Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore convened the 17th Co-operation Forum in Singapore on August 25, bringing together User States, industry and other stakeholders to strengthen navigational safety and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS).
The two-day forum aims to tackle ways to improve navigational safety, protect the marine environment and safely introduce new technologies and alternative fuels in the SOMS. Participants are also reviewing technical projects aimed at enhancing navigation.
Singapore Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said recent events had highlighted the need to safeguard open sea lanes through international law and international cooperation.
The Co-operative Mechanism
The Co-operation Forum is part of the Cooperative Mechanism established by the three Littoral States in 2007 to provide a framework for such cooperation. Established within the framework of the Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG), the Co-operative Mechanism comprises three inter-connected and complementary components:
- The Co-operation Forum serves as a platform for dialogue between the Littoral States and international maritime community on issues of common interest in the SOMS;
- The Project Co-ordination Committee (PCC) co-ordinates and oversees the implementation of Straits Projects to promote safety of navigation and environmental protection in the SOMS; and
- The Aids to Navigation Fund (ANF) receives voluntary financial contributions from the international maritime community for the provision and maintenance of critical aids to navigation in the SOMS.
International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez described the Co-operative Mechanism as a proven model for building trust among littoral and User States and supporting the safe and sustainable use of vital waterways.
Navigational rights and freedoms, including the Right of Transit Passage, must be respected and upheld by all States. With no exception. Equally, innocent seafarers must not be caught in the crosshairs of geopolitical tensions. They deserve to work in a safe and secure environment, free from risks beyond their control
… said Dominguez.
Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda also stressed the importance of continued cooperation among the three littoral states and the wider maritime community amid evolving geopolitical and maritime challenges.
Participants reaffirmed the importance of keeping the SOMS safe and open to international shipping, including respecting navigational rights and the right of transit passage.
Since the Co-operative Mechanism was established in 2007, 15 Straits Projects have been initiated, while the international maritime community has contributed about $26 million to the Aids to Navigation Fund supporting critical navigational infrastructure.