TRANSIT THROUGH SINGAPORE STRAIT
TRANSIT THROUGH SINGAPORE STRAIT- July 30, 2006
From the Gulf of Thailand, we headed southeast to Singapore. At the wheelhouse, numerous ships appear in the vicinity also visible in the radar screen. Traffic density of vessels increased gradually. Some are outbound while others like us are inbound. In the Singapore Strait, vessels are mandated to report at STRAITREP, a coordinated reporting system established jointly by Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to facilitate maritime traffic and maritime search and rescue in case of distress. Ships must send telex to the VTS or vessel traffic services the pertinent info which includes ships name, call sign, IMO number, and flag of registry, type of ship, type of cargo, port of origin, estimated time of departure or ETD, port of destination, and estimated time of arrival or ETA. Subsequent communication will follow via VHF radio.
After we coordinated at STRAITREP, Singapore VTS closely monitored the ship movement as well as the other vessels to ensure a safe passage in the traffic separation scheme and to avert imminent danger to navigation of ships. A few miles away, I saw skyscrapers towering high, the city of Singapore visible at a distance. As instructed by VTS, we slowed down our speed for another ship would join the traffic lane. Vessels both outbound and inbound transit in convoy, navigating at safe speed and safe distance between each other.
An hour passed, we reduced speed again and gave way for the supply boat alongside. We hoisted cans of paint and some engine spare parts. By dusk, we had already cleared the heavily dense traffic lanes of the Singapore Strait. Ahead are the piracy risk waters of Malacca, Indonesia.
From the Gulf of Thailand, we headed southeast to Singapore. At the wheelhouse, numerous ships appear in the vicinity also visible in the radar screen. Traffic density of vessels increased gradually. Some are outbound while others like us are inbound. In the Singapore Strait, vessels are mandated to report at STRAITREP, a coordinated reporting system established jointly by Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to facilitate maritime traffic and maritime search and rescue in case of distress. Ships must send telex to the VTS or vessel traffic services the pertinent info which includes ships name, call sign, IMO number, and flag of registry, type of ship, type of cargo, port of origin, estimated time of departure or ETD, port of destination, and estimated time of arrival or ETA. Subsequent communication will follow via VHF radio.
After we coordinated at STRAITREP, Singapore VTS closely monitored the ship movement as well as the other vessels to ensure a safe passage in the traffic separation scheme and to avert imminent danger to navigation of ships. A few miles away, I saw skyscrapers towering high, the city of Singapore visible at a distance. As instructed by VTS, we slowed down our speed for another ship would join the traffic lane. Vessels both outbound and inbound transit in convoy, navigating at safe speed and safe distance between each other.
An hour passed, we reduced speed again and gave way for the supply boat alongside. We hoisted cans of paint and some engine spare parts. By dusk, we had already cleared the heavily dense traffic lanes of the Singapore Strait. Ahead are the piracy risk waters of Malacca, Indonesia.
posted by Arez at 8:31 PM
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