A joint hydrographical survey in the straits of Malacca and Singapore started on 6 October 2015 as part of the 8th Co-operation Forum which took place in Singapore on 5-6 October.
Image: Peter Novacco/Getty Images
The hydrographical survey will be jointly conducted by three littoral states - Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore - to help seafarers better plan their voyages and to highlight the greater navigational safety while sailing through the waterways.
The survey is supported by financial and technical expertise from Japan, as well as contributions from the three littoral states.
The survey in the Strait of Singapore is estimated need three days, while work in Malaysian and Indonesian waters will take about two to three weeks. The project is scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2016.
"The straits of Malacca and Singapore one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world, linking Asia to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa," said Singapore's state minister Josephine Teo. "Last year, nearly 80,000 vessels, carrying about a third of the world trade goods, transited the strait."
The Co-operation Forum discussed various challenges faced by the maritime industry, such as cyber security and the trend towards a sustainable global maritime transport system.
More than 150 participants from more than 40 countries and organisations were expected to participate at the forum.
Source:ihsmaritime360.com