Malacca Straits survey
Supported by the Malacca Straits Council of Japan, the three littoral States of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have begun a definitive hydrographic survey of the 805km Straits.
Data from the survey will be used to produce large-scale Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) covering five main areas crucial to navigation in one of the world’s most important and busiest shipping lanes.
The data will complement existing ENCs while providing the marine industry and authorities alike with high-resolution bathymetry information relating to depth of waters. As such, it will ensure improved navigational safety while facilitating better voyage planning, according to Singapore’s Chief Hydrographer and Director of Port Services, Dr Parry Oei. The initiative follows earlier recommendations and studies completed by the Australian maritime engineering consultancy, OMC International of Melbourne.
By David Goodfellow
