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Press Releases |
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This article was first published as cover story in Metropolitan Enquirer, Issue 1, Volume 3, January 2003. |
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ASEAN shipowners discuss maritime security
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Terrorism has already reared its ugly head in the high seas and maritime officials are expressing grave concern. The attack on the French oil supertanker Limburg off the coast of Yemen last October 6, 2002 has again exposed the vulnerability of sea vessels. In October 2000, a similar attack was done against the destroyer USS Cole also docked at Yemen.
The growing boldness of terrorist groups hastened intelligence officials all over the world to pull their resources together to foil plans of attack. Here in Southeast Asia, CNN has already reported on several plots on ships exposed by the authorities. With the bomb blasts in Bali and the discovery that the planning for the attack on the USS Cole began in Malaysia, experts now believe that the region has become a haven for terrorists groups.
Vital role in the global maritime commerce
Attacks on maritime infrastructure in Southeast Asian ports could seriously hurt the vital role that ASEAN plays in the international maritime trade. Southeast Asia is home to the Malacca Strait, a highly strategic sea lane between Malaysia and Indonesia and the gateway to ships going to the Middle East and Europe. Another maritime lifeline is the Singapore harbor, the world’s busiest transit port where the region’s bulk of sea container traffic trade pass by en route to its final destinations.
The new reality urged the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA) to focus its 28th Annual General Meeting on maritime security with emphasis on the threat of maritime terrorism. Held at the Shangri-La Plaza Hotel in Makati last December 13, 2002, the meeting was attended by delegates from the Filipino Shipowners’ Association (FSA), the Indonesian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA), the Malaysian Shipowners’ Association (MASA), the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), the Thai Shipowners’ Association (TSA) and the Vietnam Shipowners’ Association (VSA).
Maritime Terrorism
In the opening remarks, Carlos Salina, FSA Chairman, said that the FASA meeting was held at a time when the global economy is in a very difficult period. The 9/11 attacks and the consequent war against terrorism led by the United States have had an impact on the shipping business worldwide. He emphasized that ASEAN shipowners should brace themselves for these challenges and cooperate actively in the promotion of a safer maritime sector.
Several issues affecting shipping in the region were discussed. Issues which needed urgent attention were maritime terrorism, piracy and armed robbery, places of refuge, and the Joint War Committee’s decision to include all Indonesian ports in the war risk zone. On the issue of maritime terrorism, FASA noted the initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to set up a completely new security code designed to prevent ships and their cargoes from becoming targets of terrorist activities.
Following the adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code at the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security at the IMO London headquarters, a new and comprehensive security regime is set to go into effect in July 2004. The code is the culmination of work by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee and contains mandatory and non-mandatory security-related requirements for governments, port authorities and shipping companies. FASA supports the new security measures and urges ASEAN member states to comply.
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