Intense security measures taken in Strait of Malacca

06.03.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Singaporean Navy (bharat-rakshak.com)

Intense security measures have been taken in Strait of Malacca after warning of Singaporean Navy about the threat of terror assault against oil tankers sailing this world's most important sea lane.

According to Singaporean Straits Times, on Thursday International Maritime Bureau (IMB) sent a message to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore controlling 40% of world shipping through the 900-km strait that a terrorist group plans to attack tankers in the strait. Afterwards Singaporean Navy informed Singaporean shipowners' union which sent warnings to its 380 shipping companies. Reportedly, original information was received from Japan.

Vessels sailing through the Strait of Malacca are recommended not to reduce speed and to brighten illumination. Three countries established intense patrolling at narrow strait between Malay Peninsula and east coast of Indonesian island Sumatra through which sail about 50,000 vessels per year. Singaporean Navy and Coast Guard follow with insight small boats approaching large ships, informs Straits Times.

Through years, "Lion City" has not expressed anxiety about international terrorists could join efforts with pirates who use sophisticated technical facilities and explode a giant "floating bomb" in the world's busiest port of Singapore.

"There is a serious threat of hijacked merchant ship or cruise liner to be used as "floating bomb" against Singapore", said Tony Tan Keng Yam, Singaporean deputy prime minister and defense minister. "If terrorists manage to scupper tanker in Strait of Malacca, shipping traffic would be paralyzed there and this would result in huge losses of world commerce", he added.

In their turn, authorities of neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia intensify patrolling of the strait as well. Leaders of Indonesian national police also declared that possible connection between warnings of terror acts in the strait and upswing of terrorists in strait-controlling province Achekh is being currently checked.

"We're going to conduct detailed and comprehensive investigation", chief of Indonesian police Bambang Hendarso Danuri said to national information agency Antara.

IMB in its recent annual report marked the effectiveness of joint patrolling by Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia carried out in Strait of Malacca. Those efforts have resulted in significant decrease in number of pirate attacks in Southeast Asia.

According to IMB, in 2009 there were only two pirate assaults registered in the strait; comparing to 2000, which is the peak of pirate activity there were 75 incidents.