Three-nation Patrols of Malacca Straits are Successfully Reducing Piracy

Producer: Bharati Jagdish
First broadcast: 26 August 04, Radio Singapore International

Indonesia's naval commander says piracy in the Malacca Straits has decreased as a result of three-nation patrols which began in the waterway last month.

In his report, Vice Admiral Didik Herupurnomo said the attacks are down from an average of nine a month to four.

The joint patrols involve the fleets from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

They are, in part, aimed at preventing terrorist attacks in the vital waterway.

For more on this, Bharati Jagdish (BJ) spoke to Dr Andrew Tan (AT) from the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore.

AT: "I think the joint patrols are a deterrent. The greater frequency of those patrols and the fact that they are coordinated means that there's greater visibility. Also, the publicity given to this move has acted as a deterrent. That impact has clearly been a very positive one, but I think we need to see how it works out in the coming months. Over the longer period, we will have to see how the figures stack up. Of course the initial signs are very good, given the seriousness of the piracy threat in the Straits of Malacca. In fact, the largest number of piracy attacks take place in and around Indonesia and any reduction is always welcome."

BJ: But what are the other kinks in the system that need to be ironed out at this time?

AT: "There's clearly a lot more to be done to secure the entire logistical chain in the maritime trade given the appalling state of security there. Joint patrols are only part of the bigger picture. We need to be able to secure containers. We need to be able to secure ports. We have to be able to have an awareness of vessels that travel in the sea. We need to vet cargo, shipping crew, train them, improve ship security, etc."

BJ: Now, what's standing in the way of all these regulations being put in place as soon as possible?

AT: "It takes time and effort. The maritime industry has not been anywhere as well-regulated or secured as compared to the aviation industry. That has historically been the case and the agenda is a huge one which even the three countries cannot manage on their own. This is an international problem and the International Maritime Organisation, together with other interested parties such as the United States, have been putting forward many proposals and initiatives which, to some degree, have improved port and ship security over the past three years, but clearly, the entire chain on the logistical side of things have to be secured and I think a lot more needs to be done and there's a huge agenda which goes beyond the three states."

BJ: Are players in the maritime industry complying with regulations as quickly as they should?

AT: "I think governments are now impressing upon ship-owners and the maritime industry that there is a need to be secure against terrorist attacks and also against international crime such as piracy given the possibility of a piracy-terrorism nexus so governments have to take the lead, but to their credit, I think the shipping industry has, despite grumbles, been moving along and they are complying, albeit slowly."

BJ: Now, I understand that there is a basic framework set out in the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code that ports have to comply with. What is the state of compliance in the region?

AT: "Those ports that have been certified to have complied with the ISPS code also include most Malaysian ports and many Indonesian ports, so I think to a very large degree, the compliance to all those minimum standards have been met, but those minimum standards are really what they are, they're minimum standards and clearly, a lot more training and more vigorous measures need to be put in place in the years to come. Singapore has opted to go beyond the ISPS code. It is, for instance, looking at regulating ships below a certain size including even small boats, so there are also more stringent reporting requirements as far as the Singapore authorities are concerned."

BJ: In terms of capacity-building in this region concerning Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, what would you say is required to fight maritime terrorism?

AT: "Clearly, you need more patrol boats, you need more funding, training, etc. particularly in Indonesia given the size and spread of the archipelago. Therefore, external powers such as Japan and the United States, Australia and others can help by furnishing the necessary intelligence, funding, training, provision of equipment. Those are the areas in which they could improve the capacity of the littoral states in dealing with maritime piracy and possible terrorism."

Dr Andrew Tan (AT) from the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore, speaking to Bharati Jagdish (BJ).