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.