#NSTopinion Until a vaccine is found, we need to continue our vigilance at sea and safeguard our interests. When the Movement Control Order is in force, various approaches which already exist can be enhanced on three waterways.
#Covid19 #MCO #StayAtHome #DudukRumah
Better security on land; how about the sea?
By
Capt. Martin A. Sebastian - April 24, 2020 @ 12:15am
File Photo: In the South China Sea, Transhipment ships, or Reefers, which are specially refrigerated ships, have been identified for ‘fish laundering’, mixing illegally-caught with legally-caught fishes and selling them to premium markets. - NSTP/ZULFADHLI ZULKIFLI
IN Malaysia, the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been gradually extended since March 18. The following week, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) announced that nationwide crime rate had reduced by 70 per cent.
Crimes during this period were mainly Internet scams involving almost RM3 million in losses. How do we then replicate these successes at sea and safeguard our interests? Let's look at the financial impacts of seaborne threats.
Illegal fishing has cost the government RM6 billion in losses annually and the loss of tax revenue from cigarette smuggling is RM5 billion. This, when compared with the government spending billions on maritime security, needs to be viewed against the billions raked by syndicates in transnational organised crimes.
It is more important now to enhance vigilance especially against crime syndicates. Responding to the recent landings of Rohingya migrants in Langkawi, the Home Ministry believed organised crime syndicates were behind the landings. In the seas adjoining the Straits of Malacca, Afghan and Burmese Meth has been seized by neighboring security agencies.
In September last year, the Royal Malaysia Police busted black cocaine worth RM2.4 billion at a container terminal in Butterworth. Then, they launched Operation Eagle Diamond to seize the assets of the runaway drug lord amounting to RM366 million. The sheer value of the crime is evident of the drug menace even during a pandemic. Accordingly, the nexus between seaborne drug smuggling and fishing activities has been discussed recently by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. (UNODC)
In the South China Sea, Transhipment ships, or Reefers, which are specially refrigerated ships, have been identified for 'fish laundering', mixing illegally-caught with legally-caught fishes and selling them to premium markets. These ships buy cheap fish from trawlers at sea which sell them with cash instead of landing them in home ports. Reefers are also reported to be responsible for transporting forced labour in the fishing industry and illegal bunkering of Marine Gas Oil and are also linked to piracy where 'phantom ships' are sighted.
On the Sulu Sea, Kidnap for Ransom groups are still active. The International Maritime Bureau, Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) continues to monitor and issue warnings to seafarers to be vigilant. The porosity and proximity of the tri-border areas will continue to be a challenge for security agencies to curtail smuggling and trafficking activities, especially now, when coastal and island communities are in dire need of essential items.
Until a vaccine is found, we need to continue our vigilance at sea and safeguard our interests. When the Movement Control Order is in force, various approaches which already exist can be enhanced on three waterways.
In addressing the Andaman Sea threats, the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) mechanism is available to participating states. Internet facilities to exchange threat assessments can be enhanced. Layered surveillance with aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) will provide the 'eyes and ears' for security. Finally, coastal-joined and combined patrols will provide the 'tooth' to bite when required.
Australia flies its Gateway Patrol occasionally and may be sought to provide more surveillance in the target area. Land and sea security agencies need to come together to exchange information and assessments on crime syndicates. The IMB PRC continues to monitor suspect vessels. UNODC is available to assist governments in addressing organised crime syndicate. Several other international entities work on illegal fishing and wildlife smuggling.
In the South China Sea (SCS), think-tanks and observers on issues in the SCS can provide a number of assessments based on trend analysis.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative provides analysis on movements and incidents which could be useful to littoral states. The SeaVision provided by the United States to the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Coast Guard are available for surveillance and monitoring in large areas. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) used by ships could be monitored through open systems.
In the Sulu Sea, the Trilateral Cooperative Agreement (TCA) is available for assessments and analysis of threats. Accordingly, the inter-agency Eastern Sabah Security Command in Lahad Datu, the Military Joint Force Command 2 and the Tun Sharifah Rodziah sea base are available to address threats.
UAV patrols and open source analysis may be enhanced to better appreciate the land and seascape.
In conclusion, the time is ripe to strengthen regional cooperation on maritime security. Inter agency cooperation, linking land and sea agencies, need to be enhanced. Cost against value becomes important in maritime security. Return of Investments and Cost Benefit Analysis may be conducted to better measure and manage assets in order to attain the highest form of Readiness when required.
Advances in security features technology need to be explored. These approaches have the potential to address issues, challenges and prospects in maritime security in times of pandemic, when contact is restricted and information is key.
The writer is a Senior Fellow and Centre Head for the Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy (CMSD) at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA). MIMA is the national maritime policy think tank under the Ministry of Transport
IN Malaysia, the Movement Control Order (MCO) has been gradually extended since March 18. The following week, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) announced that nationwide crime rate had reduced by 70 per cent.
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