Global Maritime Community Strengthen Co-Operation in SOMS
More than 180 participants from around 80 maritime administrations and organisations, as well as embassies in Singapore, attended the 11th Co-operation Forum yesterday (September 24), where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS).
The Co-operation Forum is one of the three pillars of the Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the SOMS. It is the main avenue for the three littoral States (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) of the SOMS and the international maritime community to engage in dialogue, exchange information and share perspectives on important issues relating to the SOMS.
Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore’s Co-ordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, spoke about the importance of the keeping the SOMS open, safe and clean, to enable and facilitate global maritime trade. He also underscored the importance of the Co-operative Mechanism to fostering close cooperation among all stakeholders.
“The Co-operative Mechanism is an important platform for the three littoral states (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore), as well as all user states and stakeholders, to come together and address issues of common concern, and collaborate to enhance navigational safety and environmental protection in the SOMS,” said Khaw.
Discussion topics during the Forum centred on the developments, challenges and opportunities faced by the industry in enhancing the safety of navigation, and protection of the marine environment in the SOMS.
Participants were invited to present their insights and exchange perspectives on a wide range of issues. These included the applications of technology in navigational safety, challenges and opportunities of e-navigation, prevention and preparedness for marine pollution and practical approaches on the protection of the marine environment.
The Co-operative Mechanism was launched at the IMO-Singapore Meeting in September 2007 and focuses on navigational safety and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS). It consists of three pillars namely, the Co-operation Forum (CF), the Project Co-ordination Committee (PCC) and the Aids to Navigation Fund (ANF).