MPA says “no immediate threats” to ships travelling through Straits of Malacca and Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) released a statement on Friday (5 July) stating that it had not received any information on immediate threats to ships sailing through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) or to Singapore-registered ships.
It was responding to media queries after China raised its security warning to the highest level for its ships travelling through the Straits of Malacca.
On Wednesday (3 July), Bloomberg reported that China did not provide a reason for raising its security warning to level three in the strait, which runs along Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and connects the Indian and Pacific oceans. Level three is the highest security level in Chinese shipping regulations.
A copy of this warning, dated 2 July, was posted on a website affiliated with China’s Transport Ministry.
 

“The Port of Singapore will maintain the current security level 1 as per the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and Singapore’s security agencies will continue to be vigilant,” MPA noted.
In spite of the security level, MPA advised that all vessels transiting the SOMS are to be “vigilant” and “implement the relevant security measures”, following ISPS ships security plan.