SINGAPORE — Shipping companies yesterday warned that reduced visibility from the haze could make navigating the busy Malacca and Singapore straits dangerous, increasing the risk of accidents.
Urging the Indonesian government to address the cause of the haze, the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) said more than 140 ships, including oil tankers and passenger ferries, navigate the narrow waterways on any given day.
While shipmasters are trained to navigate through “very foggy and stormy weathers in other open seas”, navigating the Straits of Malacca and Singapore can be “very challenging and dangerous especially under extreme smoky conditions”, the association said in a statement yesterday. A maritime accident in the straits would have “an extremely adverse and lasting impact on the marine environment”.
“In the event of any unfortunate accident, human lives and the marine environment will be at risk, especially if it involves a fully laden VLCC (very large crude carrier),” SSA Executive Director Daniel Tan said. “The oil spillage from the tanker can have serious consequences not only on the marine life in the straits but also the livelihood of fishermen and those who depend on the tourist industry.”
The SSA represents more than 450 shipping companies and other businesses related to the shipping industry.
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