be a useful tool in assisting law enforcement agencies to find and apprehend attackers operating within the coverage of such systems. Also the VHF DF systems, which are normally included as an element in VTS systems, may be utilized for anti-piracy purposes with respect to their capability in establishing the position of a ship under attack which has not been able to transmit position information or which has transmitted a wrong position information.

40

The INMARSAT Coast Earth Station in Singapore operates into the Pacific Ocean satellite and does not, therefore, cover all of the Malacca/Singapore Straits area. Messages from ships in the area using the INMARSAT system will, therefore, normally be received in a country far away; e.g. in Europe. Experience has shown that communication between European RCCs and certain RCCs in the Malacca/Singapore Straits area has occasionally been problematic.

41 The Malacca/Singapore Straits area is fully covered by the NAVTEX transmission station in Singapore. This system seems suitable for rapid and reliable transmission and reception of piracy attack warnings, as well as for other types of warnings. However, there seems to be a need for IMO to make certain decisions with respect to priority and "subject indicator" for piracy attack warnings in the NAVTEX system.

42 Different types of communication links are used between the different relevant authorities for maritime safety/security in the three countries in the Malacca/Singapore Straits 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 generally recommending implementation of more advanced/reliable solutions in the area.

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The Coastal States in the Malacca/Singapore Straits area

.1 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;

W/9181e