Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have started implementing the cooperative mechanism to protect the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, local newspapers reported yesterday.
The implementation of the Cooperative Mechanism for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore was officially announced here at a forum on Tuesday, Nanyang Siang Pau said.
The implementation would strengthen the roles of the three littoral states of the Straits in safeguarding one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, Malaysian Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said when he officiated the forum on the mechanism.
The mechanism is said to be an initiative under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was adopted 26 years ago with an aim to promote voluntary cooperation between the littoral states and users of the Straits in enhancing safety of navigation and environmental protection of the Straits.
Under the cooperative mechanism, the three littoral states and user states of the Straits agreed to set up the Aids to Navigation Fund, which will be managed by Malaysia for the next three years on a rotating basis.
Mr Ong said that the fund so far had received US$3.6 million contributed by the littoral states and various user states and the fund would be used for physical maintenance projects.
Under the mechanism, a Projects Coordination Committee (PCC) was also set up to oversee the implementation of projects in the Straits, including the removal of wrecks in the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Straits, cooperation and capacity-building on hazardous and noxious substance preparedness and response in the Straits.
The committee also would supervise the setting up of tide, current and wind measurement systems for the Straits to enhance navigation safety and marine environment protection, replacement and maintenance of aids to navigation in the Straits.
Malaysia's Marine Department said that more than 70,000 ships transitted through the Straits of Malacca last year.
The implementation of the Cooperative Mechanism for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore was officially announced here at a forum on Tuesday, Nanyang Siang Pau said.
The implementation would strengthen the roles of the three littoral states of the Straits in safeguarding one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, Malaysian Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat said when he officiated the forum on the mechanism.
The mechanism is said to be an initiative under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was adopted 26 years ago with an aim to promote voluntary cooperation between the littoral states and users of the Straits in enhancing safety of navigation and environmental protection of the Straits.
Under the cooperative mechanism, the three littoral states and user states of the Straits agreed to set up the Aids to Navigation Fund, which will be managed by Malaysia for the next three years on a rotating basis.
Mr Ong said that the fund so far had received US$3.6 million contributed by the littoral states and various user states and the fund would be used for physical maintenance projects.
Under the mechanism, a Projects Coordination Committee (PCC) was also set up to oversee the implementation of projects in the Straits, including the removal of wrecks in the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Straits, cooperation and capacity-building on hazardous and noxious substance preparedness and response in the Straits.
The committee also would supervise the setting up of tide, current and wind measurement systems for the Straits to enhance navigation safety and marine environment protection, replacement and maintenance of aids to navigation in the Straits.
Malaysia's Marine Department said that more than 70,000 ships transitted through the Straits of Malacca last year.