CRUISE SHIPS (Measures to ensure safety)

The following Question stood in the name of Dr Wang Kai Yuen -

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: To ask the Minister for Communications what measures are or will be taken to ensure the safety of cruise ships which pick up passengers from Singapore.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Yuhua): Question No. 11, please.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, safety at sea is governed by the various Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Conventions. These Conventions prescribe the standards of safety for the construction, equipment and operation of ocean-going ships. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) also prescribes basic standards for the loading of ships as well as regulations for the prevention of collision at sea.

Singapore is a party to all these Conventions. The various standards of safety are provided for in our Merchant Shipping Act. PSA is empowered to inspect and verify the validity of a passenger ship's statutory certificates required under the various Conventions before the ship leaves Singapore. The certificates include the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate as well as the Loadline Certificate.

These certificates verify that the vessel is fit for service for which it is intended. They also ensure that the vessel is not overloaded. In the case of the "Royal Pacific", all the above procedures were adhered to. Notwithstanding these requirements, a carrier is also expected to exercise due care and diligence and to ensure that their staff and agents keep the ship seaworthy, properly manned and equipped at all times during the voyage to secure the safety of their passengers.

My Ministry is very concerned about the recent sinking of the "Royal Pacific". I have set up a Review Committee to look into the possibility of further improving the safety of passengers departing from Singapore. The Committee, chaired by the Marine Department, comprises representatives from the Port of Singapore Authority, National Maritime Board, Immigration Department as well as the various Ship Classification societies. It will examine, and, if necessary, recommend changes to the existing arrangements, procedures and legislation for ensuring the safety of cruise ships departing from Singapore.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Thomson GRC): Sir, I note from the recent press reports that the Malaysian authorities do not intend to conduct an inquiry into the mishap of the "Royal Pacific" and therefore may not come up with measures to ensure the safety of ships plying in the Straits of Malacca. May I ask the Minister whether he will consider approaching the Malaysian authorities again to review their decision?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the jurisdiction for investigation into the sinking of the "Royal Pacific" lies with three parties. First of all, the country in whose territorial waters the incident occurred. From all the evidence so far, the collision occurred in Malaysian waters. Secondly, the party or parties whose flag states are involved. In the case of the "Royal Pacific" it is flagged in Bahamas, so the Bahamian authorities would be involved. And in the case of the "Terfu 51", the Taiwanese authorities would be involved.

Singapore Government has been in touch with all these three authorities to enquire whether they are going to conduct an investigation. We have been officially informed by the Bahamian authorities that they have appointed a local investigation authority to look into the sinking. So far, we have not heard officially from the Malaysians or from the Taiwanese. We will be in contact with these two governments to ascertain what is the current position.

Mr Lau Ping Sum (Ang Mo Kio GRC): In view of the fact that a few Singaporeans are still missing, is the Minister aware of the actions being taken by the Malaysian Government in further trying to identify the whereabouts of these people?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, the Malaysian search and rescue authorities, who are conducting the search, have informed us that they are currently continuing with the search. However, the extent of the search is obviously not as intense as it was in the early days after the sinking of the "Royal Pacific". The Marine Department of Singapore is in touch with the Malaysian authorities to persuade the Malaysian authorities to continue as far as possible with the search and rescue mission. However, it is quite possible that any such efforts will not lead to much further success. So the Malaysian authorities will probably have to call off their search pretty soon.

As far as the Singapore authorities are concerned, we have offered every possible assistance to the Malaysians. And I understand also that the relatives of some of the missing people have also engaged their own divers to conduct their own diving operations. However, I regret to say that so far none of these efforts have borne fruit.