New fishing vessel standards HSR deal signing likely on Dec 21
CONSTRUCTION: Guidelines to be introduced by January, says minister
TRANSPORT Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said new guidelines for the construction of fishing vessels will be introduced by January.
The guidelines will provide a benchmark for the construction of new fishing vessels.
Liow said the new guidelines were an initiative by the Fisheries Department, in collaboration with his ministry, to help the nation’s fishing industry move forward.
“The modernisation of the fishing vessels will comprise 12 standards, which are in line with requirements set by the International Maritime Organisation and the International Association of Classification Societies.
“The fishing vessels must meet the requirements set by the importing countries.
“Five companies have shown interest in adopting the new guidelines,” he said at the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism exhibition here yesterday.
He said all fishing vessels must obtain certification from recognised organisations, which are approved by the ministry.
Director-general of Fisheries Malaysia Datuk Ismail Abu Hassan said the 12 standards would ensure better safety and hygiene standards for fishing vessel crew, and facilitate bank loan applications from financial institutions.
“We estimate that by 2050, all Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
Pic by Rosela Ismail fishing vessels using
(purse seine) and
(trawl net) and operating in Zone C (beyond 12 nautical miles, where commercial fishing vessels of more than 40 gross tonnage using trawl nets and purse seine nets are allowed to operate) and beyond, will be built according to the new guidelines.” PUTRAJAYA: The High-Speed Rail (HSR) project’s bilateral agreement between Malaysia and Singapore will be signed as scheduled by the end of the year, most likely around Dec 21, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan yesterday.
“I met Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan on Nov 29 to discuss the remaining details of the agreement. Both sides are taking the necessary follow-up action to comply with their respective internal procedures and legal requirements for the signing of this agreement,” he said.
Malaysia would be linked with Singapore, via the 350km HSR project, and travel time would be considerably reduced to 90 minutes as the trains would run at a top speed of more than 300kph.
For Singapore, the HSR terminus would be located in Jurong East while Malaysia would have seven stations, namely in Bandar Malaysia, Putrajaya, Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri.
Construction is expected to begin in 2018, with trains running in 2026.