Liow: Singapore to review EJS Pilotage Guideline

PUTRAJAYA: Singapore has agreed to review the East Johor Straits (EJS) Pilotage Guideline.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was to relax the maritime traffic restriction of night operation of vessels in Singapore waters.

He said the matter was agreed at the Eighth Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat on Tuesday.

“At present, the EJS Pilotage Guideline permits vessels of more than 240m in length to transit the straits only during daylight hours,” he said yesterday.

Every year, he said, more than 6,000 vessels transit the straits to enter Johor Port, Tanjung Langsat Port Terminal and other port facilities within Pasir Gudang Port.

“The current restriction limits the operational efficiency of Johor Port and, at the same time, creates unnecessary congestion and bunching of vessels in a very limited waterway.

“Therefore, the proposed review will create better navigational efficiency and productivity, as well as improve overall safety of navigation along EJS,” he said.

On the abolishment of toll charges at Malaysia’s Eastern Dispersal Link and toll revision by Singapore at the Causeway, Liow said Malaysia might review the toll rate at the Second Link.

He said the country was hopeful of the latest search efforts on missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, which began yesterday.

“We are hopeful of the search efforts undertaken by Ocean Infinity.

“The next of kin have also responded well to the search.”

He said the MH370 response team, headed by Civil Aviation Department director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, would monitor the search daily.

We are hopeful of the search efforts undertaken by Ocean Infinity. DATUK SERI LIOW TIONG LAI Transport minister