INTERNET TECHNOLOGY TO BOOST MARITIME SECURITY

The ability to share information in a timely and accurate manner is crucial to the effectiveness of both sea and air patrols.

It was to this end that the littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore agreed to the setting up of a "secured Internet-based information-sharing system" - the Malacca Strait Patrols Information System (MSP-IS).

Such a system would facilitate the exchange of "real-time operations information", said Head Naval Operations Rear-Admiral (RADM) Tay Kian Seng.

It would also enable operators to make sense of the "vast volume of shipping information to detect anomalies".

"That will help us to enhance our common situational awareness in the Straits," said RADM Tay

RADM Tay was speaking at the inaugural Malacca Strait Patrols (MSP) Information Sharing Exercise on 28 Mar.

The two-day exercise involved personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF).

The combined exercise was a demonstration of collective will and testimony to the warm relations among the personnel from the four armed forces.

"No single country can do this work alone," said Rear-Admiral (RADM) Dato' Jamil bin Osman, Deputy Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations, Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

"We have to cooperate to ensure the safety of the Malacca Strait. The information system that we see today is a big step forward," he said.

The MSP-IS was developed by the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA).

Two of its key components are: a constantly updated ship information database, and a program to analyse maritime traffic patterns.

The Internet medium was chosen to ensure accessibility and ease of use - for authorised users, that is.

User-friendliness, an important property in any computer system, is where the MSP-IS shines.

MSP Information Sharing Exercise participant Lieutenant Mohamed Arif bin Ismail gave the thumbs-up to the system.

"It's easy to use and it's interactive," said the RMN officer.

Lieutenant Arif also noted that the online discussion feature of the MSP-IS would serve to strengthen bonds among system operators.

The MSP initiative consists of coordinated sea and air patrols, as well as an Intelligence Exchange Group (IEG), which led to the development of the MSP-IS.

Since the MSP was implemented in 2004, the security situation in the Malacca Strait has improved significantly. While incidents of piracy were at a high of 38 in 2004, only seven cases were reported last year.