Natural disasters pose challenges to maritime enforcement agencies

12 December 2012| last updated at 07:08PM

By adrian david 

KUALA LUMPUR: Natural disasters and man-made accidents pose even greater challenges to maritime enforcement agencies, as do organised crime, a forum was told.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish said that the inability to predict accurately natural hazards like tsunamis and typhoons, despite advancements in meteorological technology, led to devastating results.

“All we can do is minimise casualties with improved coordination and cooperation in crisis management, search and rescue following the destructive forces of nature or after man-made disasters like oil spills and accidents,” he said.

Additionally, Amdan added the delibrate and irresponsible dumping of chemical pollutants, heavy metals, sewage and other toxic waste into oceans posed threats to pollution.

“On the other hand, the lack of sufficient cohesion and adequate governance had led to exploitation by mariners to commit crime like piracy, armed robbery, hijacking, terrorism, vice and the trafficking of drugs, arms, humans and other contrabands via ships.

“What affects the world, affects us. Therefore, we need to be smarter about the way we work together to strengthen the legal and law enforcement to combat transnational crime,” he said at the opening of the ‘Gulf of Thailand Commanders Forum: Initiative to Strengthen Maritime Law Enforcement Interoperability’ at the Shangri-La Hotel, yesterday.

Amdan added the need to safeguard the freedom and safety of navigation was, thus, all the more compelling as it had profound social, political and economic impacts on countries.

Meanwhile, United States embassy deputy chief of mission Lee McClenny called on stakeholders to collectively counter the maritime threats from environmental degradation, illegal fishing to smuggling of humans, wildlife and contraband.

“The threats include the nightmare scenario where nuclear, biological or chemical weapons or commodities are conveyed. Therefore, we have to plan, train and be prepared,” he said.

McClenny added that during emergencies there would be no time for evacuation drills or exercises, let alone having to deal with criminals or screen suspicious passengers and cargo manifests.

Read more: Natural disasters pose challenges to maritime enforcement agencies - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/natural-disasters-pose-challenges-to-maritime-enforcement-agencies-1.185157#ixzz2tZ81BDM3