Asia/Pacific News
Safe Passage Guide Issued for Straits of Malacca and Singapore
A pamphlet entitled Safe Passage: The Straits of Singapore and Malacca has been issued today, according to a statement jointly issued by BIMCO, the Directorate-General of Sea Transportation of Indonesia, the Malaysia Marine Department of Malaysia, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
First proposed by BIMCO in 2012, the Safe Passage pamphlet is intended to be a handy tool for users of the Straits of Singapore and Malacca (SOMS) on navigational guidelines and best practices to be observed, and the importance of adhering to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).
The Safe Passage pamphlet also presents information on collision prevention measures, night signals for vessels crossing the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Singapore Strait, local rules for ships transiting the SOMS, advice on anchoring, and weather conditions affecting visibility such as haze and heavy rain.
Officially launched at the 93rd session of the International Maritime Organization Maritime Safety Committee, held in London, the pamphlet is available as a PDF download from the Co-operative Mechanism's website and BIMCO's website.
All users of the SOMS are encouraged to get a copy.
Earlier this year there were bunker spills in the Singapore Strait following three separate vessel collisions over a 13 day period.
