The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is hosting the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Tripartite Technical Experts Group on the Safety of Navigation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore held in Singapore, from 9 to 11 May 2000. The commemorative ceremony was held at the MPA Port Operations Control Centre at PSA Vista.

The TTEG, which had its roots in 1975 and comprising officials from the three littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, had made significant strides in the enhancement of navigational safety in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Many in the shipping community have and continue to recognise the TTEG as a key driver of maintaining maritime safety for these two waterways.

The success story of this regional co-operation, one that has seen few parallels for international shipping, was detailed by Mr Chen Tze Penn, Director-General, MPA at the opening address delivered to more than 60 officials from the littoral states this morning. The Malaysian and Indonesian delegations were led by Captain Raja Malik, Director-General, Marine Department Malaysia, and Captain T Walla, Secretary, Directorate-General of Sea Communications, respectively.

In his address, Mr Chen Tze Penn, said, "Over the 25 years, Singapore Indonesia and Malaysia, through the forum of the TTEG, have introduced various measures to enhance navigational safety in the Straits." He cited the establishment of the Routeing System covering a TSS (traffic separation schemes) at the One Fathom Bank off Port Klang, a TSS in the Singapore Strait, and a TSS off Horsburgh Lighthouse, as the earliest achievement of the TTEG. The process to do so required the drafting and promulgation of rules for navigation, harmonising the chart datum of the three states, and the conduct of a tidal and current observation survey. It was through close co-operation of the three states, and with financial and technical assistance from Japan, a major user, that the Routeing System was successfully implemented in the Straits in May 1981.

Other milestones achieved by the TTEG included a review of and extended coverage of TSS, introduction of STRAITREP, which is a mandatory ship reporting system, and a Four-Nation Re-Survey of Critical Areas and Investigation of Dangerous/Unconfirmed Shoals and Wrecks in the Singapore and Malacca Straits.

On the future of TTEG, Mr Chen said that it would have further challenges to face. For instance, the maintenance of safety of navigation in the Straits. Traffic in the Straits is expected to rise and this would impose a greater burden on littoral states in ensuring navigational safety and the protection of the marine environment. In this regard, the littoral states would have to work closely together with the International Maritime Organisation and the shipping community worldwide.

End of Release.