Director, Marine Environment Division

International Maritime Organization

　

　

 This paper presents an outline of the Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) Project and the current status of developments towards implementation of the MEH Demonstration Project from 2004 for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as a joint project of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank (WB) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The MEH Project was presented to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg as IMO's Partnership Initiative to strengthen the implementation of Agenda 21.

　

 The MEH is on of the most innovative and significant advances in navigational safety and protection of the marine environment, incorporating the latest available technologies. It is a marine information and infrastructure system that integrates marine environmental management and protection systems (EMPS) and state-of-the-art marine navigation technologies.

　

 Its backbone is a precision navigation system that utilizes a network of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) in conjunction with ship-borne Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), Differential Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).

　

 The Straits of Malacca and Singapore were chosen to pilot the MEH because of their highly congested maritime traffic lanes and environmentally-rich coastal areas, coupled with the strong commitment to navigational safety and environmental management of the three littoral States of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

　

 This paper provides:

　

　

　

 This paper presents an outline of the Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) Project and the current status of developments towards implementation of the MEH Demonstration Project from 2004 for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as a joint project of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Bank (WB) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The MEH Project was presented to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg as IMO's Partnership Initiative to strengthen the implementation of Agenda 21.

　

 The MEH is on of the most innovative and significant advances in navigational safety and protection of the marine environment, incorporating the latest available technologies. It is a marine information and infrastructure system that integrates marine environmental management and protection systems (EMPS) and state-of-the-art marine navigation technologies.

　

 Its backbone is a precision navigation system that utilizes a network of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) in conjunction with ship-borne Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), Differential Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).

　

 The system will provide vital marine information on such matters as tides and current to ships on a "real-time" basis and would allow integrated digital electronic navigation. This in turn would enable accurate navigation of every single ship under the overall traffic management system, which would cover all areas of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This will significantly improve the safety of navigation and, hence, reduce the risk of accidents which may result in catastrophic environmental pollution.

　

 The system will also entail the creation of the marine environment protection system (EMPS) which would provide a common basis for the Straits for the 3-dimensional hydrodynamic model; oil and chemical spills trajectory and fate model; coastal and ocean monitoring systems; environmental impact assessment; spill damage assessment models ; and sensitivity mapping.

　

 The system will further enhance the transparency of navigation and overall traffic control and will provide a basis for intensive monitoring the real-time situation of navigation, which would help in the efforts of relevant countries to reduce piracy and armed robbery in the Straits and enhance maritime security throughout the region.

　

 The Straits of Malacca and Singapore were chosen to pilot the MEH because of their highly congested maritime traffic lanes and environmentally-rich coastal areas, coupled with the strong commitment to navigational safety and environmental management of the three littoral States of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. This commitment was substantiated by their ratification of the 1982 UNCLOS and MARPOL 73/78 and other IMO Conventions dealing with navigational safety, pollution prevention and control.

　

 In 1997, approximately 104,000 vessels transited the Straits, whereas in 2001 vessel arrival in Singapore was over 140,000. In addition, there is a high level of local traffic engaged in trade and fishing across the Straits. Although the Straits are shallow, hazardous to navigation and characterized by narrow channels, irregular tides and shifting bottom topography, they are the preferred international route for the majority of ships due to the presence of services and active ports compared with other routes.

　

 For oil tankers trading between the Middle East and the Far East, the transit through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore is shorter by approximately 1,000 miles, or a saving of about three days' steaming if compared with the two alternative routes, i.e., Lombok-Makassar and the Sunda Straits.

　

 The Straits of Malacca and Singapore is also a zone of high biodiversity, rich in marine fauna and flora that is characteristic of tropical estuarine environments. The abundance of seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and wetlands enrich the associated coastal marine environment, which also acts as a stopover point for migratory birds on seasonal transition. This environment serves as a unique heritage to the world.

　

 The coastal and marine natural resources of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are of enormous value to the littoral States and also contribute to the global economy. The assessment of the net economic value of the Straits is around US$15 billion, putting it among the most valuable international sea lanes in the world. Attached to this economic value are the livelihoods and the future development of more than 30 million people living in the vicinity of the Straits, whose wellbeing is directly or indirectly associated with the state of affairs in the Straits.

　

 Activities undertaken by the three littoral States to improve navigational safety have been substantial, with the majority of the funding being borne by the littoral States. In the case of marine pollution prevention and the maintenance of navigational aids, a significant amount of funding has been provided by the Nippon Foundation of Japan.

　

 Singapore's Vessel Traffic Information Services (VTIS) has been in operation since 1990. This is a comprehensive radar and computer-based vessel traffic system covering the Singapore Straits and can show the positions of up to 1,000 vessels at a time. Malaysia also has a radar and vessel traffic monitoring systems, which was commissioned in 1998 and covers the entire Malacca Straits.

　

 The Mandatory Ship Reporting System, STRAITREP, which came into effect on 1 December 1998, requires designated vessels to report, via VHF voice radio communications, to the marine authorities of the littoral States when transiting the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Vessels entering the operational area are required to submit reports containing information such as the name of the ship, its call sign, IMO identification number, position, hazardous cargo and any deficiency of the ship that could affect normal and safe navigation.

　

 The current maritime safety infrastructures and regulatory mechanisms in place in the Straits have improved the safety of navigation, flow of vessel traffic and the overall management of the Straits as an international sea lane. However, the volume of international traffic passing through or calling at ports in the Straits has steadily increased throughout the 1990's. Vessel statistics from 1995 to 2001 showed an annual average increase of 5.96% for the Port of Singapore and 10.58% for Port Klang. Also there is a substantial volume of cross-Straits traffic among the three littoral States involving trade and fishing.

　

 Notwithstanding the benefits of the above system currently available, the threat of collision as well as groundings is increasing. The biggest concern is the risk of a catastrophic oil spill following a collision with or grounding of a VLCC or any vessel carrying large quantities of bunker oil. The cost of the clean-up operation for a large-scale oil is significant; the outlay for clean-up in respect of the Evoikos oil spill incident came to about US$7.5 million.

　

 Although the three littoral States have oil spill response capabilities, such as oil spill contingency plans and response facilities, the Evoikos incident highlighted the need for a better traffic management system, which would prevent maritime accidents and would cope with the future increase in volume of traffic, including ships carrying hazardous materials.

　

 With the increasing volume of maritime traffic and port development in the Straits, the capacity and condition of the Straits to handle such growth whilst ensuring safe and efficient navigation remains a source of concern. Clearly, an innovative approach to improving the management of the maritime traffic and marine environment protection will be required and it is hoped that the Marine Electronic Highway will provide a solution to this question.

　

 The MEH Project will establish an MEH system in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore through the following phases:

　

　

 The MEH system will be an integrated regional network of marine information technologies, utilizing Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS). The system will be designed from the end-users' perspective and requirements and will make full use of new technologies, their applications and management. Other components will include sustainable financing mechanisms, obligations associated with accession and ratification of relevant international conventions, protocols, legal, institutional and administrative arrangements and political and public relations to enhance the utility and acceptability of the MEH system and its long-term sustainability.

　

 Phase 1 of the MEH Project will be implemented as the GEF/World Bank/IMO Demonstration Project of the MEH System in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore over five years from 2004, with a total budget of US$16 million. This phase will involve the following four key tasks and challenges:

　

　

 Phase 2 of the Project will extend the pilot MEH System over the entire area of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as a Full-Scale MER and monitor and evaluate the expanded MEH's commercial and environmental benefits and facilitate its replication over the entire sea lane from the Persian Gulf to East Asia by sharing the results of the evaluation with the relevant States and through advocacy and the provision of technical assistance.

　

 The MEH Demonstration Project comprises the following seven strategic components:

　

 At the start of the MEH Demonstration Project in 2004, the Project Steering Committee will be established as the overall regional body to observe the implementation of project activities. The PSC will provide the institutional arrangement for the development of the managing tool, which will operate, administer and manage the MEH system and, furthermore, provide a sustainable basis for co-operative agreement among relevant stakeholders.

　

 Four Technical Committees and two Working Groups will be established in the course of implementing the MEH Demonstration Project:

　

　

 A Project Management Office will be established in the region to administer and manage the Project onsite and will have a Team of Project Managers and experts. The staff of the Project Management Office will work closely with the staff from national agencies assigned to the MEH Data Centres and will oversee the work of consultants as well as provide the secretariat function to the Project Steering Committee, Technical Committees and Working Groups.

　

 The littoral States of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are the major players in this Project. Aside from their membership in the Project Steering Committee, Technical Committees and Working Groups, the littoral States will co-finance the implementation of the Demonstration Project by providing in-kind contributions, such as the use of and access to maritime safety facilities, office space, equipment and local experts. The littoral States with their designated National Focal Points and lead agencies will be working with the Project Management Team in partnership with relevant stakeholders, to implement the activities of the seven components of the Demonstration Project, including the development of the MEH Fund and the governing body of the MEH system. The littoral States will also work towards overcoming policy, institutional and legal bafflers for the establishment of the MEH system in the Straits.

　

 Currently, the Demonstration Project has as its partners the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The partnership with INTERTANKO will ensure that an adequate number of tankers will be made available for the technical evaluation of the MEH system. INTERTANKO will be the focal point for the shipping industry and will identify ships that will be participating in the project, ensuring the availability of ECDIS and AIS on board ships. INTERTANKO will also assist in monitoring participating ships to ensure that they adhere to the requirements of the project and also in identifying any constraints or problems that may arise onboard ships during their participation. As a partner, INTERTANKO will be a member of the Project Steering Committee and also will take part in the review and evaluation of the project and the implementation of its activities as a member of the various technical committees and working groups of the Project.

　

 As another partner, IHO will also be a member of the Project Steering Committee and also will take part in the review and evaluation of the Project as well as the implementation of its activities as a member of the various technical committees and working groups of the Project. Its major input to the Project will be to provide technical assistance in the development and production of ENCs, the development of ENC-based ecological or sensitivity maps and the mapping services as well as promoting technical co-operation, e.g., training and expert advice.

　

 Private sector partners such as technology providers, especially those engaged in digital technology and telecommunications as well as those in the environmental sector, will be involved in the development of various products and services of the MEH system covering online and real-time communications and data exchange.

　

 From the beginning of discussions on the concept of the MEH Project and, in particular, during the Project Development Fund Block B activities under the fund provided by the Global Environment Facility, the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department of the Japan Coast Guard has participated in the preparation of the MEH Demonstration Project. The Ship and Ocean Foundation and the Japan Association of Marine Safety have also actively participated in the Project preparatory meetings and provided valuable contributions.

　

 The Japanese Government has also been invited to participate in the MEH Demonstration Project and the Japan International Co-operation Agency has also indicated its interest in supporting the Demonstration Project by providing technical expertise for the development of the Electronic Navigational Charts.

　

 The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea has also participated in the Project preparatory meetings and expressed its willingness to contribute in the operation of the MEH Demonstration Project.

　

 The concept of a Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) was initiated in Canada in the early 1990s with the application of digital technology to navigation, particularly in the development of electronic navigational charts and ECDIS. The core of the Canadian version of the MEH was the integration and interconnection of the ECDIS and the Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).

　

 The concept of the establishment of MEH in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore was first discussed in the mid 1990's as meetings of the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), as a pilot project for the Straits.

　

 The three littoral States and the International maritime Organization explored the possibility of realization of the MEH concept and, after three years of intensive discussions in the region and with the World Bank, the MEH Demonstration Project has been developed for its implementation from 2004.

　

 Partnership with relevant stakeholders and co-operation and support from the User States are of paramount importance for the successful operation of the MEH Demonstration Project and for the refinement of the MEH Full-Scale System for its development after the evaluation of the Demonstration Project.

　

 The MEH Demonstration Project will provide an image of the future system of navigational control and traffic and environment management for international straits.

　

 Article 43 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea requires that User States and States bordering a strait should, by agreement, co-operate in the establishment and maintenance in that strait of necessary navigational and safety aids or other improvements to aid international navigation and for the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships. However, the development of the MEH System would go beyond the scope of the UNCLOS and requires participation and co-operation through partnership arrangements with various stakeholders, including the shipping industry, the private sector and, still, the public sector in agencies in User States. Above all, the commitment on the establishment of the MEH system by the Governments of the three littoral States is a fundamental factor for the success of the Project. Taking into account all these elements and the already expressed firm commitments from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, INTERTANKO and IMO and, furthermore, taking into account the willingness for co-operation and support expressed by the relevant sectors of some User States, at this stage of development, IMO is preparing an actual implementation process, which is expected to commence in the course of 2004 after the final endorsement of the MEH Project by the World Bank at the end of 2003.