S'pore warns of threat of tankers becoming floating bombs

21 May 2004 04:42  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)—Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister has warned maritime terrorists might turn oil and petrochemical tankers travelling through the Malacca Straits into “floating bombs” unless united action is taken by surrounding states to increase security.

 

Tony Tan, who is also Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, said the perpetrators of recent pirate attacks in the Straits had been observed to be well trained and might be linked to international terrorist organisations.

 

Speaking to reporters in Singapore he said: “This may signal the start of serious preparations for a maritime terrorist attack as terrorists learn to navigate tankers to use them as floating bombs against other vessels, key installations, naval bases or port facilities.”

 

"Our attitude is to confront this problem squarely, discuss, collaborate, work with the littoral states, international players and extra-regional countries which have a vital interest in shipping in this part of the world."

 

The Malacca Straits, through which almost half of the world’s oil supply passes, suffers one of the highest rates of maritime terrorism in the world. According to a recent report from the International Maritime Bureau, there were 14 piracy attacks in the Malacca and Singapore Straits in the first quarter of this year, up from just three in the same period in 2003.

 

Indonesia, which borders the Straits, suffered more piracy attacks than any other country in the first quarter with 21 incidents, more than double the number of second ranked Nigeria.

 

A major attack in the Straits could have a severe impact on the region's economy and severely damage its petrochemical industry.

 

Tan said Singapore believed joint action was needed to protect the strategic passageway by the surrounding states of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and international organisations such as the United Nations, the International Maritime Organisation.

 

He said other countries, such as Japan, which had a stake in the security of global waterways, should also be involved. About 80% percent of Japan’s oil passes through the Malacca Straits.

 

The United States recently proposed to send some of its own vessels to the Malacca Straits to help counter the growing threat of terrorism.

 

However, Indonesia and Malaysia reacted coolly towards the plan, urging instead that the littoral states should be left to provide their own security.
By: Staff Reporter
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