Seatrade-Maritime: Malaysia trialling automatic ship reporting for Malacca Strait

Published by Seatrade-Maritime

Mandatory ship reporting in one of the world’s busiest waterways – the Malacca Strait – has been carried out manually since it was introduced in 1998.

The Malaysian Marine Department said it had started trial phase of an automatic electronic ship reporting for the Mandatory Ship Reporting System in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (STRAITREP).

The trial has been implemented at Klang Vessel Traffic Service (Klang VTS) in the Malacca Strait as alternative to manual submissions by VHF radio channels which have been used since the system started operations in December 1998.

Under the electronic systems vessels can submit ship reports through a secure web portal or by email using a standard reporting template with reports required to be within 24 hours before the vessel enters the traffic separation scheme in the Strait. AIS identification will be used to automatically identify vessels entering the Malacca Strait.

“This new system will enhance efficiency, safety, and surveillance in our waters through,” the Malaysian Marine Department said in a circular.

One of the world’s busiest international shipping lanes the Malacca Strait saw 102,525 transits by vessels over 300 gt last year, or an equivalent of 281 per day, according to figures from according to figures from the Malaysian Marine Department compiled by the Nippon Maritime Center.

Some 10% of the traffic through the Strait comprises laden VLCCs of over 150,000 gt and deep draught ultra large container ships with an average of 28 such vessels daily.

The Straits of Malacca and Singapore have been in focus in recent months following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.