ARF mulls tough new security measures for ships
ARF mulls tough new security measures for ships
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following the implementation of a tough new maritime security law
that came into effect on Thursday, the members of Asia's top
security forum discussed on Friday the new security standards for
shipping in the region's busiest waterways.
The new law, the International Ship and Port Facility
Security Code, which was signed by 147 governments, requires port
operators, stevedore companies and owners of ships larger than
500 tons to draw up plans for responding to a terrorist threat,
to implement tighter security around facilities and to provide
training for staff.
The main objective of the discussion at the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF) meeting was how to prevent terrorist attacks in the
region's busiest waterways like the Strait of Malacca.
The forum questioned whether they could apply airport security
standards for ships at ports.
"Security cooperation to stop the trafficking of goods, such
as the use of airport X-rays, has been carried out," Indonesian
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda told reporters on the sidelines
of the 11th ARF meeting on Friday in Jakarta.
"This kind of cooperation and the strengthening of systems are
part of the cooperation for security at sea," he said.
An Indonesian defense official expressed similar views on the
new security measures for ships.
"Each country has given a positive response to the proposal.
We must express our concern without any delay," Maj. Gen.
Sudrajat, a senior officer who deals with strategy at the
Minister of Defense, said.
"The U.S. has agreed to provide assistance on building
capacity to promote maritime security in the Southeast Asia
region," he said.
Hassan said ARF agreed to hold series of workshops on the new
maritime law in order to boost understanding of the problems
being faced.
Hassan said that high on the ARF agenda was security in the
Strait of Malacca.
It is the responsibility of the littoral states -- Indonesia,
Singapore and Malaysia -- to safeguard the Strait, which is one
of the world's busiest waterways.
"It is recognized that littoral states have sovereign rights.
We are also open for cooperation with others," he said.
The three countries recently agreed to coordinate patrols in
the pirate-infested waterway, which is the preferred route for
sea traffic between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
"I think it is generally accepted that the primary
responsibility for the security of Malacca belongs to littoral
countries," former ASEAN secretary-general Rudolfo C. Severino
said.
Both the U.S. and India, a maritime neighbor of Indonesia,
have expressed readiness to assist in providing security in the
Strait.