EAS CONFERENCE ON MARITIME SECURITY AND
COOPERATION
9-10 NOVEMBER 2015 NEW DELHI, INDIA
Session III: MARITIME CONNECTIVITY: BUILDING FOR TRADE
“MAINTAINING SAFETY OF NAVIGATION IN
THE STRAITS OF MALACCA: THE ROLE OF THE
TRIPARTITE TECHNICAL EXPERTS GROUP
(TTEG) AND THE COOPERATIVE MECHANISM
(CM)”
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Ahmad Fajarazam bin Abdul Jalil
Director
Maritime Affairs Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
OUTLINE

Importance of the Straits of Malacca

Role of TTEG and CM

Conclusion
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ISSUES AFFECTING MARITIME TRADE CONNECTIVITY
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Increase in inter-intra regional trade – e.g. trade
interdependence; energy security.
Growing development and complexity of
maritime trading routes and related
infrastructure – eg new routes, new centres,
coping capacity of current infrastructure
Safety of Navigation issues: eg Local navigation
routes; growing network of cables and pipelines
Maritime environment and resources – eg
regional oil pollution measures
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STRAITS OF MALACCA
SOM is one of the busiest straits in the world
 Stretches from Pulau Sembilan to Tanjung Piai for a
distance approximately 241 nautical miles
 Average 100,000 vessels annually
 Based on report to Klang VTS/STRAITREP
 Container ships, Bulk carriers, VLCC, LNG/LPG.

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STRAITS OF MALACCA
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
Straits used for international navigation
Requires measures for
Safe, Secure and Smooth Navigation
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MEASURES UNDERTAKEN – TTEG AND CM
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• Establishment of TTEG (1971)
• Establishment of TSS (1977)
 IMO Resolution A.375(X)
• Extension of TSS (1981)
 IMO Resolution A.476(XIII)
• STRAITREP (1998)
 IMO Resolution MSC.73(69)
• Cooperative Mechanism (2008)
4 projects completed - 4 ongoing projects – 3 newly approved
projects
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TTEG AND CM (CONT.)
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Series of Meeting in 2005, 2006 & 2007 led to establishment of CM
CM provides a framework for which littoral states (Malaysia, Indonesia &
Singapore) and users of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore may
promote cooperation (states and industry)
Underlying principles:
 Reaffirmed the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the littoral States
over the Straits as Straits used for international navigation
 Emphasized that measures undertaken should be in accordance with
international law especially UNCLOS (Article 43 in particular)
 The primary responsibility over the safety of navigation and
environmental protection in the Straits lies solely with the littoral
States (within Tripartite Technical Expert Group (TTEG) framework)
 Acknowledges the interest of user States and relevant international
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agencies and the role they could play in respect of the Straits
STRUCTURE OF THE TTEG & CM
TRIPARTITE TECHNICAL EXPERT GROUP (TTEG)
•The TTEG will be the principal coordinating body of the
three littoral States in the Cooperative Mechanism
COOPERATIVE MECHANISM (CM)
1.COOPERATION
FORUM (CF)
• Avenue for user
States, the shipping
industry & other
stakeholders to meet and
co-operate with the
littoral States
• Open to all
2. PROJECT
COORDINATION
COMMITTEE (PCC)
• Coordinates the
implementation of
projects on the basis of
cooperation and burden
sharing
• Several Projects being
implemented
3. AIDS TO NAVIGATION
FUND (ANF)
• Fund for voluntary
financial contributions
towards the maintenance
of aids to navigation in
the Straits
• fund management and
administration of fund
rotated among littoral9
States on a three-year
term.
EXAMPLE OF PROJECTS:
PROJECT 1: REMOVAL OF WRECKS IN THE
TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME AREA
Coordinator - Malaysia
 Scope:
1. Hydrographic survey
2. Risk analysis
3. Capacity building
4. MYWREMS –
- Malaysian Wreck Management System
- Removal of wrecks

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EXAMPLE OF PROJECTS:
PROJECT 1: REMOVAL OF WRECKS IN THE TRAFFIC
SEPARATION SCHEME AREA (CONT.)
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RECENT UPDATES ON COOPERATIVE MECHANISM
Aids to Navigation Fund (ANF)
 Receives financial contribution for renewal and
maintenance of AtoN
 Member: 3 Littoral States + Contributors
 Contributors: China, India, Japan, Korea, Saudi
Arabia, UAE, IMO, IFAN, MSC, Nippon Foundation
 51 lighthouses, beacons & buoys identified
 Cumulative contributions received amounting to
US$20M since 2007
 Committee meets twice annually
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51 Critical Aids to Navigation in
the Straits of Malacca & Singapore
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CONCLUSION

TTEG and CM, as an example of regional
mechanism for maritime trade connectivity, has
illustrated excellent regional cooperation based
on commonly agreed principles and mutual
respect between Littoral States with the User
States and industry
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Thank you
[email protected]
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