JAKARTA: In order to enhance maritime safety in the straits of Malacca and Singapore, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia continue to strengthen their cooperation.
The Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG) forum, established in 1975 by the three nations, has been the conduit through which the collaboration has been carried out.
According to Antara, the director of navigation at the Transportation Ministry’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Budi Mantoro, stated in a statement that was released on Thursday that “TTEG is a manifestation of the commitment of the three coastal countries in ensuring shipping safety and maritime environmental protection, as well as to facilitate the movement of ship traffic in the two straits.”
On October 23 and 24, 2024, Indonesia hosted the TTEG Meeting on the Safety of Navigation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in Nusa Dua, Bali.
Mantoro claims that the three nations have collaborated effectively on a number of initiatives ever since the TTEG was established, including mandatory ship reporting systems (Straitrep), rules for ship movement in both straits, and a ship route system integrated with the traffic separation scheme (TSS).
He informed the audience that “these key initiatives have now been further implemented in the Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait, and have received recognition from the global shipping community.”
He stated that Indonesia actively participated in discussions and inputs regarding maritime safety in the Malacca Strait at the TTEG meeting.
“We provided several inputs, including the results of a study that was completed in 2023 for the revitalization of the marine electronic highway (MEH) data center.” In addition, he stated, “The revitalization work will begin in the first quarter of 2025.”
Given that the MEH Data Centre was established in 2012, he also discussed issues with out-of-date equipment.
Indonesia also presented reports on the implementation of the 15th Co-operation Forum meeting and the 29th and 30th Aids to Navigation Fund Committee meetings at the meeting.
Delegates from the three nations continued with the agenda for the 15th Project Coordination Committee Meeting (PCC) under the Co-operative Mechanism on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore after the TTEG meeting ended.
He explained, “The purpose of this PCC meeting was to report updates and coordinate the implementation of various project activities carried out within the framework of the Co-operative Mechanism.”
Indonesia presented a report on Straits Project 5, which aimed to replace and maintain shipping navigation aids in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, during the meeting.
